Gun Policy News
Firearms and youth, crime and gun-related injury
Australian MP Misfires With Wild Guns in School Quote
1 April 2022
Australian Associated Press / AAP
Federal independent MP Bob Katter has a reputation for shooting from the hip in media interviews but has badly misfired with a claim that Israel, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland provide schoolchildren with guns.
The claim is wrong. Government authorities in each of the four nations mentioned by Mr Katter have confirmed to AAP FactCheck that schoolchildren in their countries are not provided with guns and schools do not have armouries.
Mr Katter, who has been the MP... (GunPolicy.org)
Record Number of Australians Enrolled to Vote This Election
23 April 2019
SBS News
A record number of Australians have enrolled to vote at the 18 May federal election, according to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
The total of 16,424,248 people, which accounts for 96.8 per cent of the eligible voting population, tops the number of people enrolled to vote ahead of the 2016 federal election by around 750,000.
Those numbers are "something all Australians can be proud of" and is unlikely to be matched anywhere in the world, Electoral... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia's Tough Gun Laws Weakened by the States - Report
5 October 2017
Sydney Morning Herald
Australia's tough gun laws have been significantly watered down by state governments since they were introduced under the National Firearms Agreement in the days after the Port Arthur Massacre in 1996, a new study has found.
According to the research by Philip Alpers, an associate professor of public health at the University of Sydney, all Australian states have succumbed to pressure from gun owners or the parties that represent them to water down some aspects of the... (GunPolicy.org)
At What Age Is a Child Permitted to Fire a Gun in Australia?
4 May 2017
ABC News (Australia)
Despite the National Firearms Agreement which passed in just 12 days in response to the Port Arthur Massacre in 1996, there is no one national gun law and no single age at which a child can use a firearm across the states and territories.
Roanan Cornish was 12 years old when he first used a firearm.
The thirteen-year-old, who lives on a farm just outside of Bendigo in central Victoria, learned how to correctly handle a .22 calibre rifle as part of a firearm safety... (GunPolicy.org)
Why Not Smart Guns in This High-Tech Era? - NY Times
26 November 2016
New York Times, Editorial
The Department of Justice has issued official guidelines for the manufacture of smart guns — weapons that, like smartphones, have technology to allow only the rightful owners to use them. The guidelines aim to "shape the future of gun safety technology," as called for under an executive order issued in January by President Obama, in the face of Congress's refusal to deal with the nation's horrendous toll of gun deaths.
Nearly 7,000 children committed suicide with... (GunPolicy.org)
Education to Reduce Gun Incidents in US Instead of Regulation
16 November 2016
Dallas Morning News (Texas), Opinion
I have had the privilege of competing in shotgun clay target tournaments across America and Europe for the last 40 years. I'm routinely in the company of hundreds of people, all carrying firearms and ammunition. I've fired several hundred thousand rounds in practice and competition. In all that time and experience, I have never seen nor heard of anyone being injured in a firearm- or shooting-related incident.
National data reflects that there are rarely firearm-related... (GunPolicy.org)
NYT Book Review: 'Another Day in the [Gun] Death of America'
27 October 2016
New York Times, Book review
In 2013, between the wee hours of Nov. 23 and the wee hours of Nov. 24, 10 American children and teenagers were killed by guns. The youngest, Jaiden Dixon, was 9, shot by the deranged father of his eldest brother. The oldest, Kenneth Mills-Tucker, was 19, shot in a car under circumstances that are still unclear.
The number of fatalities that day exceeded the national daily average of 6.75. Then again, averages are almost always misleading — murders of this kind tend... (GunPolicy.org)
Hidden Handguns on Campus Will Increase Tragedies in Texas
21 October 2016
Washington Post, Opinion
Texas this year became the eighth state to require state colleges and universities to allow civilians with permits to carry concealed guns in public places. As a result, the University of Texas at Austin — a school that 50 years ago suffered the trauma of the nation's first campus mass killing — must allow guns to be brought onto campus.
To those behind the campus-carry movement making such inroads in Austin and other state capitals, that's a good thing. This... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 10,000 Guns Voluntarily Destroyed in State of Mexico [ES]
19 October 2016
La Jornada (Mexico)
[Translated Summary: In the last five years in the State of Mexico, over 10,100 firearms have been collected, mainly from exchange programs. These firearms were surrendered peacefully, voluntarily and anonymously. The mayor explained that 400 children die in suicides, homicides and accidents caused by guns in Mexico every year and that 73.2% of violent deaths among the youth are caused by guns.]
En los últimos cinco años, en el Estado de México se han logrado... (GunPolicy.org)
Hidden Handguns a Risky Option for Civilians in Mexico [ES]
19 October 2016
Excelsior (Mexico)
[Translated Summary: An expert sociologist, René Jiménez Ornelas, notes that firearm possession in shops and legal hidden handguns in private vehicles will only generate more violence among civilians in Mexico. In an environment where firearms are common,"there will be more aggression, fights and incidents with guns"; similar to what happens in the US.]
René Jiménez Ornelas, integrante del Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales de la UNAM, destacó que la iniciativa... (GunPolicy.org)
'Guns Don't Kill People; Toddlers Kill People' - Brady US TV Ad
17 October 2016
USA Today
In a nation where someone utters the phrase "guns don't kill people, people do" in nearly every gun debate, a new gun control campaign agrees and goes a step further: It's not just people that kill people, but toddlers.
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence released a satirical video Monday calling for the deportation of toddlers, who obtained firearms and shot people on a weekly basis in 2015. The ad begins with a barrage of images showing children holding... (GunPolicy.org)
Ottawa Gangs Responsible for Half the Shootings This Year [FR]
16 October 2016
Ici Radio Canada
[Translated summary: According to police sources, there are 435 gang members in Ottawa and they are responsible for 25 of the 54 shootings that happened so far this year. Police say most of them use hunting rifles or poor quality guns that can be used only once. Some revolvers and automatic weapons are imported from the US and resold on the streets.]
Certains sont de petits voleurs à peine sortis de l'adolescence. D'autres, des criminels de carrière, qui dirigent des... (GunPolicy.org)
At Least One American Child Dies by Gunshot Every Other Day
14 October 2016
USA Today, Associated Press
Hours earlier, he was a happy 4-year-old who loved Ironman and the Hulk and all the Avengers. Now, as Bryson Mees-Hernandez approached death in a Houston hospital room, his brain swelling through the bullet hole in his face, his mother assured the boy it was OK to die.
"When you are on the other side," his mother, Crystal Mees, recalls telling him, "you are going to see Mommy cry a lot. It's not because she's mad. It's because she misses you."
And this: "It's not your... (GunPolicy.org)
US Agency Badly Undercounts Children Killed with Guns [ES]
14 October 2016
Euronews (France)
[Translated Summary: The real number of children killed with guns is underestimated in US official statistics. According to research, between January, 2014 and June this year, there have been 326 deaths by accidental shooting related to children. Yet only 74 were documented by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the agency responsible for keeping count.]
Es la cara oculta de la proliferación de armas de fuego en Estados Unidos: el numero real de niños muertos por... (GunPolicy.org)
In Two Years, 295 US Children Under 13 Have Shot Someone
10 October 2016
The Trace (USA)
Christa Engles was shot in the head in November, 2014 by her 3-year-old son while changing her baby's diaper in her Tulsa, Oklahoma home. The boy had found the 9mm semiautomatic handgun on a living room table.
Two months later, in Elmo, Missouri, five-year-old Corbin Wiederholt used a .22-caliber handgun he picked up off the headboard of the grandfather's bed to shoot and kill his nine-month-old brother.
Not long after that, at a home in LeBleu Settlement, Louisiana,... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Violence Kills, Injures 111,000 Victims Each Year [ES]
25 September 2016
Radio Nacional Venezuela
[Translated summary: According to violence prevention organisations, more than 17,000 minors are victims of firearms in the US every year. Furthermore, over 111,000 people are shot annually, resulting in death or serious injuries.]
De acuerdo a las organizaciones para la prevención de la violencia armada en Estados Unidos, cada año, más de 17.000 menores de edad son víctimas de las armas de fuego. Mientras que más de 111.000 personas anualmente reciben disparos,... (GunPolicy.org)
US Army Caters for 70% Drop in US Youths Who Own Guns
10 September 2016
Washington Post, Associated Press
As gun ownership drops among young Americans and the Army trains a generation more accustomed to blasting out emojis on cellphones than taking aim at targets, drill sergeants are confronting a new challenge: More than half of raw recruits have never held, let alone fired, a weapon.
Young people who form the bulk of the Army's rookie soldiers don't have nearly the exposure to guns as past generations. And the drill sergeants tasked with transforming these men and women... (GunPolicy.org)
Ten Essential Facts About Guns and Suicide - Myths Cost Lives
6 September 2016
The Trace (USA)
Despite an alarming uptick in homicides in some urban areas in the last few years, violent death rates are significantly lower than they were in the 1990s. There is one notable exception to this trend. Suicide rates for men and women have steadily increased for the past 15 years.
The statistics are bleak. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. From ages 10 to 34, it is the second leading cause. Last year, at least 40,000 people in the U.S. died by... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Dealers, Health Experts Combine to Curb Gun Suicide
3 September 2016
Christian Science Monitor
HOOKSETT — As the longtime owner of a gun store, Ralph Demicco is passionate about his firearms. At the modest ranch house he built himself outside this rural New Hampshire town, he keeps a collection of rifles, shotguns, pistols, and antique weaponry, including two cast-iron cannons that he stores in the barn beneath an oval wooden wall plaque inscribed with the Second Amendment.
On special occasions, he wheels out his beloved cannons – replicas of Dutch and... (GunPolicy.org)
Professors, Students' Opinions About Guns on Campus - NYT
27 August 2016
New York Times
As classes began here at the University of Texas this past week amid a new law allowing concealed handguns on college campuses in the state, an accounting student quietly strapped on a pistol and headed to class.
A pre-med sophomore joined a raucous protest against the law.
A professor who had sued to stop the law resigned herself to teaching with handguns in the classroom.
And the college president sought out ways to safeguard the campus culture that he cherished... (GunPolicy.org)
Surgeon Frustrated After Decades of Sewing Up Shot Children
12 August 2016
Houston Chronicle (Texas)
Dr. David Wesson points to a spot below his belly button. That's where the .22-caliber bullet pierced the abdomen of the first pediatric gunshot victim he ever treated.
The boy was 1 month old. He was perched on the kitchen table. His father had been cleaning a rifle when it unexpectedly discharged. The bullet ricocheted through the infant's body.
The surgeon's finger traces upward across his white coat, zig-zagging like a child's pencil following the lines of a maze:... (GunPolicy.org)
Most Young US Adults Support Gun Sale Background Checks
6 August 2016
Guardian, Associated Press
About nine in 10 young American adults say they support criminal background checks for all gun sales, according to a new GenForward poll.
Such support remains consistent across racial and ethnic groups, the poll found – stiffer penalties for violating existing gun laws are supported by nine in 10 young whites, Asian Americans and Latinos and eight in 10 African Americans. More than half (57%) of young Americans support a ban on rapid-firing semi-automatic weapons,... (GunPolicy.org)
Texas Law Allows Students to Carry Hidden Handguns in Class
1 August 2016
New York Times, Reuters
A new law went into effect in Texas on Monday that allows certain students to bring guns into classrooms, with supporters saying it could prevent mass shootings and critics saying the measure will endanger safety on campuses.
The so-called state "campus carry" law allows people 21 and older with a concealed handgun license to carry pistols in classrooms and most buildings throughout public universities, including the University of Texas system, one of the nation's... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Culture Thrives in Florida as Each Shooting Boosts Sales
28 July 2016
Guardian
When Jason Moore heard about the shooting in a Fort Myers, Florida, nightclub that killed two and injured more than a dozen others, his reaction was immediate.
He had the employees at his gun shop move roadside signs to just outside the club's parking lot that said: "We come to you, concealed weapon permit."
The shooting early Monday morning happened after a party for teenagers was emptying out of Club Blu. Sean Archilles, 14, and Stef'An Strawder, 18, died. The... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Violence and Children: US Pediatricians Take a Stand
18 July 2016
New York Times
What does it mean to consider gun violence a public health problem, especially when it comes to children?
The American Academy of Pediatrics announced the development of a new initiative last week reacting to the violence in St. Paul, Baton Rouge and Dallas, an attempt as pediatricians to find ways to protect children, adolescents and young adults.
This isn't a new issue for the academy; the existing policy on firearm injuries in children emphasizes the importance of... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 200 Firearms Collected from Militia in South Sudan
7 July 2016
Radio Tamazuj (Sudan)
Authorities in South Sudan's Warrap state have collected over 200 firearms from a Gelweng militia in Aguok centre.
