Gun Policy News
Firearm violence, gun control and small arms
United Kingdom,Australia,United States,New Zealand
Australia, UK, New Zealand Tackled Mass Shootings
1 June 2022
CNN, Opinion
A man – almost always a man – commonly with no criminal history and no diagnosis of mental illness, armed with a lawfully obtained semiautomatic 'assault' weapon, kills and injures a large number of innocents in a place they imagined to be safe.
It happens around the world, but horrifyingly more and more often in the United States, most recently in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York.
To those of us who live in culturally similar nations, but where the... (GunPolicy.org)
Ukraine,United States,Russia,Turkey,Germany,United Kingdom,Poland
What Weapons Have Other Countries Supplied to Ukraine?
17 March 2022
Guardian
The US president, Joe Biden, has announced an $800m (£610m) package of arms to Ukraine as the west steps up military aid against invading Russia forces.
The west's military assistance to Ukraine began cautiously with helmets and flak jackets but now includes drones that can destroy Russian tanks and artillery from 50 miles away.
The west has repeatedly refused to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine but is now supplying a range of powerful weapons. They... (GunPolicy.org)
Plymouth Mass Shooting Investigation Concluded
16 March 2022
Plymouth Herald (UK)
The police watchdog investigating how and why the Keyham gunman had his pump-action shotgun returned to him by Devon and Cornwall Police after it was removed said it has now completed its inquiry - but its findings cannot be made public at this time.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct's (IOPC) investigation was launched in the wake of the tragic events on August 12, 2021 which saw the deaths of five people as well as the gunman, Jake Davison, by his own hand. A... (GunPolicy.org)
Plymouth Mass Shooting Inquest Will Look At 10 Key Points
9 December 2021
Plymouth Herald (UK)
A six-week-long jury-led inquest into the deaths of five people killed by Keyham gunman Jake Davison will include an examination of why his mother reported him to the Government's counter-terrorism scheme. Today's two pre-inquest reviews into the killings on August 12, 2021, revealed the scope of the forthcoming full inquest which will begin on January 16, 2023.
Maxine Betty Davison, age 51, Lee Raymond John Martyn, age 43, Sophie Iris Martyn, age three, Stephen John... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Australia,New Zealand,United Kingdom,Falkland Islands,Mexico
How US Gun Culture Stacks Up With the World
26 November 2021
CNN
Ubiquitous gun violence in the United States has left few places unscathed over the decades. Still, many Americans hold their right to bear arms, enshrined in the US Constitution, as sacrosanct. But critics of the Second Amendment say that right threatens another: The right to life.
America's relationship to gun ownership is unique, and its gun culture is a global outlier.
As the tally of gun-related deaths continue to grow daily, here's a look at how gun culture in... (GunPolicy.org)
Doctors: A Gap in Britain's Gun Control System
22 August 2021
Guardian
Dal Babu is wrong to suggest that the British Association for Shooting and Conservation should not provide its members with details of fellow members who are doctors and are willing to provide medical verification for a firearms certificate (If you're asking how the Plymouth shooter got his gun, look at the broken licensing system, 18 August). The shooting community has an obvious interest in ensuring public safety. Without it, responsible and legal shooting as we know... (GunPolicy.org)
Plymouth Shootings: Police Asked to Review Gun Licence Process
17 August 2021
BBC News
Police forces in England and Wales are being asked to review their current firearm application processes, in the wake of the Plymouth mass shooting.
Questions remain over why Jake Davison, who killed five people and himself on Thursday, had a shotgun licence.
The Home Office is preparing new guidance to ensure higher standards of decision making around applications.BBC News
There will be advice on carrying out social media checks on people wanting to own a firearm or... (GunPolicy.org)
13 August 2021
BBC
The mother of the Plymouth gunman, Maxine Davison, and three-year-old Sophie Martyn have been named among the five victims of his shooting spree.