A minister of the proposed Gogrial state Adior Kuol Amum said the disarmament exercise took place following a visit by deputy governor Santino Akot Abem.
"This indicates the youth are ready for peace because they will be one enjoys fruit of peace," Adior said.
The move is in line with peace resolutions signed in May between the Aguok and Apuk communities... (GunPolicy.org)
US Latinos Much More Often Die by Gunshot Than Whites
5 July 2016
Fox News Latino (USA)
Since 1999, more than 50,000 Latinos have been killed by guns – a number far higher than that for whites – according to a recent study.
Between the years of 1999 and 2014, 50,456 Hispanics were killed by guns, with two-thirds of those deaths being homicides and 29 percent suicides. There were also 944 gun-related deaths, or about 2 percent, deemed unintentional, and 1,549 (3 percent) having an undetermined intent or the result of legal intervention, according to... (GunPolicy.org)
Americas,Europe,Asia,Africa,Oceania
WHO Assembly Adopts Resolution to Prevent Interpersonal Violence
27 May 2016
World Health Organization, Media release
Delegates at the World Health Assembly have agreed resolutions and decisions on air pollution, chemicals, the health workforce, childhood obesity, violence, noncommunicable diseases, and the election of the next Director-General…
Global plan of action on violence
Delegates agreed a resolution on the WHO global plan of action on violence. Non-fatal acts of violence take a particular toll on women and children. 1-in-4 children has been physically abused; 1-in-5 girls... (GunPolicy.org)
US 5-Year Old Kills Herself With Gun Under Gran's Pillow
11 May 2016
Washington Post
A 5-year-old girl was playing with her baby brother and 3-year-old neighbor early Wednesday when she found a gun, police said.
The revolver had been tucked under her grandmother's pillow in the Detroit home. It was loaded. And while in the hands of the little girl, the weapon went off, hitting her in the neck and killing her, Detroit police said.
"The grandfather went upstairs and found the baby, and immediately called 911," officer Jennifer Moreno, a spokeswoman for... (GunPolicy.org)
In Two Weeks, 7 US Toddlers Shot Someone with a Gun
7 May 2016
News.com.au
It has been 10 days of "gut wrenching" carnage in the US, with a tragic number of toddlers being fatally shot or inflicting injury on a family member, simply because of an unsecured firearm.
In their own homes, in their cots or in the car — 2016 has seen a concerning spike in toddler related shootings than in the previous year.
As the second biggest killer in the country, 23 incidents of shootings that involve toddlers have already happened this year alone. That's... (GunPolicy.org)
Four US Toddlers Shot and Killed Themselves in One Week
5 May 2016
New York Times
KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Sha'Quille Kornegay, 2 years old, was buried in a pink coffin, her favorite doll by her side and a tiara strategically placed to hide the self-inflicted gunshot wound to her forehead.
She had been napping in bed with her father, Courtenay Block, late last month when she discovered the 9-millimeter handgun he often kept under his pillow in his Kansas City, Mo., home. It was equipped with a laser sight that lit up like the red lights on her... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Trafficking Gangs Arrested in Algeria [FR]
5 May 2016
Le Matin d'Algérie
[Translated summary: Every day in Algeria there are more and more cases of violence in which young people are involved. In Batna, a network of gun traffickers was stopped by the national gendarmerie and two shotguns, one revolver, 227 cartridges and 960 capsules were seized.]
Dans la journée de mercredi, la faculté de droit a organisé un séminaire national sur la délinquance juvénile à l'auditorium de l'université. Ce rendez-vous a été une occasion pour... (GunPolicy.org)
100s of Child Gun Deaths "Occasional Mishaps" - Gun Lobby
5 May 2016
Mother Jones (USA)
In an in-depth investigation in 2013, Mother Jones found that guns kill hundreds of children per year in the United States. Many die in homicides, and many others die in accidents—mostly when children themselves pull the trigger. The kids shooting themselves or others have often been as young as two or three years old. Invariably these "tragedies" result from adults leaving unsecured firearms lying around in their homes or, in some cases, in their cars.
Since our... (GunPolicy.org)
11 Americans Shot to Death By a Toddler So Far This Year
3 May 2016
Vocativ (USA)
In the United States of America, you are just as likely to be killed by a toddler as by a venomous snake, a lizard, a or spider, and even more likely than by lightning—all because of the worrisome access small children have to firearms.
On April 27, a toddler in Milwaukee accidentally shot and killed his mother from the back seat of her car. The two-year-old picked up the gun after it slid under the seat and fired as they were driving down the highway. His mother... (GunPolicy.org)
White House Hopes to Launch US Smart Gun Technology
29 April 2016
NBC News (USA)
The White House hopes it can finally launch smart gun technology — childproof weaponry aimed at stopping accidental shootings and increasing gun safety.
The administration is, for the first time, trying to put in place the requirements needed so law enforcement could eventually use smart guns. It's using findings in a new report from the Defense, Homeland Security and Justice Departments — agencies that were directed in January to look into the matter as Obama... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Crime Makes Halifax One of Canada's Most Deadly Cities
25 April 2016
Chronicle Herald (Nova Scotia), Editorial
Halifax has a serious violence problem related to guns, young guys and the drug culture.
More serious than in most other Canadian cities. More like many American inner cities, with their cult of guns and their culture of gang-fodder violence. Young men settling scores, chasing status and killing each other with guns.
That message was delivered two years ago in a review by criminologist Don Clairmont of his 2008 report into Halifax violence and public safety.
Looking... (GunPolicy.org)
Kansas Gives Away Free Gun Locks, No Questions Asked
25 April 2016
Fox 4 Newsroom (USA)
KANSAS CITY — After a little girl was killed by gunfire inside her own home on Thursday, Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp is reminding families of the 'No Questions Asked' program.
Gun owners can pick up a gun lock at Children's Mercy Hospital's Adele Hall campus, the south campus in Overland Park, and the Midtown Broadway clinic. They can also get one at the Jackson County Sheriff's Office in Lee's Summit.
"Protecting firearms in the home more than a substantial... (GunPolicy.org)
US: Toddler Fatally Shoots Himself with Mother's Gun
21 April 2016
Washington Post
A 2-year-old Indiana boy fatally shot himself Wednesday evening after discovering a gun in his mother's purse, authorities said.
The boy retrieved the gun when his mother "momentarily stepped away," leaving her purse on the kitchen counter, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in a news release.
"The grieving mother is cooperating with detectives and after detectives questioned her she was later released," the release stated. "This incident is being... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Maker Criticised for Real Pistol Imitating a Toy
11 April 2016
San Francisco Chronicle
Old-school gamers once threw fits whenever the dog in the classic Nintendo game "Duck Hunt" laughed at them for missing the titular ducks.
Now, players can have their revenge.
Actually, not really.
But, someone at Odessa-based gun manufacturer Precision Syndicate seemingly gets that frustration, modifying a Glock to look like an old Nintendo gun controller.
"We were waiting for someone to let us do this," the company wrote in a Facebook post last week. "We weren't... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Massacre Dad Warns Australia Not to Relax Gun Laws
10 April 2016
Sydney Morning Herald
Following the Port Arthur massacre, Walter Mikac wanted to be left alone.
Instead he found himself inadvertently drawn into Australia's gun control debate.
The massacre, which happened 20 years ago on April 28 and 29, began an unstoppable movement for gun law reform.
Since losing his wife and two daughters in the mass shooting, Mikac has become one of the debate's most potent voices.
After the killings Mikac wrote to Prime Minister John Howard, who phoned in... (GunPolicy.org)
Ex-PM Launches Campaign to Protect Australia's Gun Laws
8 April 2016
News.com.au
Former prime minister John Howard and anti-gun campaigner Walter Mikac will today launch a national petition against relaxing Australia's tough gun laws.
The move follows concerns states have begun watering down tough gun control laws introduced by Mr Howard following the Port Arthur massacre.
Mr Mikac, whose wife, Nanette, and daughters Alannah, 6, and Madeline, 3, were among 35 killed by Martin Bryant in the 1996 mass shooting, has campaigned tirelessly against guns... (GunPolicy.org)
US Internet Gun Sites Lack Important Safety Information
7 April 2016
Fox News (USA), Reuters
Gun owners looking for safety tips on the Web may not find what they need to know, a recent study suggests.
Most U.S. websites with information on guns do not include important guidelines on how to store guns safely and keep them out of reach of children, researchers report in the journal Injury Prevention.
"Firearm injury and death are unfortunately very common among U.S. children and adolescents," said lead author Dr. Katherine Freundlich of the University of... (GunPolicy.org)
Canadian Conservative MP Calls for Gun Amnesty Program
7 April 2016
CTV News (Vancouver)
Surrey parents who discover their children are keeping a gun in the house should be able to turn the weapon over to police worry-free, according to the city's former mayor.
Dianne Watts, now a Conservative MP, is calling for a temporary amnesty program that would encourage parents to help get firearms off the streets.
The details haven't been worked out, but Watts said parents who hand over guns could be assured their children won't be charged for having them. She... (GunPolicy.org)
Existing Gun Control Laws in Australia are Inadequate
5 April 2016
Guardian, Australian Associated Press
John Howard, who introduced national gun control laws 20 years ago after the Port Arthur massacre, says the existing laws are inadequate and should be tightened.
Speaking on SBS's Insight program to Alpha Cheng, the son of NSW police employee Curtis Cheng who was fatally shot in Parramatta last year, the former prime minister said "almost certainly … the laws are not adequate" and he would "encourage sensible strengthening of the existing laws".
"I would have... (GunPolicy.org)
Do You Own a Gun? Why Your Kid's Doctor Needs to Know
1 April 2016
Washington Post, Opinion
'Do you have guns in the home?" It's a standard question pediatricians ask patients and their parents, an entry into a conversation about storage and safety.
"Of course not — we don't believe in that," answered one mother who came to our practice with her 7-year-old.
Her son looked up from his iPad and grinned. "But Bobby's dad has a really cool gun! Bobby showed it to me last week."
"What do you mean?" his mother asked. "A toy gun?"
"No, a real one!" he boasted,... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Lobby Puts Guns in Fairy Tales to Recruit Children [FR]
29 March 2016
Terrafemina
[Translated summary: The US pro-gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, is re-writing fairy tales by making their characters use firearms in an attempt to recruit children at an early age.]
Pour recruter des adeptes dès l'enfance, les lobbyistes pro-armes de la National Rifle Association (NRA) ont trouvé la solution : réécrire les contes de fées en armant le petit Chaperon rouge pour qu'il plombe le derrière du grand méchant loup.
Vous rappelez-vous... (GunPolicy.org)
England: More than 1,500 Children Suspected of Gun Crimes
29 March 2016
BBC News
Children as young as 10 were among hundreds of youngsters arrested for suspected gun crimes in the last three years, new data has revealed.
More than 1,500 children were held over alleged firearm offences between 2013 and January 2016.
Among the figures, the Metropolitan Police made 679 arrests, while seven children aged under 11 were held in Nottinghamshire.
The number of arrests rose by 20% last year, the Press Association said.
The data, obtained under the... (GunPolicy.org)
Florida Officials Want to Charge Mother Shot by Her Toddler
25 March 2016
San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press
PALATKA, Florida -- The mother of a 4-year-old boy who shot her as they were riding in a pickup truck should face a misdemeanour charge, authorities said Tuesday as they released details of the shooting for the first time.
The mother, 31-year-old Jamie Gilt, put a loaded .45-caliber handgun underneath the front seat of her pickup on March 8 and the weapon slid into the back seat where her son Lane was riding in a child booster seat, Putnam County Sheriff's Capt. Gator... (GunPolicy.org)
Where, How US Criminals Get Their Guns
20 March 2016
Albuquerque Journal
When a computer check on the loaded 9mm Ruger pistol found near the body of 23-year-old Edgar Camacho-Alvarado after he was shot and killed by a deputy U.S. marshal came back showing it was stolen from a car almost a year ago, police were not surprised.
Nor were they shocked when a computer check on the handgun found near the body of 19-year-old Jose Rodriguez, who was shot by Albuquerque police officers in December, showed it was stolen from a car parked in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Study Claims 3 US Gun Laws Could Cut Gun Deaths by 90%
19 March 2016
New Scientist
Most of the laws aimed at gun control in the US don't work. But three do. Implement them at a national level, and we could cut firearm deaths by 90 per cent.
That's the conclusion of a recent study, and it sounds like great news. But the findings have come under heavy fire from other researchers.
There are more than 33,000 firearm deaths each year in the US. Yet no one knows which, if any, laws are effective in reducing this number. This is partly due to lack of... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Concerned At High-powered Rifles Seized in Bahamas
15 March 2016
Tribune (Bahamas)
Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said police are "very concerned" by the amount of cocaine and high-powered rifles that have been seized on the streets of New Providence and Grand Bahama this year.