Ms Davison, 51, was shot and killed by her 22-year-old son Jake Davison at her home on Biddick Drive, Plymouth, on Thursday evening.
Davison went on to kill three-year-old Sophie, her father Lee Martyn, 43, Stephen Washington and Kate Shepherd.
His attack lasted about six minutes before he turned the gun on himself.
In... (GunPolicy.org)
What Are the Rules on Firearms Licences in the UK?
13 August 2021
Guardian
A gunman has killed five people, including a three-year-old child, in Plymouth, in Britain's worst mass shooting in more than a decade.
Police said the perpetrator, Jake Davison, 22, was a licensed firearm holder, but it is not yet known whether that gun was used. The UK has some of the toughest restrictions on firearms ownership in the world. Here is a look at how authorities determine who can get a licence.
Who can own a firearm?
The possession of firearms and... (GunPolicy.org)
Azerbaijan,Armenia,Russia,Israel,Turkey,United States,United Kingdom
Arms Supplies to Armenia and Azerbaijan
17 February 2021
EVN
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been embroiled in an intense and violent ethnic conflict over Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) for over three decades. The conflict is at the very core of the modern statehoods of both countries. It has resulted in two full-scale wars in 1992-94 and 2020 and regular skirmishes, with the most significant one being the 2016 Four Day April War. The conflict has led to both countries becoming among the most militarized countries in the world. A 2019... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa,United States,United Kingdom
Gun Trafficking from US to UK Increasing
12 August 2020
New York Times
Handguns are quietly being smuggled into Britain, despite tough gun-control laws. The police fear that the illegal weapons are contributing to a rise in gang-related crime.
NORTHAMPTON, England — Josh Bains was 28 when he was killed after an argument over a drug debt of about $50 just a few miles from the English village where he grew up — with a gun that had traveled thousands of miles from America.
His was one of a rising number of gun deaths in recent years... (GunPolicy.org)
Hundreds of Guns Handed in During Scottish Amnesty
3 July 2018
BBC News
Hundreds of illegal firearms and air weapons have been handed in to police during a two-week amnesty campaign.
A total of 474 firearms, 690 air weapons and 337 lots of ammunition were received at police stations around Scotland.
These included a machine gun, an AK47 assault rifle, and a pistol dating back to World War One.
Supt Ronnie Megaughin said getting the weapons off the streets 'lowers the risk of harm within our communities'.
He said: "Although the surrender... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Scotland Begin Two-week Firearms Amnesty
18 June 2018
BBC News
Police Scotland has launched a firearms amnesty, intended to stop weapons falling into the hands of criminals.
Anyone who has a gun or ammunition without a valid certificate can take them to one of 43 police stations.
No-one will be prosecuted just for possession of a weapon if they hand it in during the amnesty.
Officers have stressed, however, that this immunity does not apply to offences linked to the weapon before it was handed in.
The amnesty will last two... (GunPolicy.org)
The Origins of Illegal Firearms in the UK - BBC Reality Check
10 May 2018
BBC News
Over the bank holiday weekend, a spate of shootings across England hit the headlines. They add to a picture of rising gun crime, after more than a decade of big decreases.
Although gun-related offences have risen for the past four years, there were still less than half as many gun crimes in England and Wales last year as there were in the early 2000s.
Where Do the Guns Come From?
Guns are very tightly controlled in the UK. Those that end up on the black market often... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Yemen,China,Israel,Russia,Brazil,United Kingdom,Germany,India,Canada,Austria,Australia,Mexico,United States,Japan,South Africa
How to Buy a Gun in 15 Countries
2 March 2018
New York Times
Many Americans can buy a gun in less than an hour. The process takes months in some countries. Here are the basic steps for how most people buy a gun in 15 of them. Many countries have exceptions for specialized professions, and local laws vary.
United States
1) Pass an instant background check that considers criminal convictions, domestic violence and immigration status.