Mr Greenslade said it is disgraceful that more than 200 weapons have been confiscated so far for the year. He "begged" members of the public to assist police in their investigations and said the Bahamas is only "one person with a little dope in their head" and a... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Gun Control: Good Came from the Evil of Dunblane
13 March 2016
Guardian, Editorial
It is 20 years since Thomas Hamilton walked into Dunblane primary school carrying four handguns and murdered 17 people, 16 of them children only five years old. The response to this atrocity, from the heart of the British people, was two laws which between them banned the private ownership of handguns altogether. The year after Dunblane there were 59 killings with handguns in Britain; in 2014 there were only 29. Compare this with the situation in America, where, in... (GunPolicy.org)
Macabre Truth: US Toddlers Shoot, Kill More than Terrorists Do
13 March 2016
Guardian, Opinion
This week, in my country, considered by some of its more embarrassing denizens to be the "greatest country in the world", an outspoken Florida "gun rights" advocate left a loaded .45 calibre handgun in the back seat of her car and was promptly shot and wounded by her four-year-old child. Truly a pinnacle of human potential, much like the invention of paper in second-century BC China, or Aristotle holding forth in the Lyceum, or whoever first pointed out that Florida... (GunPolicy.org)
When Kids Shoot Their Parents: An American Tradition
10 March 2016
Trace
When aspiring gun model and staunch Second Amendment defender Jamie Gilt was shot by her four-year-old son in Florida earlier this week, some observers saw a moment ripe for the particular form of schadenfreude most at home on social media: an instant-karma story of someone getting what was coming to them.
A prolific sharer of pro-gun memes, Gilt had recently posted "My right to protect my child with my gun trumps your fear of my gun" to her Facebook page, and on... (GunPolicy.org)
US Pro-gun Lobbyist Shot in the Back by Her 4-year-old Son
9 March 2016
Washington Post
Hours after gun-rights advocate Jamie Gilt bragged on Facebook that her 4-year-old son "gets jacked up to target shoot," the same child accidentally turned his mother into a target, shooting her in the back.
The 31-year-old Jacksonville woman was driving down a road in Putnam County, Fla., on Tuesday when her son managed to get hold of a gun while he was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle, according to a statement released by the Putnam County Sheriff's... (GunPolicy.org)
Pro-gun Florida Mom Shot by Her 4yr-old Son While Driving
9 March 2016
Daily Mail (UK)
Pro-gun Florida mom is accidentally shot by her four-year-old son while driving after the boy found her pistol in back seat - just a day after she bragged about his shooting skills
- Jamie Gilt, 31, was driving with her son, 4, through Putnam County, Florida
- The child picked up a loaded .45 handgun from the back seat and fired
- Gilt was shot and wounded after the round passed through the truck's seat
- She told deputies that she had been shot in the back by her... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Rights Advocate Accidentally Shot in the Back by Her 4-year-old Son
9 March 2016
Mashable, Associated Press
A north Florida woman is in the hospital after her 4-year-old son shot her in the back while sitting in the backseat of her pickup truck.
31-year-old Jamie Gilt is a self-described advocate for "gun sense" who posts enthusiastically on social media sites about firearms and protecting her right to bear arms. She appears to be the same Jamie Gilt who was hospitalized yesterday.
A Putnam County Sheriff's Office news release says a deputy saw Gilt behaving frantically... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Australia,Brazil,South Africa
Gun Control: What Works and What Doesn't
7 March 2016
Washington Post, Blog
Gun control works, but you have to be smart about it.
That's the takeaway from a major new analysis out this month in the journal Epidemiologic Reviews. Columbia University's Julian Santaella-Tenorio and a team of researchers pored over the results of 130 studies on gun control legislation passed in 10 different countries to find out which policy interventions worked, which ones didn't and on what issues the jury was still out.
Big caveat up front: Sussing out cause... (GunPolicy.org)
The Right to Sue the US Gun Industry - NY Times
4 March 2016
New York Times, Editorial
The world recoiled in horror in 2012 when 20 Connecticut schoolchildren and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School by a deranged teenager using a military-style assault rifle to fire 154 rounds in less than five minutes. The weapon was a Bushmaster AR-15 semiautomatic rifle adapted from its original role as a battlefield weapon. The AR-15, which is designed to inflict maximum casualties with rapid bursts, should never have been available for purchase by... (GunPolicy.org)
In American Mass Shootings, Most Guns Were Quite Legal
26 February 2016
Washington Post
The death tolls change, the places change: Nine in a church, 23 in a restaurant, 26 in an elementary school, 14 at a holiday party. The faces in the memorial photos change the most.
But the weapons are the common denominator.
Mass killings in the United States are most often carried out with guns, usually handguns, most of them obtained legally.
There is no universally accepted definition of a mass shooting, and different organizations use different criteria. In this... (GunPolicy.org)
Could Smart Guns Solve America's Gun Death Epidemic?
24 February 2016
Guardian
A federal agent lost his loaded gun in San Francisco last week after leaving the firearm on top of his car and driving off. In September, police say a man with a Glock 26 pistol stolen from a federal immigration officer's car shot and kill a beloved Oakland artist. And in July, a man allegedly used a federal ranger's semi-automatic pistol to shoot 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle in a random San Francisco killing.
The thefts and resulting gun violence have raised questions... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada: Four Dead in Separate Killings at School, Home
23 January 2016
Guardian
Four people have been killed and at least two others injured in shootings at a school and a property in northern Canada that prime minister Justin Trudeau described as "every parent's worst nightmare".
The gunman is suspected of first shooting his two brothers at home before opening fire at the remote community high school in La Loche, Saskatchewan, a family friend and the town's acting mayor said on Friday.
The school was sealed off and one male was later taken into... (GunPolicy.org)
Four Killed in Mass Shooting at a School in Canada
23 January 2016
BBC News
Police say a male suspect is now in custody and children have been moved to safety after the shootings at La Loche Community School and another location.
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said earlier that five people had been killed, but this was later corrected.
The school shooting was "every parent's worst nightmare", Mr Trudeau said. "The community is reeling."
Mr Trudeau, who was speaking in Davos, Switzerland, also praised "the first responders who acted quickly and... (GunPolicy.org)
Strengthening Gun Laws Can Make South Africa Safer
29 September 2015
ISS Africa
Hlupha was eight when he got his first gun and his neighbour taught him to commit crime. His first robbery was of the post office in the small town where he lived. When Hlupha was 16, he shot a boy at school for flirting with his girlfriend. He committed many more crimes over a number of years until he was arrested and convicted for kidnapping, robbery and assault. When we met him he was in prison.
Velabahleke was 10 when he stole his first gun. He found his second gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Homemade Air Rifles in Vietnam
6 May 2015
Tuoi Tre News
In spite of being totally banned in Vietnam, air guns can be found and bought in Ho Chi Minh City at prices ranging from VND200,000 (US$9) to VND1 million ($46) each
Air guns have been offered for sale in Ho Chi Minh City and other localities despite the fact that purchasing and owning the items are banned in Vietnam.
The guns are manually made by individuals, mainly for hunting, and cost an average of VND200,000 (US$9) to VND1 million ($46) each, depending on the... (GunPolicy.org)
Colombia,Brazil,Honduras,El Salvador,Venezuela,United States,Belize
Latin America Leads World on Murder Map
6 May 2015
Guardian (Latin America)
Latin America may be the most murderous continent on Earth, but huge improvements in public safety have been achieved in several major cities, according to a new homicide map of the world that is being launched this week.
Several metropolises that were once bywords for violent death – such as Medellín, Bogotá, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro - have seen murder rate declines of more than 60% over the past two decades thanks to improved living standards, better... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 18,000 Firearms in Australian Capital Territory
24 January 2015
Canberra Times (Australia)
The lure of hunting in NSW national parks has prompted a membership boom at ACT gun clubs.
Statistics obtained by the Sunday Canberra Times reveal there are more than 18,000 firearms in the territory, about one for every 20 Canberrans.
It's illegal for shooters to hunt vermin in ACT parks, although shooting on private properties is still allowed.
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia ACT president David True said they had about 3500 members in the ACT, growing... (GunPolicy.org)
Estonia Student Shoots, Kills School Teacher With Father's Legal Revolver
27 October 2014
Associated Press / Yahoo! News
TALLINN — A 15-year-old student shot and killed his teacher during class Monday in a town in southern Estonia — the first known school shooting in the Baltic nation.
Four other students were in the classroom at Paalalinna School in the town of Viljandi, police spokeswoman Tuuli Harson said. She said the shooter was apprehended and no one else was injured in the early-afternoon attack at the school of 450 students.
Government officials said the victim was a... (GunPolicy.org)
20 Young Shooters Suffer Lead Overexposure at US Gun Club
20 October 2014
Seattle Times, Series
The youngsters knew their sport could be dangerous, even deadly.
But for the junior team at the Vancouver (Wash.) Rifle and Pistol Club, the peril that emerged from their sport didn't come from a stray bullet.
It came from lead.
In 2010, blood tests revealed that 20 youths had been overexposed to the poisonous metal after shooting in the club's dirty, poorly ventilated range.
"It was devastating," said Marc Ueltschi, the junior team coach and a club member. "It... (GunPolicy.org)
Report: More Kids Die in Shootings than Statistics Show in America
25 June 2014
USA Today
Two children die almost every week in unintentional shootings — far more than government statistics show — according to a new study by Everytown for Gun Safety.
Medical examiners sometimes categorize shooting deaths of children as homicides or suicides before investigations or court proceedings are complete, and that puts more young lives at risk, says the gun-control group's president, John Feinblatt.
"If you don't have the right numbers, then you don't... (GunPolicy.org)
Uruguay Authorities Concerned About Children with Handguns [ES]
24 June 2014
El Pais (Uruguay)
[Translated summary: Authorities are concerned about the use of handguns and other firearms by children in Uruguay. Many of the handguns come from Argentina, because they are cheaper, but it is not clear how youths are obtaining the firearms.]
"Que los menores estén bien armados, es la realidad de hoy. En el pasado usaban armas más antiguas y precarias. Ese es su comportamiento", dijo a El País la jueza de Adolescentes, Aída Vera Barreto.
Una opinión similar... (GunPolicy.org)
French Pensioner Shoots Son Mistaking Him for Bird
23 June 2014
Local (France)
A Frenchman shot his son three times after mistaking him for a blackbird raiding the family cherry tree. The story is just the latest in a long line of tragic and freak shooting accidents in France.
A Frenchman aged in his 70s noticed some rustling in his cherry tree tree on Saturday night in north-western France and, assuming it was hungry blackbirds pillaging his fruit, he pulled out his shotgun and opened fire.
But the movement in the tree was not in fact... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Arabian Authorities Crack Down on Online Arms Dealers
18 June 2014
Arab News (Jeddah)
The Interior Ministry is closely monitoring and tracking down arms trafficking through the Internet and social networking sites.
Mansour Al-Turki, the ministry's spokesman, said violators — either individuals or website operators — will be treated as criminals.
He pointed out that trade in weapons and its accessories are prohibited in the Kingdom.
Al-Turki said competent security agencies regularly follow up and track the information and data available on trade... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Violence at US Schools Continues to Grow Sharply
11 June 2014
Los Angeles Times
A fatal shooting in Oregon on Tuesday was the 31st firearms attack at a U.S. school since the start of the year, marking a sharp acceleration in the rash of violence that has occurred on campuses across the nation.
The incidents range from the 20 people shot near UC Santa Barbara less than three weeks ago to gunfire that resulted in no injuries at all.
The frequency of attacks has picked up since the December 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn.,... (GunPolicy.org)
Children in Jamaica Injured, Killed by Guns in Rising Numbers
2 June 2014
Trinidad and Tobago Express
KINGSTON - The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) says 60 children were murdered here during the period January 2013 to May this year.
The JCF said, in addition, 99 children were shot and injured by criminals during the same period.
According to the statistics released by the JCF, over the last two months, seven children between the ages seven and 17 years were murdered while one was shot and injured.
As a result, the police are calling on all citizens to redouble... (GunPolicy.org)
The Best Reporting on Guns in America – A Collection from ProPublica
28 May 2014
ProPublica
Are Mass Shootings Increasing? Depends on How You Count Them
Criminologists have made the same point again and again: the number of mass shootings in America is not increasing. Experts told the Los Angeles Times that mass shootings represent only a small fraction of the annual deaths due to gun violence, and that police data indicate that the overall count of mass shootings per year has not shown any significant increase over time. This conclusion is based on the FBI's... (GunPolicy.org)
Luxembourg,United States,Germany
Ten Things the Gun Industry Won't Tell You – Wall St Journal
20 May 2014
Wall Street Journal
1. "Owning our product may be hazardous to your health."