2) Buy a gun. Many states have additional buying restrictions, including waiting periods and... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Botswana,Cook Islands,Fiji,Iceland,Ireland,Kiribati,Malawi,Marshall Islands,Nauru,New Zealand,Niue,Norway,Samoa,Solomon Islands,Tonga,Tuvalu,United Kingdom,Vanuatu,Virgin Islands (US)
The 19 Countries That Do Not Arm Their Police Officers
19 July 2017
CNN
A woman who called 911 to report a nearby crime was killed by a US police officer last weekend. The circumstances surrounding her death are still unclear.
The fatal shooting of Justine Ruszczyk, a dual Australian-US national who had settled in Minnesota in 2014, has made headlines in both her native Australia and her adopted home in Minneapolis – once again reigniting the all too familiar debate surrounding the role that firearms play in both law enforcement and in... (GunPolicy.org)
British Police Fear Stolen Guns May Fuel Terrorist Attacks [ES]
31 October 2016
ABC News (Spain)
[Translated summary: British Police fear a terrorist attack with firearms in the UK. With 800 licensed firearms lost each year, these guns could be sold by gangs to Jihadist terrorists. During the last two years, police disrupted 10 attempted attacks, and in half of them terrorists were going to use firearms.]
La policía británica, en una rara declaración, ha reconocido que teme un ataque islamista con armas de fuego en ciudades del país, al modo de los que sufrió... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns-and-Terrorism Links Worry British Police, Crime Authority
31 October 2016
East Lothian Courier (UK), Press Association (UK)
Half the foiled terror plots in the UK in the past two years involved a plan to buy guns, police have said, amid a surge in the number of weapons found in major British cities.
Concerns about firearms falling into terrorist hands are running high after a record level of gun seizures in London and similar spikes in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Liverpool.
Authorities fear that links between street gangs and terrorists could give extremists access to weapons and... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: East Lothian Courier (UK), Press Association (UK)
UK County Launches Gun Amnesty - Essex Police
31 October 2016
East Anglian Daily Times (UK)
Essex Police today launched a two-week firearms amnesty where members of the public can surrender unlicensed or unwanted guns or ammunition without fear of prosecution.
The amnesty will run from 8am today until 5pm on Friday, November 11, and during this time people are encouraged to hand in firearms, ammunition, imitation firearms and air or gas-powered weapons to one of eight police stations in the county.
Anyone surrendering firearms during this period will not... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Border Security Gaps Could Let Terrorists Bring in Guns
28 October 2016
Guardian
Weaknesses in Britain's border security may allow terrorists to get the guns they need to attack London, a report has warned.
The report, for London mayor Sadiq Khan, warns of rising firearms use in the capital over the summer, with the potential for weapons smuggled in by organised criminals being acquired by terrorists.
The study by Lord Toby Harris says that a major terrorist attack could inflict a severe casualty toll on London, and makes 127 recommendations to... (GunPolicy.org)
Fewer Than 1 in 20 British Police Officers Carry Firearms [FR]
27 October 2016
France TV Info
[Translated summary: In Great Britain, less than 5% of police officers carry a firearm. In 2015-16 they used their guns only seven times. To be able to carry a firearm, officers must volunteer and pass very strict tests, as well as psychological monitoring.]
Alors que 250 millions d'euros vont, en France, être affectés à moderniser le matériel des policiers, coup de projecteur sur la situation en Grande-Bretagne. Outre-Manche, la tradition historique du bobby non... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Saudi Arabia,South Korea,United Kingdom,Germany,Algeria,Switzerland,Netherlands,United Arab Emirates,Turkey,France
Germany Defends Its Sudden Leap in Gun, Ammo Exports [ES]
26 October 2016
Deutsche Welle
[Translated summary: Between January and June 2016, Germany exported firearms and military equipment amounting to €4 billion; an increase of 500 million in relation to the same period in 2015. The government defended its firearm export policy, saying that it's restrictive and transparent and assuring that they give a "special relevance" to the respect of human rights.]