In the U.S., there are now somewhere between 270 million and 310 million guns, according to the Pew Research Center — that's almost one gun for every person in the nation. Judges and legislators across the political spectrum recognize the constitutional right to bear arms. And gun and ammunition sales to private citizens are a significant part of a nearly $15 billion industry that's seeing plenty of growth: On... (GunPolicy.org)
Going to a Saudi Wedding Celebration? Leave Your Gun at Home
15 May 2014
Saudi Gazette, Opinion
I don't know what kind of thrill some people get by firing machine guns and other weapons into the air during wedding celebrations and other festive occasions.
Several years ago the Ministry of Interior banned the use of weapons and firearms during wedding parties after several unfortunate incidents occurred which turned these occasions of joy and happiness into tragedies. However, recently there has been an increase in such incidents, the latest of which was the death... (GunPolicy.org)
Outcry in Germany: Montana Gun Owner Waited, Shot Student to Death
7 May 2014
New York Times
MISSOULA, Montana — Teenagers call it garage hopping. The goal was to sneak into an open garage, steal some beer or other items and slip away into the night. It was dumb and clearly illegal. It was not supposed to be deadly.
Around midnight on April 27, a 17-year-old exchange student from Germany named Diren Dede left the host home where he played Xbox and drained cans of Sprite to set off with a friend through his dark hillside neighborhood. They passed a home whose... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Laws in America Are Not So Smart
6 May 2014
Economist
Since January 1st 3,551 people have been killed by gun violence in America, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The victims include Endia Martin, a 14-year-old girl, who was shot in the back in Chicago last week after an argument with a former friend over a boy. The weapon that was used to kill Martin, a .38 special revolver, began as a legal gun, reports the Chicago Tribune, but somehow it made its way to into this adolescent tussle, turning a flare up between young... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Culture 'Way Out of Balance': Rein It In, Says Hilary Clinton
6 May 2014
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday the nation's gun culture has gotten "way out of balance" and the U.S. needs to rein in the notion that "anybody can have a gun, anywhere, anytime."
The former secretary of state and potential 2016 Democratic presidential candidate said the idea that anyone can have a gun is not in the "best interest of the vast majority of people." But she said that approach does not conflict with the rights of people to own... (GunPolicy.org)
In America, 'Scores of Bullying Victims Bring Weapons to School'
4 May 2014
Examiner (Denver)
Scores of bullying victims are bringing weapons to school, says new research offered in a presentation today. A recent study shows adolescents who are harassed in multiple ways most likely to carry gun or knife on campus, says the new study, "Exponential, Not Additive, Increase in Risk of Weapons Carrying by Adolescents Who Themselves Are Frequent and Recurrent Victims of Bullying." The abstract of the research is online. Bullying can take many forms. Students who have... (GunPolicy.org)
Most Illegal Homemade Guns in Indian State Marked as Made Overseas
3 May 2014
Times of India
Navi Mumbai - Most illegal country-made guns, which are seized by the police in Navi Mumbai, have markings such as 'Made in USA', 'Made in England' and 'Made in Austria'. However, Navi Mumbai crime branch officials said that despite tall claims, these guns are primarily manufactured in foundries in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, and later sold in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, and Haryana, among others, at cheap rates.
"We have so far seized 17 illegal country... (GunPolicy.org)
Illicit Gun Trade Remains in Traditional Chinese Village Allowed Firearms
29 April 2014
Japan Times
BIASHA, China – A rifle shot tears the air of a mountain hamlet — met not with terror but cries of delight in China's only remaining village where authorities encourage gun ownership.
"We start carrying guns from about 15 years old," said Jia Xinshan, fingering a wooden rifle's trigger as tourists snapped pictures of him in a shiny black coat. "We're the last gun tribe in China."
The armaments in Biasha, a village tucked amid the wooded peaks of Guizhou province,... (GunPolicy.org)
Chicago Teen Girl Guns Down Rival in Facebook Dispute Over Boy
29 April 2014
New York Daily News
Another virtual diss has turned into a real-life tragedy.
A Facebook feud between two 14-year-old girls over a boy ended when one gunned down the other on a Southside Chicago porch in broad daylight Monday afternoon, police said.
The unnamed teen perp, who has been charged with murder as a juvenile, whipped out a stolen .38-caliber handgun about 4:50 p.m. and tried to shoot into a crowd of people. The gun jammed and the girl handed it to someone else, who cleared the... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Youth Gun Programme Ends in Mentally Ill Woman Fatally Shooting Dad
27 April 2014
Sydney Morning Herald, Opinion
Eighteen years ago today, a lone gunman brandishing semi-automatic firearms shot dead 35 people and wounded 23 others at Port Arthur in Tasmania.
Most of us would remember where we were when we first heard that news. But nearly two decades on, there are young people who may have never have heard of this massacre. Tighter gun laws in Australia have meant no gun mass killings in their lifetimes.
Recent statistics on gun ownership from Gun Control Australia reveal that... (GunPolicy.org)
American Military Suicide: Often Young, White Men With Guns
26 April 2014
Washington Post
The Pentagon released final data on military suicides during 2012, painting a general picture of those more likely to take their own lives: Young, white men who used a gun and often had some history of mental health issues.
— Almost 93 percent were male
— 74 percent were white
— Almost 40 percent were between 17-24
— 65 percent used a firearm; almost 76 percent of those used a gun that was not issued by the military
— 25 percent died of asphyxiation,... (GunPolicy.org)
Violent Gun Crime Down in Canada in 2012, Most Gun Homicides Gang-Linked
23 April 2014
Globe & Mail (Toronto)
New data from Statistics Canada show the rate of firearms-related crime in Canada and the number of victims are declining. Incidents involving firearms accounted for 2 per cent of all victims of police-reported violent crime in 2012, Statscan reported. Police reported approximately 5,600 victims of violent crime where a firearm was present in 2012, about 1,800 fewer victims of firearm-related violent crime than 2009. Quebec is excluded from the report due to... (GunPolicy.org)
South Sudan's Police Seized 6,000 Firearms in 2014
19 April 2014
Radio Tamazuj (Sudan)
South Sudan's Minister of Interior Gen. Aleu Ayieny Aleu announced on Friday that the police captured 6,000 arms in searches in Juba since last month, mostly from the hands of 'the youth.'
On Friday the interior minister noted at a press conference that people were using the arms mostly for killing and robberies: "The thieves who are killing and attacking people in Juba are mostly the youth, and they have arms and I have collected not less than 6,000 arms in... (GunPolicy.org)
Haiti,Americas,Asia,Africa,Europe,South Sudan,Liberia,Oceania
Over 400,000 People Murdered Worldwide in 2012, 40 Percent Caused by Guns
10 April 2014
UN Dispatch (New York)
Almost half a million people across the world lost their lives in 2012 as a result of intentional homicide, with the highest murder rates logged in the Americas and Africa, and the lowest in Europe, Asia and Oceania, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports.
"Too many lives are being tragically cut short, too many families and communities left shattered. There is an urgent need to understand how violent crime is plaguing countries around the world,... (GunPolicy.org)
Teens as Young as 12 Getting Gun Licences in Australia, Schools Involved
7 April 2014
Perth Now / Herald Sun (Melbourne)
Suburban schoolchildren as young as 12 years old are applying for and getting gun licences in their hundreds, new figures show.
The approved youngsters, including pre-teens, can legally shoot rifles, shotguns and handguns under supervision.
Victoria Police approved 1028 licences in metropolitan areas last year — more than 270 were granted to children aged 12 to 14.
Junior gun owners live in some of the state's most exclusive suburbs including Prahran and span as... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Borrowed from Indonesian Soldier Used in Shooting
5 April 2014
Jakarta Post
Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Moeldoko on Friday offered an apology in light of the shooting of a Nasdem Party campaign post in North Aceh regency on Feb. 16, which involved the use of a TNI-issued weapon.
The two local political party supporters suspected of the crime have since been apprehended, but the results of a ballistics examination revealed that the weapon used belonged to a soldier.
"I would like to be honest about it and apologize for the... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia,United States,United Kingdom,Finland
Australia, Scotland and Finland Changed Gun Laws after Mass Shootings
3 April 2014
Global Post (Boston)
The immeasurably tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., which left 20 children and six adults dead in December 2012, horrified the world and briefly ignited a debate about gun control. Nine months later, the debate was held all over again after the mass shooting at a US Navy Yard in Washington, DC that killed 13 people.
America's most recent mass shooting took place Wednesday evening at Fort Hood Army base in Texas. The base was also the... (GunPolicy.org)
Yemen's Firearms Dealers Use Social Media for Advertising, Sales
1 April 2014
Yemen Times (Sana'a)
Facebook increasingly used to sell arms
Sitting among friends inside the arms shop he owns in the well-known Jahana arms market, Ali Awla busily posts photos of newly-arrived arms on his Facebook page.
Several types of weapons are carefully hung inside the shop to attract customers.
The Jahana arms market, which is located about 25 kilometers from Sana'a, is home to over 40 stores selling an impossibly wide range of weapons and body armor, including rocket-propelled... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Authorities Issue Gun Amnesty Ultimatum to Criminals
27 March 2014
Capital FM
NAIROBI — Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa has issued a one week amnesty to criminal gangs to surrender or face the full force of the law.
Marwa stated that those in possession of illegal firearms should surrender them before the expiry of the amnesty.
Speaking after a meeting with Muslim leaders, Marwa said the recent incidents of security are scaring away potential investors.
"All criminals in this county who are harbouring illegal weapons should... (GunPolicy.org)
Personalised Guns May Prevent Unintentional Shootings, Homicides in Pakistan
25 March 2014
Dawn
The school boy from Karachi knew he wasn't supposed to, but he got hold of it anyway.
It was his father's handgun, and he was showing it to a classmate who was visiting him at home. What happened next was tragic. The gun went off accidently, shooting the visiting youngster in the head and killing him.
This was nearly twenty years ago, and gun fatalities at the hands of youngsters in Pakistan have only worsened. GunPolicy.org estimates that at least 18,000,000 guns are... (GunPolicy.org)
American Samoa Cops Seize Almost 80 Guns in Six Years
20 March 2014
Samoa News
In their move to arm the police officers, the Department of Public Safety informed Senators in a hearing on Monday that between 2006 and 2012, the police confiscated close to 80 guns as a result of raids and criminal cases.
During the hearing on the hot issue of arming the police officers or first responders in the patrol division, Police Commander Tauese Va'a Sunia in a power point presentation noted that of the 78 guns they have confiscated, there were 63 rifles... (GunPolicy.org)
Toddler, Mother Gunned Down in Italian Mafia Assassination
18 March 2014
Local (Italy)
The killing of a three-year-old toddler along with two adults in an apparent fight for territory in a violent drug war has sparked reactions of horror in Italy.
The victims - a convicted murderer on day release from prison, his partner and her young son - were killed in southern Italy late on Monday after the car they were travelling in was forced off the road by gunmen in a second car, who then fired more than 15 bullets through the windscreen.
Investigators said the... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Teen Jailed After Ordering Assault Weapon Online, Delivered to Home
14 March 2014
Telegraph (UK)
A teenager who bought a machine gun online and had it delivered to his family home, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition and nunchucks, has been jailed for six years.
Reza Khalilzada, 18, was caught hiding an assault rifle under his bed which he had ordered from a US website.
Police were alerted after suspicious customs officials in the US examined a heavy box destined for Khalilzada's address in Pinner, Middlesex, in August last year.
Instead of the ceramic... (GunPolicy.org)
Three People Shot Each Day in South Africa's Western Cape
13 March 2014
Independent/IOL Daily News (South Africa)
CAPE TOWN - At least 236 people have been fatally shot in the Western Cape so far this year. This means an average of three people are murdered with a firearm each day in the Western Cape.
These figures are based on the number of bodies admitted to mortuaries. An average of 18 people are shot dead a day in the country, according to Gun Free SA's Adele Kirsten.
While police say they are concerned about shootings and murders in the province, mayoral committee member for... (GunPolicy.org)
Dominican Police Uses New Method to Find Illegal Guns After Amnesty Failure
12 March 2014
Bernama (Malaysia) / NAM News Network
ROSEAU - Law enforcement officials here have admitted that a gun amnesty launched in Dominica a few years ago has failed.
The gun amnesty, which was spearheaded by the Government of Dominica, was geared towards persons with illegal firearms.
They were asked to bring these firearms to the police and would not face any charges; however, according to reports, only two persons took advantage of that.
Speaking on the heels of several gun related incidents over the past... (GunPolicy.org)
Thai Teen Shoots, Kills Family Over Sibling Rivalry
12 March 2014
Nation (Bangkok)
A 19-year-old boy has allegedly confessed to shooting dead his parents and younger brother after he tried and failed to pass the blame on to the dead sibling, according to police.