Entre enero y junio de 2016 Alemania concedió permisos de exportación de armas y equipamiento... (GunPolicy.org)
Increased Gun Smuggling in the UK
28 September 2016
Guardian
More guns are being seized in cities across Britain as the number of firearms being smuggled into the country increases, Britain's most senior police officer has said.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police commissioner, told a hearing at London's City Hall that a rise in gun crime in the capital was being put down to an increase in the number of weapons coming into the country.
The Met seized a "worrying" record number of weapons in 2015, including... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Company Tracks Illegal Guns, Ammunition to Hot Spots
11 September 2016
Huffington Post (UK)
"If you pick up a Kalashnikov and you've been doing this for a while, 99% of the time you can tell where it was manufactured, what the model was, and which country it originated in. On the left hand side, you have a factory code and a serial number, and then you have associated marks where the safety catch is."
James Bevan, 38, spends his life counting the world's illegal weapons. The former UN weapons inspector runs the world's most comprehensive map tracking the flow... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Becomes Second Largest Small Arms Exporter
6 September 2016
Daily Caller (USA)
The United Kingdom became the world's second largest small arms exporter this year, all while British citizens are still prohibited from owning or possessing defensive firearms.
A large portion of U.K. weapons exports went to war-torn countries, with two-thirds of sales going to the Middle East, a hotbed of terrorism and conflict. The U.K. also sold arms to 22 of the 30 countries on its own human rights watch list. While countries like Libya, Russia and China have... (GunPolicy.org)
China,Russia,France,Ukraine,United Kingdom,Saudi Arabia,Yemen,Israel,Bahrain,Belgium,Oman,Turkmenistan,United Arab Emirates
UK, Second Largest Gun Exporter, Arms the Middle East [FR]
5 September 2016
Sputnik News
[Translated summary: The United Kingdom is the second largest exporter of arms. Between 2010 and 2015, the UK has sold weapons worth 10 million pounds to Oman, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates, countries that are classified as "Non-free" by the Freedom House NGO. Other countries that buy from the UK are Saudi Arabia and Israel.]
Le Royaume-Uni est le deuxième plus grand exportateur d'armes du monde sur les 10 dernières années et devant des pays comme la... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,United States,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Switzerland
Arms Trade Treaty Conference Focused Only on Bureaucracy
31 August 2016
Stimson Center (USA)
In a meeting that symbolized a stark contrast between the humanitarian crises occurring around the world and the comfortable and scenic gathering of governments committed to stopping irresponsible arms transfers, more than 500 people representing Arms Trade Treaty States Parties, signatories, industry, and civil society representatives met in Geneva from August 22-26 for the Second Conference of States Parties (CSP2) to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The ATT is the first... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Yemen,Saudi Arabia
Oxfam Accuses UK of Being "In Denial" Over Saudi Gun Sales
24 August 2016
al Jazeera
An international aid organisation has accused British politicians of being in "denial and disarray" over the selling of arms to Saudi Arabia for potential use in the war in Yemen.
Oxfam said on Tuesday that the UK was violating the International Arms Trade Treaty, which regulates the transfer of conventional arms to ensure there are no violations of international humanitarian law.
"UK arms and military support are fuelling a brutal war in Yemen, harming the very... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Arabia,Afghanistan,Bulgaria,Italy,Syria,Czech Republic,Iran,Libya,Yemen,United Kingdom,Ukraine,United States,South Sudan,France
World Powers Accused of Violating Arms Trade Treaty [ES]
23 August 2016
IPS Noticias
[Translated summary: Human Rights organisations and military analysts accuse the United States, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France and Italy of violating the Arms Trade Treaty by selling to countries in conflict. Experts say that effectively implementing the treaty could save millions of lives.]
NACIONES UNIDAS - Los grandes proveedores de armamento violan el tratado que regula su comercio y que se propone frenar el flujo de armas pequeñas y ligeras hacia las zonas de... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,Switzerland,Austria,Czech Republic,United Kingdom,United States,France
In Fear of Terror, Europeans Buy More Guns, Scare Devices
23 August 2016
Reuters
Europeans in a number of countries are seeking to arm themselves with guns and self-defence devices in growing numbers following a series of attacks by militants and the mentally ill. Here are some figures.
- In Germany, permits for scare devices including blank guns and those that fire pepper spray rose 49 percent to 402,301 in the year to June, federal statistics show.
However, the number of certificates to possess firearms dipped marginally to 1,894,283 from... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Saudi Arabia,France,United Kingdom,Yemen
France, UK, US Urged to Halt Gun Sales to Saudi Arabia
23 August 2016
France 24
As a UN conference on the arms trade kicked off in Geneva on Monday, France, Britain and the United States came under fire from NGOs for selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, which is waging a controversial campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Swiss city is hosting the second conference on the UN-backed Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which came into force in 2014 to lay out new rules governing the international arms trade. Advocacy groups are urging signatories to keep... (GunPolicy.org)
Yemen,Syria,South Sudan,United States,Bulgaria,Czech Republic,France,Italy,Egypt,Ukraine,Moldova,Slovakia,United Kingdom,Saudi Arabia,Germany,Spain
UN: No Tolerance for States Who Flout Arms Trade Treaty
22 August 2016
Amnesty International (London)
- States Parties [countries] still engaging in unscrupulous arms transfers, putting lives and human rights at risk
- More than a quarter of States Parties are yet to meet the treaty's reporting obligations
- Some States Parties opting to reject public scrutiny of their arms transfers
States must ensure the global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) lives up to its promise to save lives and protect human rights from the devastating effects of the international arms trade by taking... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,China,Germany,United Kingdom,France,Russia,Spain,Italy,Israel,India,Saudi Arabia,United Arab Emirates,Pakistan,Australia,Turkey,Singapore,South Korea,South Sudan,Ukraine
Killer Facts: The Scale of the Global Arms Trade, Gun Totals
22 August 2016
Amnesty International (London)
Transfers of heavy conventional weapons
The top 10 exporters of conventional arms (excluding small arms/ light weapons – SALW) 2010-15
USA: US$55.006 billion
Russia: US$42.404 billion
China: US$9.943 billion
Germany: US$ 9.467 billion
France: US$ 8.932 billion
UK: US$ 7.627 billion
Spain: US$ 5.310 billion
Italy: US$ 4.360 billion
Ukraine: US$ 4.156 billion
Israel: US$ 3.280 billion
The top 10 importers of conventional arms (excluding SALWs) 2010-15
India:... (GunPolicy.org)
Cops Without Guns Dominate as London Awaits 'Likely' Attack
22 August 2016
NBC News (USA)
LONDON — Seconds after his police radio crackles into life, Inspector James Beattie kicks the squad car into gear, triggers its siren and roars the wrong way down a busy road.
Beattie and his partner, Constable Jill Simpson, are wearing stab-proof vests and carrying batons, canisters of mace and handcuffs. But like the vast majority of London cops, neither of them has a gun.
"I've never, ever felt the need to have a firearm," Beattie said while on patrol last week.... (GunPolicy.org)
Despite Terror Alert, Over 90% of UK Police Remain Unarmed
4 August 2016
MRC Tv (USA)
Late Wednesday, a woman was killed and five others were injured when a terrorist went on a stabbing spree in London, tragically proving yet again that evildoers bent on hurting a boatload of people aren't dissuaded by gun laws or a lack of access to firearms.
But those same gun restrictions that don't stop bad people from doing bad things sure as heck make it harder for the good guys.
Mere hours after the attack, the Wall Street Journal reported this fun fact about... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Deploys More Police with Guns at London Landmarks
3 August 2016
NBC News (USA)
LONDON — Britain is known for its unarmed bobbies on the beat. But tourists visiting London will have to get used to the city's landmarks being patrolled by more and more officers wielding firearms.