Pol Colonel Sunthorn Himarat, a superintendent at Pathum Thani Police Headquarters, yesterday said the suspect made the confession in the face of solid evidence.
"Recordings from a closed-circuit TV system show the suspect turned off all eight security cameras at home where three... (GunPolicy.org)
Italian Teen Kills Self After Learning to Load Father's Gun Online
11 March 2014
Local (Italy)
A 17-year-old girl from the Sicilian province of Trapani, committed suicide after learning how to load a gun on the internet.
The pistol, which was kept unassembled in a safe at the family home in the town of Marsala, belonged to her father, an officer with the financial police, the local news website Marsalaviva.it reported.
The girl, named by the website as Simona Giacalone, is reported to have gathered information on the internet on how to assemble and load a... (GunPolicy.org)
Under Pressure, Facebook Announces Major Gun Policy Changes
5 March 2014
CBS News (USA)
After a campaign by gun control advocates to address concerns of firearm-related commercial activity on Facebook, the company today announced a series of "educational and enforcement" measures regarding discussion of guns and other regulated items on its social networks.
The changes, which also apply to Facebook-owned Instagram, include new age limits for posts or pages promoting private sales of restricted items like firearms, alcohol or adult products. There's new... (GunPolicy.org)
Two Students Arrested in Kenya After Handgun Found in Schoolbag
1 March 2014
Standard (Nairobi)
Kajiado, Kenya - Police are holding two school boys after a gun was allegedly recovered inside a schoolbag belonging to one of the boys.
The two Form Four students at Ololua Secondary School were arrested on Friday by police after a teacher discovered the firearm inside the student's school bag.
According to Ngong Police boss Farah Mohamed, one of the boys arrived at the school late and was questioned by his teacher.
The teacher who realised the student was a... (GunPolicy.org)
Angola Police Chief Wants Control of Police Guns to Prevent Diversion, Crime
28 February 2014
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
The Commander of National Police in central Bie province, commissioner Eduardo Fernando Cerqueira, advised Friday the police officers to leave their firearms in police stations to better control the material and avoid guns to be in the hands of unauthorized people.
The commissioner was speaking at the ceremony of 38th anniversary of National Police which is being marked on Friday, considered necessary for the police officers to avoid taking firearms to their houses, as... (GunPolicy.org)
Celebratory Gunfire a Changing Part of UAE Culture
27 February 2014
Telegraph (UK), Blog
We don't hear about gun crime in the UAE. It's just not something that happens. But that didn't stop me from feeling utterly petrified some time ago when I was woken in the early hours by the sound of gunfire.
I was staying at the time in a seafront resort in a rural area of Oman, just across the border from the UAE. As I lay rigid in bed listening to the gunshots getting closer, it struck me that we were staying in a villa right on the beach. I can't tell you the... (GunPolicy.org)
After Decades With Few Guns, Almost Every Libyan Household Has One
25 February 2014
PolicyMic
In a country where civilian gun ownership was rare for decades, a sudden inundation of small arms means plenty of people will likely get shot.
One recent afternoon, Ahmed, 26, was driving around Tripoli with his brother Bashir, 24. Without warning, the driver in the car in front of them slammed his brakes. Ahmed, who nearly rear-ended the offending vehicle, honked his horn. The other driver got out of his car. A shouting match became physical and the man went back to... (GunPolicy.org)
Could Technology be the Gun Control of 2014?
25 February 2014
MSNBC News (USA)
Smart guns similar to James Bond's pistol are marching closer to reality as manufacturers expect to continue testing prototypes throughout 2014 and a few politicians push for new technology to make firearms safer.
Manufacturers design "smart" guns, also referred to as "personalized" or "owner-authorized" firearms, to prevent intentional and unintentional shootings by children and other unauthorized users. The idea of incorporating technology into guns took hold during... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Lobby Reminded by Supreme Court Teens Shouldn't Have Handguns
25 February 2014
Bloomberg (USA), Editorial
The U.S. Supreme Court today told the National Rifle Association something the NRA has always known: Under the U.S. Constitution, gun possession can be legally regulated.
The court declined to review two lower court rulings restricting the rights of Americans under age 21 to own handguns. The decisions run counter to the ferocious liberalization of gun laws throughout the nation after the court's 2008 Heller decision, in which a polarized 5-4 majority blew past the... (GunPolicy.org)
Focus on Risk of Guns at Home During South Africa Suicide Prevention Campaign
18 February 2014
Health24 (Cape Town)
Guns are 85% more lethal than any other means used to commit suicide. Gun Free South Africa urges gun owners to be responsible during Teen Suicide Prevention Week (16-22 February 2014) and hand in their guns to the police for destruction.
Gun Free South Africa's spokesperson, Adle Kirsten, "There are different ways to help prevent suicides, but one step is clear; reducing a suicidal person's access to a lethal weapon helps save lives."
Just a week ago a double tragedy... (GunPolicy.org)
Mistrial in Fatal US Loud Music Shooting Case, Stand Your Ground Law Tested
16 February 2014
Guardian (UK)
A jury has declared that it could not reach a decision on whether a Florida man, who shot dead a teenager in a dispute over loud music, was guilty of murder or had acted in self defence.
The judge in Jacksonville declared a mistrial on the first-degree murder charge on Saturday, although the jury convicted Michael Dunn on three lesser counts of attempted second-degree murder, and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Dunn could face a sentence of between 20 and 60 years.... (GunPolicy.org)
8 Dead, 12 Injured After Day of Gun Violence in Guatemala
16 February 2014
Latin American Herald Tribune (Venezuela)
GUATEMALA CITY – At least eight people died and about a dozen were wounded, including four children, in violence around Guatemala over the past 12 hours, authorities and emergency services personnel reported Sunday.
A spokesman with the National Civil Police, or PNC, told reporters that the eight victims were shot in several incidents in the Guatemalan capital and vicinity.
In Villa Nueva, one of the capital's southern suburbs, the bodies of two men were found, both... (GunPolicy.org)
Over Three School Shootings a Month in US Since Newtown - New Analysis
13 February 2014
Washington Post, Blog
There have been at least 44 school shootings on K-12 or college campuses in 24 states — an average of more than three a month — since the deadly 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., according to a new analysis. Twenty-eight people have died and 37 have been injured.
Twenty children and six adults working at Sandy Hook were killed in the December 2012 assault in Newtown, leading to renewed calls around the nation for Congress to take action... (GunPolicy.org)
28 People Killed in 44 US School Shootings Since Newtown, Study Finds
12 February 2014
Guardian (UK)
Gun violence is erupting in America's schools and colleges at a rate of more than three incidents a month, with 13 school shootings recorded in the first six weeks of 2014 alone, a new study on the impact of gun violence since the Newtown tragedy shows.
The analysis by groups campaigning for tighter gun controls in the US identifies at least 44 school and college shootings since Newtown in December 2012, when 20 children and six of their carers were killed in a... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Lobby Upset New US Surgeon General Supports Gun Control
10 February 2014
Washington Times
President Obama is using every executive power in his arsenal to infringe on Second Amendment rights.
His latest maneuver is to nominate a rabidly anti-gun doctor to be the next U.S. surgeon general. Dr. Vivek Murthy is facing Senate approval in upcoming weeks.
Dr. Murthy is the 36-year-old president and co-founder of Doctors for America, a group that advocates for Obamacare and gun control laws.
The group calls gun violence "a public health crisis." It pushes for... (GunPolicy.org)
Boston Plans Gun Buybacks After Shooting Death of 9-Year-Old by Brother
9 February 2014
Reuters
Boston plans to launch a gun buyback program in a bid to reduce shootings following the death last week of a 9-year-old boy who was shot by his 14-year-old brother in an apparent accident, Mayor Marty Walsh said.
Walsh, who took office last month, said he was still developing a specific plan, including how much would be paid and how collection would work, with the city's newly appointed police commissioner, William Evans.
"It's a short-term solution," Walsh told... (GunPolicy.org)
Is School Shooting A Wake-Up Call For Russia?
4 February 2014
Bloomberg (USA)
Russians had considered their country immune to the kind of school violence that the U.S. has suffered in incidents such as the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings and the Columbine High School massacre. Now, 15-year-old Sergei Gordeyev has disabused them of that notion, killing a teacher and a cop at his school in northern Moscow.
News of the shooting, which occurred around midday Monday, immediately prompted comparisons to the U.S. "Have we caught the American disease?"... (GunPolicy.org)
20 Young People a Day Hospitalized for Gun Injuries in America
27 January 2014
USA Today
Almost one child or teen an hour is injured by a firearm seriously enough to require hospitalization, a new analysis finds. Six percent of the 7,391 hospitalizations analyzed in 2009 resulted in a death, says the study in February's Pediatrics, released Monday.
The damage caused by gun-related injuries rarely gets the same attention as fatalities, "but that every day, 20 of our children are hospitalized for firearms injury, often suffering severe and costly injuries,... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns Primary Cause of Homicide in Trinidad & Tobago
26 January 2014
Guardian (Trinidad and Tobago)
T&T continues to rank in the top ten for homicides per capita around the world. This is according to a source at the United Nations Information Service. The United Nations Information Service has produced reports with statistics on homicides in 207 countries. The categories are: Homicides by most Populous City; by Firearms; by Sex; and Total Homicides in 2013, and is recorded per 100,000 citizens.
Calculations by the Sunday Guardian showed that between 2004 and 2009,... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,New Zealand,Europe
Guns Raise Risk of Suicide, Homicide, Shot Women: Global Meta-Analysis
21 January 2014
University of California, San Francisco, Media release
Someone with access to firearms is three times more likely to commit suicide and nearly twice as likely to be the victim of a homicide as someone who does not have access, according to a comprehensive review of the scientific literature conducted by researchers at UC San Francisco.
The meta-analysis, published online Jan. 20 in Annals of Internal Medicine, pools results from 15 investigations, slightly more than half of which were done after a 1996 federal law... (GunPolicy.org)
Europe,New Zealand,United States
Access to Guns Lifts Risk of Suicide, Homicide: Global Meta-Analysis
21 January 2014
Annals of Internal Medicine (Philadelphia)
Abstract
Background: Research suggests that access to firearms in the home increases the risk for violent death.
Purpose: To understand current estimates of the association between firearm availability and suicide or homicide.
Data Sources: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science were searched without limitations and a gray-literature search was performed on 23 August 2013.
Study Selection: All study types that assessed... (GunPolicy.org)
NZ Gun Lobby Rejects Registry as 'White Elephant' Despite Child Deaths
20 January 2014
Scoop.co.nz, Media release
The knee-jerk call by anti-firearm lobbyists to toughen firearm laws following the tragic murder-suicide in Dunedin is totally misplaced and ignores reality says the Sporting Hunters Outdoor Trust.
Trust spokesman Laurie Collins of Westport said New Zealand's firearm laws where the fitness of firearms owners is registered has been widely praised as practical and realistic.
"A gun registry will not prevent one death or one crime. The tragedy underlines that the... (GunPolicy.org)
NGO Survey Shows 2 Million Unregistered Guns in Chile [ES]
19 January 2014
Terra (Chile)
[Translated summary: NGO Activa says there are around 2 million unregistered firearms in Chile and only 758,593 registered firearms, after a survey done in 2013. The study showed 9.22 weapons on average are seized each day in the country and 3.25 weapons per day in urban areas.]
Según la ONG Activa, en el país circularían cerca de 2 millones de armas de fuego no inscritas, frente a las 758.593 que se encuentran registradas por la policía.
La directora de la... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns + Impulsive Teenagers = Family Tragedy in America - MSNBC feature
19 January 2014
MSNBC News (USA)
Michael Graham killed himself a year ago. The 13-year-old was at home in Brewster, N.Y., and used one of his father's unsecured guns to shoot himself on Jan. 14, 2013. The boy "definitely" acted on impulse – "without a doubt," his aunt Maureen Hutchins told msnbc.
"Did he have a bad day at school? Fight with a girlfriend? Things that happen to a 13-year-old – when you're that age – can seem overwhelming, but two hours later, you know, you move on," said Hutchins.... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal, Homemade Guns in Hands of South African Youth
18 January 2014
Independent/IOL Daily News (South Africa)
CAPE TOWN - Teenage hitmen as young as 14 are terrorising the streets of Mitchells Plain, and while police battle to curb the rampant gun trade, the increasing use of homemade firearms threatens to further derail any chance of controlling gang violence.
Mitchells Plain's worst areas, such as Beacon Valley, have at least one illegal gun on every street, according to police.