The Metropolitan Police announced the increase — dubbed Operation Hercules — during a show-and-tell event in central London on Wednesday.
As well as the armed cops who will be guarding the London's potential terror targets, also out in force were the Met's elite... (GunPolicy.org)
More Police Officers Now Carry Guns on the Streets of London
3 August 2016
New York Times, Associated Press
LONDON — London's police force is putting more armed officers on the streets — a visible response to attacks by Islamic State-inspired groups in Europe.
Metropolitan Police chief Bernard Hogan-Howe said Wednesday he's increasing the number and the visibility of the officers "to protect the public from all manner of threats."
"In some of our big iconic locations, we've already got armed patrols — if you look at Parliament, Downing Street — so it's not entirely... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Armed Police Fired Their Guns Just 7 Times in 12 Months
28 July 2016
International Business Times (UK)
Police in the UK fired their weapons a total of seven times after attending more than 14,000 firearms operations in 12 months, according to figures. Official statistics released by the Home Office show officers discharged their firearms more times in the year ending March 2016 than in any other 12-month period since 2009.
The seven incidents where police fired their weapons is a slight increase from the previous year where there was six. There was also a slight... (GunPolicy.org)
Despite Terrorism, Fewer UK Police Are Trained to Use Guns
28 July 2016
Aol (UK)
The number of police firearms officers has fallen for the fourth year in a row, new figures have revealed.
There were 5,639 authorised firearms officers in forces across England and Wales as of March 31 - down by eight compared with the previous year when there were 5,647, Home Office data shows.
It means the number has dwindled by more than 1,000 in the last five years.
The disclosure comes at a time when Britain's armed policing resources are under close scrutiny... (GunPolicy.org)
Thousands of Air Weapons Surrendered During Scottish Amnesty
21 July 2016
BBC News
Crossbows, rifles and pistols dating back to World War Two are among thousands of air weapons surrendered during a police amnesty.
Police Scotland said 11,569 weapons were surrendered during a three-week amnesty which ended on 12 June.
An additional 1,000 have been handed in to officers across Scotland since then.
The force will continue to accept them until 31 December, when new laws make it a criminal offence to have an air weapon without a licence or... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Ireland,Norway,Iceland,New Zealand,United States
5 Countries Where Police Don't Carry Guns, and It Works [ES]
9 July 2016
El Dinamo (Chile)
[Translated summary: In Britain, Ireland, Norway, Iceland and New Zealand, officers don't carry guns when they are on patrol. The effectiveness of this strategy is reflected in the low crime rates of these countries. Some experts believe that, in the US, both citizens and police should be disarmed to make it safer.]
Tras los violentos hechos registrados en Estados Unidos durante esta semana, el Washington Post reveló los particulares casos que se viven en Gran... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Norway,Finland,Spain,Iceland,New Zealand,United Kingdom,Ireland
Handling Violence in Countries Where Police Don't Carry Guns
9 July 2016
Quartz (USA)
Another week, another police shooting in the United States. So far this year, 569 people have been killed by US police, according to The Guardian's count. Police brutality is a horrific normality and, in more ways than one, black men being shot by police has become the modern-day equivalent of lynching.
But, of course, it doesn't have to be this way. A police officer does not have to shoot to kill and, in several countries, a police officer does not even have to carry... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Licensing Changes Concern British Medical Association
22 June 2016
Guardian
Hard-pressed GPs lack the resources to deal with new firearm licensing arrangements designed to keep guns out of the hands of those medically unfit to have access to them, doctors have warned.
The British Medical Association annual conference in Belfast on Wednesday comfortably passed a motion expressing its concerns over the changes in gun licensing introduced in April.