Gangs are using the bravado of youths as a means to eliminate their rivals, sometimes with crude... (GunPolicy.org)
Four-Year-Old Detroit Girl Shoots Playmate Dead
17 January 2014
Belfast Telegraph
A four-year-old girl accidentally shot dead a little boy she was playing with at a house.
Police captain Rodney Cox said the shooting happened yesterday when the girl, the four-year-old victim and a five year old were playing in a bedroom and found the gun.
Mr Cox said an adult was in the home in Detroit, Michigan, at the time, though it was not yet clear exactly... (GunPolicy.org)
New Zealand Man With History of Domestic Violence Kills Children, Self
16 January 2014
Radio New Zealand International (Shortwave)
Dunedin's West Harbour community is in shock after two children were seemingly shot dead by a man who had protection orders against him.
Bradley and Ellen Livingstone, aged nine and six, died from gunshot wounds at their home in St Leonards on Wednesday night. A 51-year-old Milton prison worker then appears to have turned the gun on himself.
Police will not yet release his name until they finish contacting relatives overseas. However, they confirmed he is the... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 19,000 Colombians Arrested for Illegally Carrying Weapons
13 January 2014
Prensa Latina (Havana)
BOGOTA - More than 19,000 Colombians were recently arrested for illegal carrying of weapons, which was described by the national police chief, Rodolfo Palomino, as a blow against illegal gangs involved in murders and theft.
Palomino said they seized 34,155 guns without licenses and 18 percent of the detainees claimed that the seized weapon was not theirs.
Palomino explained that early this year, 17 minors and 15 women were arrested for that offense (in 2013 the figure... (GunPolicy.org)
American Gun Wars to Heat Up in 2014
12 January 2014
USA Today
Both sides of the gun law debate have geared up to wage war across the country in 2014 using millions of dollars, midterm elections, opposing messaging strategies and dueling grass-roots campaigns.
This year, groups will focus on pouring money into candidates that support their ideals and changing or upholding laws in hot spots such as Colorado, Washington and Illinois.
On one side, gun rights activists plan to challenge laws in states like New Jersey and California... (GunPolicy.org)
Fatal Shooting of Beauty Queen Highlights Insecurity, Crime in Venezuela
8 January 2014
InSight Crime (Bogota)
The murder of the 2004 Miss Venezuela winner has sparked a wave of concern over the country's security situation, forcing the government to confront a major issue it has previously tried to downplay.
Monica Spear, a model and actress, was murdered along with her British partner, Thomas Henry Berry, in an apparent robbery attempt on January 6.
According to El Universal, the couple's car broke down on the highway as they headed toward Caracas, and they were being... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Police Say 60-70% of Gun Licences Based on Fake Documents
3 January 2014
GMA TV News (Manila)
Of the 1.7 million licensed firearms in the country, 60 to 70 percent were issued based on fake documents, the Philippine National Police said Friday.
Citing figures from the PNP Firearms Explosives Office, Police Chief Superintendent Louie Oppus said in a report on "24 Oras" aired Friday evening that he has ordered the investigation into the use of fake names and addresses as well as fake neuro-psychiatric results by applicants.
"I have now caused an investigation... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Mayor Among 4 Killed in Shooting at Manila Airport
20 December 2013
CNN
A gunman opened fire outside a terminal at Manila's international airport on Friday, killing the mayor of a southern Philippines town, two members of his family and a young child, authorities said.
The attack wounded five people and caused panic among travelers caught up in the chaos.
Gun crime and political violence occur with grim frequency in the Philippines. But the shooting Friday at Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport appeared particularly... (GunPolicy.org)
Teen Hunter Accidentally Shoots Father Dead, Kills Self in France
16 December 2013
National Post (Toronto)
France is in shock after a 14-year-old boy mistakenly shot his father dead while out hunting then turned the gun on himself in despair and committed suicide.
The father and son had been out hunting on Saturday afternoon in Sourribes in the Alpes-de-Haute Provence when the boy slipped on leaves, accidentally pulling the trigger, police said. The bullet struck his 42-year-old father in the legs.
The distraught teenager then called contacted a family member who alerted... (GunPolicy.org)
More Than Half of Americans Now Have Tougher Gun Laws
12 December 2013
Mother Jones (USA)
An unthinkable massacre ignites an intense national debate. Then, Congress does nothing. The powerful gun lobby wins again. End of story.
[Interactive charts of US state gun laws are displayed in the original]
So went the popular narrative last spring with the collapse of gun control legislation on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, scores of people have been wounded or killed in five new mass shootings and other gun rampages around the country, and an estimated 30,000 have... (GunPolicy.org)
Goat Market in Kenya Becomes 'Supermarket' of Illegal Guns
8 December 2013
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
On November 14, officers from the Special Crimes Prevention Unit (SPRU), acting on a tip-off, trailed a white saloon car on suspicion that its occupants were planning to rob a bank.
After a dramatic chase, the officers challenged its occupants to stop at Kiamaiko.
The officers ransacked the car and found an arsenal of weapons among them AK-47s, pistols, ammunition, police uniform and walkie-talkies. One of the four suspects arrested was a former administration police... (GunPolicy.org)
Real Cost of Youth Gun Deaths in America Unknown Due to Lack of Data
30 November 2013
Washington Post, Editorial
Lobbyists for the National Rifle Association (NRA) have spent considerable time and money to discourage the collection and sharing of information related to guns and gun violence. Keeping the public in the dark about the facts is helpful in advancing an extreme agenda. In particular, the gun lobby has used the under-counting of gun accidents involving children to oppose reasonable policies that could help prevent deaths and injuries caused by the careless handling and... (GunPolicy.org)
Iraq,Syria,Israel,India,Ireland,Togo,Canada,United States,Afghanistan,Côte d'Ivoire,Iran,Sri Lanka,Germany,Russia
Growing Number of Personalised Firearms to Boost Safety Available
30 November 2013
Economist
To help push Soviet forces out of Afghanistan in the 1980s, America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) gave Afghan fighters shoulder-launched Stinger anti-aircraft missiles (pictured). Accurate and easy-to-use, the Stingers caused grievous losses. But after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, the CIA wanted to discourage the use of the leftover missiles. It got hold of some of those circulating on the black market and booby-trapped them, so that anyone who tried to fire one... (GunPolicy.org)
16-Year-Old Boy Accidentally Shoots Himself in India
27 November 2013
Indian Express
A 16-year-old boy died after he accidentally pulled the trigger of a pistol while showing it off to his siblings, police said. The incident was reported from East Delhi's Madhu Vihar area on Monday night.
According to police, the boy had found the 'made in Italy' weapon and was teaching his siblings how to operate it when he accidentally pulled the trigger. He suffered a bullet injury in the neck. Neighbours who heard the gunshot rushed him to the Metro hospital in... (GunPolicy.org)
Costa Rica Police Work With Schools to Prevent Gun Crime
21 November 2013
Tico Times (Costa Rica)
Jenifer Lizano lives in one of the five most violent places in Costa Rica, the neighborhood of León XIII in the northern San José canton of Tibás.
"Guns are used here on a daily basis and there are shootings at any time of the day," she said.
In the first 10 months of 2013, 15 people have been murdered in the urban neighborhood.
Some victims are children, including Lizano's 14-year-old nephew, who was killed by a stray bullet two years ago. Since then, Lizano... (GunPolicy.org)
Northern Ireland Children Aged 12 Could Be Allowed to Fire Guns
11 November 2013
Belfast Telegraph
The thought of a shotgun in the hands of a 12-year-old may send a shiver down your spine – but it could become a reality in the next few years.
Justice Minister David Ford is considering lowering the age at which young people can have supervised access to shotguns and air rifles from 18 to 12.
British Association for Shooting and Conservation NI director Tommy Mayne said it should be lowered further – to 10, the age of criminal responsibility.
It seems a lot of... (GunPolicy.org)
Call for Disarmament After Sudanese Youth Found with Assault Weapons
7 November 2013
Sudan Tribune (France)
RUMBEK — Authorities in Lakes state's Yirol West county of reported that a series of firearms have been discovered in remote cattle camps occupied by pastoralist youth from the Apaak community.
Colonel Majak Ruei Angong warned that surprise disarmament could be ordered in all suspected payams and bomas (districts) around Yirol West county at "anytime".
He said intelligence currently being gathered, as well as information already obtained, confirms that pastoralist... (GunPolicy.org)
Firearm Injuries Cost US Over $16 Billion in Hospital Care Over 9 Years
4 November 2013
ScienceDaily
Firearm injuries in the U.S. cost more than $16 billion in hospital resources between 2000 and 2008, according to new research released today at the American Public Health Association's 141st Annual Meeting in Boston.
According to the research, 275,939 victims of gunfire in the U.S. resulted in 1.7 million days of hospital service - an average of 6.7 days per incident. The average cost of medical treatment for each hospitalization was $59,620. Additionally, roughly one... (GunPolicy.org)
Greeks Fear More Gun Violence After Golden Dawn Members Shot Dead
3 November 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
A brazen drive-by shooting that killed two young members of Greece's far-right Golden Dawn party has shocked Greeks and prompted soul-searching about whether the crisis-hit country is slipping into a "cycle of violence."
Greece's anti-terrorism force is investigating whether Friday's rush hour shooting outside the party's offices in Athens was retaliation for a fatal stabbing of an anti-fascism rapper by a Golden Dawn supporter in September, police said.
Rapper Pavlos... (GunPolicy.org)
US Lawmakers Bicker Over Stand Your Ground Laws After Recent Deaths
29 October 2013
Montreal Gazette (Québec)
WASHINGTON - The mother of a 17-year-old boy shot by a suspicious neighbour told a panel of U.S. senators Tuesday that state "stand your ground" self-defence laws do not work and must be amended, reviving the politically charged gun control issue a year ahead of the 2014 midterm elections.
But little besides politics emerged from the session, held in the Senate's made-for-television hearing room. Democrats who hold majority power in the Senate and are trying to keep it... (GunPolicy.org)
US Cops Shoot Youth with BB Gun, Guns Still 'Anything But Normal'
26 October 2013
Bloomberg (USA)
Last weekend, gun rights activists marched at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, carrying semi-automatic rifles and loaded magazines. Four days later, eighth-grader Andy Lopez was shot to death by Santa Rosa, California police for failing to drop the BB gun he was carrying to a friend's house.
Men carrying AR-15s down the street, fine; boy carrying BB gun down the street, fatal? Something does not compute.
In fact, the tragic killing in the second case exposes the... (GunPolicy.org)
Child Gunshot Wounds Most Likely in Homes With Firearms, US Study
26 October 2013
Medical Daily (New York), Video
Even among rural Americans, parental attitudes run heterogenous on the topic of gun safety and children: Locked or unlocked, loaded or unloaded, and just how close should kids be to firearms? Whereas some parents in multiple-gun households teach firearm safety to toddlers, others forbid their children from playing with toy guns, or even pointing an index finger to mimic one.
Christi Parenteau Martin, a 36-year-old mother of four from Cabot, Vt., says she supports... (GunPolicy.org)
Two Dead, Two Injured in US School Shooting
21 October 2013
Guardian (UK) / Associated Press
Two people died and two others were injured in a Nevada school shooting on Monday.
Police said one of the victims was a staff member at Sparks middle school in Sparks, east of Reno. Police chief Mike Mieras said the other person to have died was the suspect, who was thought to be a student.
None of the victims have been identified, but officials said there are "no outstanding suspects".
Police said they received the first report of the incident at 7.16am local time... (GunPolicy.org)
Drug Abuse, Illicit Guns Threaten Security, Youths in Kenya
17 October 2013
Xinhua
KITALE, Kenya - Kenya has deployed three special security units to crackdown on increased use of drugs and illicit guns threatening security and spoiling unemployed youths in counties in northwest Kenya.
The move followed concerns from tribal leaders over the widespread drug abuse and existence of illegal guns fueling crime and deteriorating security.
Trans-Nzoia County Police Commander Lillian Okembo said on Wednesday that security forces have been posted to the... (GunPolicy.org)
New Regulations Causing Controversy for German Sport Shooting
16 October 2013
NPR Berlin
Sonya Pfeilschifter marches onto the shooting range with her head down and a focused stride.
You wouldn't know it, but her heart is racing. She's about to compete in the German National championships for air rifle shooting in Munich.
In this sport, a fast pulse can be a problem. She's in fourth place, and if she's going to win, she has to have an absolutely steady hand.
She focuses on the target ten meters ahead. The eight women raise their guns. Pfeilschifter... (GunPolicy.org)
New Caledonia: 4 Injured in a Shooting after a Night of Drinking [FR]
15 October 2013
Agence France Presse
[Translated summary: Four persons, including a minor, were injured in a shooting after a night of drinking in Nouméa, New Caledonia, where firearm sales and alcohol consumption have significantly increased in recent years. According to the Prefecture, there are at least 49,000 firearms held by civilians in New Caledonia.]
NOUMEA — Quatre personnes, dont un mineur, ont été blessées mardi matin dans une fusillade après une nuit de beuverie dans un quartier... (GunPolicy.org)
Zimbabwe Air Force Official Arrested Over Unintentional Shooting
15 October 2013
Herald (Zimbabwe)
An Air Force of Zimbabwe official who accidentally shot a 14-year-old boy after trying to clear a loaded gun he had seized from a Chitungwiza businessman was yesterday remanded in custody.
The wounded boy was shot on the right pelvis with the bullet protruding at the right buttock. He is still admitted to Chitungwiza Central Hospital.
Gerald Gurwe (23), stationed at Manyame Air Base allegedly received information that the businessman, Mr Trust Jasi had taken his uncle... (GunPolicy.org)
South African Students In Court Over Crime Gun Possession
15 October 2013
Independent/IOL Daily News (South Africa)
JOHANNESBURG - Two high school pupils appeared in the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court on Monday after being caught with a gun and live ammunition on Friday.
According to Kagiso police station commander Brigadier Sipho Ngubane, pupils at the Mosupatsela Secondary School reported to the deputy principal that Bongani Phapha, 19, and Joubert Tlou, 18, were in possession of a gun.
The deputy principal called the police, and the gun, which had been hidden on the school... (GunPolicy.org)
Argentina Youth Gun Homicides Points to Rising Organized Crime
15 October 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota) / La Nacion
Violent deaths among youth in Argentina are at a ten-year high in a pattern that may point to the rise in organized crime in the country.
In 2011, the most recent full year statistics are available, 794 people aged 15 to 29 were murdered, reported La Nacion; the total figure of 4,935 violent deaths in that age range is the highest since 2003.
The number of intentional homicides could be much higher. As reported by La Nacion, another 1,074 youth deaths were recorded as... (GunPolicy.org)
Creating a Gun-Safe Village in Somalia
14 October 2013
Alert Net / Thompson Reuters, Media release
"Thanks for taking photos in my shop as an example to tell others that we are living in danger," says Yasin Asyayr Gurase.
In his small store in Kalabyr, a village of about 1,500 people 100 kilometres south of Garowe in the Puntland State of Somalia, guns are stacked against shelves filled with shirts and shoes, and AK-47s rest against food products.
These weapons are not for sale. Rather, after a number of recent accidents in the village, they are being left in shops... (GunPolicy.org)
Black Children in America Top Targets for Gun Violence
7 October 2013
Miami Herald
In the weeks since the Washington Navy Yard shooting, the city of New Orleans reached a tragic milestone.
All told, 108 people have been murdered in the Crescent City so far this year. In September two black girls, one 11 years old and the other age 2, were shot and killed. And earlier this year a national organization advocating for stricter gun control told the story of a black 10-year-old New Orleans boy who has been shot and seriously injured twice in his short... (GunPolicy.org)
Three Dead in a Week of Hunting Accidents in France
4 October 2013
Local (France)
A 61-year-old French hunter accidentally killed his own son in a tragic hunting accident this week after mistaking him for a wild boar. With a six-year-old boy also being killed in a separate hunt this week, there will be increased pressure for tougher safety measures to be introduced.
France witnessed two more fatal hunting accidents this week that will no doubt lead to renewed calls for more stringent safety measures to be introduced during the hunting season.
On... (GunPolicy.org)
Children and Guns: The Hidden Toll of Unintentional Shootings in the US
28 September 2013
New York Times
The .45-caliber pistol that killed Lucas Heagren, 3, on Memorial Day last year at his Ohio home had been temporarily hidden under the couch by his father. But Lucas found it and shot himself through the right eye. "It's bad," his mother told the 911 dispatcher. "It's really bad."
A few days later in Georgia, Cassie Culpepper, 11, was riding in the back of a pickup with her 12-year-old brother and two other children. Her brother started playing with a pistol his father... (GunPolicy.org)
Cop Says Young Bermuda Gangsters Shoot, Kill Without Knowing Why
27 September 2013
Bermuda Sun
A new generation of gangster has emerged from four years of gunfire, bloodshed and deadly rivalry in Bermuda, according to the Police Commissioner.
Michael DeSilva says the "second generation" gang members that carry out most of the shootings now don't even know what they are fighting for because they have no reference point.
Mr DeSilva told the Bermuda Sun there remained a "remarkably small number of core gangsters in Bermuda capable of pulling the trigger".
He... (GunPolicy.org)
NRA Claims Mass Shooting Shows Need for More Guns at Defence Base
22 September 2013
Guardian (UK)
The head of the National Rifle Association said on Sunday "there weren't enough good guys with guns" to confront the gunman who killed 12 people at the Washington navy yard on Monday. Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's executive vice president, called for more armed guards and better security at military bases.
LaPierre's comments, in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, echoed his response nine months ago to the Newtown school shooting, in which Adam Lanza killed 20 young... (GunPolicy.org)
Opinion: US Gun Use Is Out Of Control. Shouldn't The World Intervene?
21 September 2013
Guardian (UK), Opinion
Last week, Starbucks asked its American customers to please not bring their guns into the coffee shop. This is part of the company's concern about customer safety and follows a ban in the summer on smoking within 25 feet of a coffee shop entrance and an earlier ruling about scalding hot coffee. After the celebrated Liebeck v McDonald's case in 1994, involving a woman who suffered third-degree burns to her thighs, Starbucks complies with the Specialty Coffee Association... (GunPolicy.org)
NZ Kindergarten Issues 'Gun Licences' in Attempt to Teach Safety
18 September 2013
Stuff (New Zealand)
At Stratford's Avon Kindergarten kids can pick up a "gun" and shoot a possum any time they want - if they have a licence.
Head teacher Lynsi Latham-Saunders has introduced the gun-use policy after some of the 3- to 5-year-olds began using sticks as guns and pointing them at each other.
"They were using guns for what they see guns used for on cartoons and television. Children weren't too keen on guns being pushed in their faces," she said.
Now, if any of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Use of Firearms Long Out of Control in Guyana
6 September 2013
Guyana Chronicle, Letter
There is a situation existing in Guyana that has long gone out of control, the consequences of which are dire, I make mention of the dangerous or should I say murderous use, of illegal firearms. Seems the easiest thing to obtain these days is an illegal weapon, go out there and create havoc in society. You can hold up someone and relieve them of their hard-earned possessions among the other myriad of atrocities that go with its use. It is the most fashionable thing to... (GunPolicy.org)
Elderly French Hunter Shoots, Injures Two Walkers Mistaken for Bird
6 September 2013
Local (France)
Albert, an 82-year-old hunter, shot two walkers after mistaking them for pheasants, a court in France heard this week. It has been held up as another example by anti-hunting groups, who are calling for a crackdown on the sport to cut the number of accidents.
The 82-year-old man, called Albert, accidentally shot the two walkers when he was out hunting in woods near Bertric-Buréé in the Dordogne department of southern France.
According to regional newspaper Sud-Ouest,... (GunPolicy.org)
13 Injured After Celebratory Gunfire at Greek Wedding Goes Wrong
27 August 2013
Ekathimerini (Greece)
Thirteen people were being treated at the general hospital of Larissa, central Greece, on Tuesday for gunshot injuries suffered at a wedding on Monday night at the Roma camp of Nea Smyrni.
The 13 people, among whom are several children, received a range of minor injuries when one of the wedding guests, a 44-year-old man, tried to fire his hunting rifle into the air when the weapon backfired.
The 44-year-old has been arrested, while authorities are also seeking his... (GunPolicy.org)
Stray Bullets Caused 5 Children's Deaths in Turkey Last Month
26 August 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
Stray bullets from celebrations or disputes continue to kill people across the country, with five children having lost their lives in this manner over the last 30 days.
The most recent incident took place in Ağrı on Aug. 24. People were celebrating a henna night by firing guns into the air when stray bullets apparently hit 7-year-old Mehmet Keser and Altın Kalkuç Koç, who were attending a wedding ceremony two blocks away.
The two critically wounded were rushed to... (GunPolicy.org)
US Eight-Year-Old Allegedly Shot, Killed Carer After Playing Video Game
26 August 2013
Reuters
An 8-year-old boy from rural Louisiana shot and killed his elderly caregiver just minutes after he finished playing a violent video game, police have said.
The child was released to his parents and has not been charged in the shooting on Thursday evening about 100 miles northwest of New Orleans in Slaughter, Louisiana, the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Department said.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting of Marie Smothers remain under investigation, the... (GunPolicy.org)
South African Girl of Seven 'Shoots Friend Dead'
26 August 2013
BBC News
A seven-year-old South African girl has shot dead her friend, aged six, with her grandfather's revolver while playing at a farm, police say.
A murder case has been opened after the dead girl, a daughter of a farm worker, was shot in the face, reports say.
The alleged killer's grandfather has been charged with failure to safeguard a firearm, police added.
South Africa has tight gun ownership regulations but many people still possess firearms.
'Great shock'
The... (GunPolicy.org)
14-Year-Old Algerian Youth Dies From Celebratory Gunfire [FR]
24 August 2013
Tout Sur L'Algerie
[Translated summary: A 14-year-old Algerian youth died after he was fatally wounded by bullets at a family event. Unintentional deaths from celebratory shootings are not unusual.]
Une fête a tourné au drame dans un village de Tizi Ouzou. En effet, ce vendredi, un enfant de 14 ans a été mortellement atteint par balles d'une arme à feu lors d'une fête de circoncision à Tamaghoucht, dans la commune de Béni Aissi, à 20 km au sud de Tizi Ouzou, a-t-on appris ce... (GunPolicy.org)
'Bored' US Teens Shoot Australian Baseball Player, Tourism Boycott Call
20 August 2013
Guardian (UK)
Prosecutors filed charges against three teenagers on Tuesday, after police said the boys randomly targeted an Australian baseball player as he jogged and shot him in the back, killing him, to avoid the boredom of an Oklahoma summer day.
Christopher Lane, 22, of Melbourne, died on Friday along a tree-lined road on Duncan's well-to-do north side. Two teenagers, 15- and 16-year-olds from the gritty part of the town, were charged with first-degree murder and ordered held... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkish Groom Kills Nephew at Wedding with Celebratory Gunfire
12 August 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
Sixteen-year-old Onur Yılmaz died after being hit by a stray bullet fired by his uncle at his uncle's wedding ceremony in Çorum, Turkish media reported on Monday.
The incident took place in Aşdavul village, in Çorum's Ortaköy district, at the wedding of Osman Yılmaz and Oya Çelik. Yılmaz fired celebratory rounds of gunfire and a bullet hit and seriously injured his teenage nephew.
Onur Yılmaz was taken to Ortaköy State Hospital and later transferred to Hitit... (GunPolicy.org)
Death of Child Puts Focus on Celebratory Gunfire in US
11 August 2013
Washington Post
MIDLOTHIAN, Virginia — When a stray bullet pierced the top of Brendon Mackey's head, the 7-year-old was on his way to a July Fourth fireworks celebration with his dad and other family members. He died the next day in a Richmond hospital, a bullet lodged at the base of his skull, sparking a methodical, door-to-door search for a most elusive killer: celebratory gunfire.
Police believe someone fired a shot into the air within a 5,200-foot radius of Brendon. Witnesses... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Homicides Rise 61% in Brazil Over a Decade [PT]
9 August 2013
Globo (Rio de Janeiro)
[Translated summary: Between 2000 and 2010, the rate of gun-related homicides in Brazil rose by 61.4% according to a new study. The research also showed the presence of guns in the home increased the risk of suicide or homicide. There was a total of 29,824 gun homicides during that time and gun suicides fell by 37% after 2003, when the Disarmament Statute came into force. Recent gun deaths have raised concerns about guns.]
RIO - Na última década, os casos de... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil Shocked as 'Sweet Child' Apparently Murders His Own Family
7 August 2013
Guardian (UK)
São Paulo police have said that Marcelo Pesseghini was a "sweet child". They are mystified as to why on Sunday evening the 13-year-old pupil seemingly murdered his police officer parents, his grandmother and his aunt before shooting himself.
Three of the victims were apparently sleeping in the family home in Brasilândia, north São Paulo, when they were killed. The body of his mother, Andreia, 36, was found slumped on her knees beside a bed, her arms covering her... (GunPolicy.org)
Small-Town Cop Refuses to Call Child-on-Child Shooting 'Accidental'
6 August 2013
Slate (USA), Blog
On Sunday afternoon, a 6-year-old Danville, Va., boy was sitting at home when he somehow got hold of a loaded handgun that had been left unattended by its adult owner. He fired the gun, and the bullet went through a wall and hit a 22-month-old girl. The child was taken to a local hospital. She's currently in stable condition.
If you're familiar with my coverage of unintentional child shootings like these, you know that now's the time where I usually chide local law... (GunPolicy.org)
Spanish Man Shot Child Over Noise
1 August 2013
Local (Spain)
An eleven-year-old boy is in critical condition after a neighbour in the Madrid district of San Blas shot him for "not letting him sleep".
Spanish police arrested 30-year-old José S.A. on Tuesday night after he allegedly shot a young boy who was playing football with a friend close to the aggressor's home.
The incident, which took place at around half past eight in the evening, saw the eleven-year-old being rushed to hospital after he received a bullet to the... (GunPolicy.org)
US Study Says Country Life Riskier Than City Living Due to Guns
23 July 2013
Reuters
Contrary to what many believe, living in the city is far less risky than in the country, according to a study released on Tuesday that takes into account all major forms of death from injuries.
Although homicides in cities far outpace those in rural areas, overall the risk of dying from some form of accident or injury is 20 percent greater in the most rural counties of the United States than in the nation's biggest cities.
The findings may give pause to people tempted... (GunPolicy.org)
US First Lady Highlights Youth and Gun Violence in Speech
23 July 2013
Washington Post
WASHINGTON — Michelle Obama is speaking out about the toll that gun violence is taking on young people, in a shift that shows the first lady's willingness to tackle new and polarizing issues as she shapes her second term.
A meeting with high school students from a poor, gang-infested neighborhood in Chicago, her hometown, led Mrs. Obama to put a new spin on the stalled legislative debate over whether to ban firearms or impose new background checks on people who want... (GunPolicy.org)
15-Year Old Suspected Gun Runners Detained in Malaysia, 2 Guns Seized
21 July 2013
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
KOTA BARU - Police today seized two pistols and detained three people including a 15-year-old boy and a woman in a raid at a house in Kampung Bunut Susu, Pasir Mas near here.
Besides the American-made Colt Super Automatic .22 calibre Magnum and a French-made Modele Mikros, the team also found a fake pistol Baby 111-CAPA 3.8 model, a plastic packet containing three pyschotropic pills, a taser gun, two empty magazines and a magazine with four bullets in it.
Kelantan... (GunPolicy.org)
Boy Guilty of Manslaughter in Fiji After Shooting 6-Year-Old
17 July 2013
Stuff (New Zealand)
A Fiji court has found a 10-year-old boy guilty of the manslaughter of a 6-year-old New Zealand child killed in a shooting last year.
The 10-year-old's father has been ordered to pay F$2500 (NZ$1680) court costs and to ensure the good behaviour of the child for seven years until he becomes an adult.
Mohammed Khubeb Khan, 6, of Auckland, and a 14-year-old cousin, Mohammed Nabil Khan, were hit by a bullet as they were playing at a new house on the outskirts of Lautoka... (GunPolicy.org)
Bermudian Student Jailed for Gun Smuggling Attempt
13 July 2013
Royal Gazette (Bermuda)
A Bermudian college student has been jailed after he admitted importing two BB guns.
Shaquille Crockwell, 21, from Rock Lane West, Hamilton Parish, pleaded guilty yesterday to importing the prohibited weapons on April 22.
Magistrates' Court heard that Crockwell had returned to the Island on the day in question from his studies in Rhode Island.
While going through customs at LF Wade International Airport, Crockwell declared some throwing knives, which he brought for a... (GunPolicy.org)
Six Year Old Shoots Sister to Death in Ghana with Unregistered Handgun
10 July 2013
Ghanaian Chronicle
Residents of Bediase, a farming community in Kukrantumi in the East Akyem Municipality of the Eastern Region on Monday, were thrown into a state of mourning when a six (6) year old boy, Kwabena Kamasah, shot his sister, Adzo Dzukor, to death with an unregistered single barrel gun.
According to information reaching The Chronicle, young Adzo, 8, met her untimely death on her sick bed after the brother shot her with the revolver, which was placed at one of the corners of... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns and Aggression in Young US Assault Victims
8 July 2013
Science Daily (USA), Media release
They're young. They've been injured in an assault - so badly they went to the emergency room. And nearly one in four of them has a gun, probably an illegal one. What happens next?
A new study by the University of Michigan Injury Center provides data that could be important to breaking the cycle of gun violence that kills more teens and young adults than anything except auto accidents.
In the new issue of the journal Pediatrics, the team from the U-M Injury Center... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns Killing Children: An American Epidemic
6 July 2013
New York Daily News
The man breathed heavily and yelled at the 911 dispatcher as he pleaded for help.
"My boy just got shot, don't wait!" Travis Taylor bellowed into the telephone. "Hurry up, please don't wait, NO! Please hurry up, he's trying to live!"
But it was too late.
There was nothing medics could do for little Dalton Taylor, 10. He was a fourth-grader who loved to hunt. His dad — who made that frantic 911 call — was his hero.
Dalton and some young friends found the 12-gauge... (GunPolicy.org)
The Untold Story of Gun Violence in America - Life-Altering Injuries
30 June 2013
Reuters
Miles Turner V, 18, was shot at least five times on a Chicago sidewalk last October. Doctors believed he might die, but he survived.
The high school football player, who had never been in any trouble, is now undergoing physical therapy, in hopes of being able to walk again.
"His life has changed dramatically from what it was," said his father, Miles Turner IV. "It's not easy."
Young Miles represents a largely untold side of the gun violence story. It's about the... (GunPolicy.org)
Irish Children Find and Shoot Loaded Shotgun in Derelict House
21 June 2013
Independent (Dublin)
A child who found a loaded sawn-off shotgun in the garden of a derelict house told gardai "my eardrums nearly burst" when another boy fired the weapon.
Matthew Monaghan (9) was one of a group of children playing in the back garden of a boarded-up house when they found the firearm in a shed.
The child, still shaken by his experience, told of how the children "were just building a fort". He said: "Then we went inside (the shed) and we found a shotgun." Asked about the... (GunPolicy.org)
Officials Seize 8 Imitation Guns Illegally Imported to Malaysia
19 June 2013
Borneo Post
IPOH - Perak Customs seized eight imitation firearms which were imported without permit, at the General Post Office here on Saturday.
State Customs Department director Datuk Mohd Nasir Said said during an inspection carried out by a Customs team at about noon, they seized among others an imitation M16 gun, MP5, air rifle, Glock and automatic Colt 45 pistols.
"The five high quality imitation firearms were estimated to be worth RM2,043.90 and duties involved amounted to... (GunPolicy.org)
Violent Videos and Gun Violence
11 June 2013
Mother Jones (USA)
Grand Theft Auto V/Rockstar Games: It was one of the most brutal video games imaginable-players used cars to murder people in broad daylight. Parents were outraged, and behavioral experts warned of real-world carnage. "In this game a player takes the first step to creating violence," a psychologist from the National Safety Council told the New York Times. "And I shudder to think what will come next if this is encouraged. It'll be pretty gory."
To earn points, Death... (GunPolicy.org)
Seven Guns Seized in Bangladesh Police Raids
25 May 2013
Financial Express (Bangladesh)
Nine persons were arrested with seven firearms, two magazines, 26 bullets and 200 Yaba tablets from the city's Mirpur, Muhammadpur and Savar areas, reports BSS.
Detective Branch (DB) of Police, in separate overnight raids, arrested seven persons with six firearms, two magazines, 26 bullets and 200 Yaba tablets from city's Mirpur and Muhammadpur areas.
"Acting on a tip-off, the DB police arrested five illegal arm traders and two drug peddlers, who used to do businesses... (GunPolicy.org)
Suicides Account for Most US Gun Deaths
24 May 2013
Pew Research Center
Suicides by gun accounted for about six of every 10 firearm deaths in 2010 and just over half of all suicides, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Since the CDC began publishing data in 1981, gun suicides have outnumbered gun homicides. But as gun homicides have declined sharply in recent years, suicides have become a greater share of all firearm deaths: the 61% share in 2010 was the highest on record. That year there were 19,392... (GunPolicy.org)
NZ Shop Asked to Stop Selling Restricted Airgun After Teen Arrest
24 May 2013
Marlborough Express (New Zealand)
Police have asked a Blenheim shop that sold a plastic gun to a Marlborough Boys' College student to stop selling the item after the teenager was arrested.
The 14-year-old boy was arrested and suspended from school on Tuesday after shooting a passing car and other students with the soft air pistol he bought at $2 Fantastic shop in Maxwell Rd.
Constable Dean Buckley, of Blenheim youth aid, said because compressed air fired a missile, it was legally classed as a... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Police Deny Allegations Guns Being Issued to Unlicensed People
9 May 2013
Star (Kenya)
MOMBASA - An assistant police commissioner has denied claims that firearms are being issue to unvetted people. Central Firearms Bureau chief licensing officer David Baya said firearms are only issued to civilians after going through a series of thorough interrogations by security officers at different levels.
A civilian who owned a licensed gun told media houses that there is a broker in Mombasa behind the deals. He said the broker cuts deals between senior security... (GunPolicy.org)
Opinion: Why Real Guns That Look Like Toys Should be Banned
9 May 2013
Washington Post, Opinion
CHICAGO — Two summers ago, my husband and I took our sons to a shooting range for multiple days of firearms training with a certified instructor. Our logic was simple: In our low-income community with lots of gang activity, it was laughable to imagine that our boys wouldn't someday find themselves in a situation where a pal had brought a gun to school or asked them to come see his parents' gun.
Did we want them to clumsily handle a deadly weapon — seduced by the... (GunPolicy.org)
3D Gun Fired in US But Officials Worried Over Risks for Crime, Youth
6 May 2013
BBC News, Video
The world's first gun made with 3D printer technology has been successfully fired in the US.
The controversial group who created the firearm plan to make the blueprints available online.
Anti-gun advocates have criticised the project and Europol, Europe's law enforcement agency, said it was closely monitoring the development.
Rebecca Morelle... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Suicides Soar Among White, Middle-Aged Americans
3 May 2013
Stuff (New Zealand) / Associated Press
The suicide rate among middle-aged Americans climbed a startling 28 per cent in a decade, a period that included the recession and the mortgage crisis, the government reports.
The trend was most pronounced among white men and women in that age group. Their suicide rate jumped 40 per cent between 1999 and 2010.
But the rates in younger and older people held steady. And there was little change among middle-aged blacks, Hispanics and most other racial and ethnic... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Attack in Thailand's South Leaves Six Dead
2 May 2013
BBC News
Six people, including a young child, have been killed in southern Thailand after a gun attack at a village shop, police say.
At least four gunmen fired bullets at the shop in Pattani province before escaping on motorbikes.
The attack comes days after a second round of peace talks between Muslim separatists and the Thai government.
More than 5,000 people have been killed since a separatist insurgency reignited in the Muslim-majority region in 2004.
A toddler was... (GunPolicy.org)
Five-Year-Old US Boy Accidentally Kills Sister With His Own Rifle
1 May 2013
Reuters
A 2-year-old girl was accidentally shot and killed by her 5-year-old brother with a rifle he received as a birthday gift, Kentucky authorities said on Wednesday.
The shooting occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Burkesville, Kentucky, a community in the south-central part of the state, when the boy was playing with the .22-caliber rifle and accidentally shot his sister in the chest, state police said.
The boy had received the Crickett "youth model" gun for his birthday in... (GunPolicy.org)
French Teen Killer Bought Kalashnikov Online
26 April 2013
Global Post (Boston) / Agence France Presse
A French teenager who used a Kalashnikov to shoot three men dead obtained his murder weapon on the Internet, it emerged on Friday, a day after the shooting.
The apparently deranged 19-year-old was arrested shortly after opening fire on motorists and pedestrians in the small town of Istres, near Marseille on Thursday afternoon.
Police sources said the weapons enthusiast had bought the deactivated rifle on the Internet and had been able to get it working. Raids on his... (GunPolicy.org)
Swedish Children Find Loaded Gun in Snow, Fire Round
14 April 2013
Local (Sweden)
A group of children playing in a snow drift in Umeå in northern Sweden on Saturday came across what they thought was a toy gun only to find out that it was a real weapon when one of them pulled the trigger.
Luckily the shot was fired into the ground and none of the children were hurt.
"It could have gone really badly. The children could just as well have started playing a war game and begun shooting at each other. It is also an area with lots of people and children... (GunPolicy.org)
Public Health Approach Promises Gun Violence Prevention - NEJM
12 April 2013
New England Journal of Medicine
Scientists, policymakers, and advocates are increasingly advised to use "the public health approach" to address myriad social issues, from alcoholism and arthritis to vision care and war. However, it is rarely clear what exactly is meant by "the public health approach."
Policymakers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe the public health approach as a four-step model: Define the problem, identify risk and protective factors, develop and test... (GunPolicy.org)