The motion said the changes place undue burden on practices to report on every application for a... (GunPolicy.org)
How Rare Illegal Firearms Find Their Way Onto British Streets
20 June 2016
The Conversation (UK)
How it is possible to get hold of weapons in Britain despite tough laws that restrict their ownership and use? This strict firearm legislation, enacted chiefly through the Firearms Act 1968 and amendments following the 1987 Hungerford mass shooting and 1996 Dunblane mass shoting, has reduced the number of purpose-made firearms in circulation. This has contributed to the number of firearms offences (including those using airguns and air rifles) falling from a high of... (GunPolicy.org)
How Illegal Firearms Find their Way Onto British Streets
20 June 2016
The Conversation (USA)
How it is possible to get hold of weapons in Britain despite tough laws that restrict their ownership and use? This strict firearm legislation, enacted chiefly through the Firearms Act 1968 and amendments following the 1987 Hungerford mass shooting and 1996 Dunblane mass shooting, has reduced the number of purpose-made firearms in circulation. This has contributed to the number of firearms offences (including those using airguns and air rifles) falling from a high of... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Charge Man With Fatal Shooting of British Lawmaker
18 June 2016
CNN
London -- Police have charged 52-year-old Thomas Mair with the brazen killing of British politician Jo Cox.
Investigators are now looking into whether Mair -- who is described by neighbors as a loner -- had ties to right-wing extremism.
Cox, a member of Britain's Parliament, was killed Thursday in a brazen attack on a street in her district in northern England.
"We have now charged a man with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Has Tight Firearm Laws and Low Rates of Gun Violence
17 June 2016
CNN
The United Kingdom is famous for its tight firearm laws and low rates of gun-related violence.
Its measures on owning guns are so strict, the shooting death of parliament member Jo Cox on Thursday left the nation stunned.
Those who want to own firearms go through an onerous process that includes an application through the local police department, a cover letter, references and in some cases, doctor visits.
Unlike the United States, which has an estimated 101 guns per... (GunPolicy.org)
Shooting Death of MP Surprises UK With Its Strict Gun Laws
16 June 2016
Washington Post
Four days after the horrific mass shooting in Orlando sparked a fresh debate about gun control in the United States, a fatal attack on a politician in Britain is bringing attention to that country's gun control policies.
Jo Cox, a member of the British Parliament for the center-left Labour Party, was shot and stabbed while meeting with constituents near the northern city of Leeds on Thursday. According to police, the 41-year-old has died of her injuries.
Any physical... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia,Germany,United Kingdom,United States
How Worldwide Firearm Policies Change After a Mass Shooting
16 June 2016
Washington Post
In the wake of the massacre in Orlando, which killed 49 people, Americans are feeling frustrated about the prevalence of gun violence in the United States and are wondering what must be done to stop it. This has renewed the debate about whether stricter gun control laws could prevent mass shootings.
Perhaps there's something to be learned from countries such as Australia, Britain and Germany. After enacting stricter gun control legislation, those countries have seen a... (GunPolicy.org)
Slaying of MP is Surprising Due to Low Gun Violence in the UK
16 June 2016
USA Today, Opinion
The Associated Press "Urgent" wire started flashing.
"British lawmaker Jo Cox has died after shooting attack in her constituency," it said in the usual dry language of such alerts.
And I felt my heart thumping.
How could this have happened in the land of my birth and upbringing? How could the American scourge of gun violence that had just killed 49 innocents in Orlando – and, to be honest, to which I have become almost numb – have spread there?
After all, in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Why MP Jo Cox's Gun Murder Is So Shocking for Britain
16 June 2016
Time (USA)
Jo Cox, a Member of Parliament for the Batley and Spens constituency in the north of England was shot and stabbed to death on Thursday, shocking Britain. and provoking an outpouring of sympathy from citizens and politicians from across the globe.
The killing, which police are still investigating, would have been jarring anywhere in the world. But in Britain, where guns are tightly controlled and gun violence is a rare event, the attack is all the more appalling.
Even... (GunPolicy.org)
United Arab Emirates,United States,Italy,Germany,United Kingdom,Netherlands,South Africa,Iran,North Korea,Saudi Arabia
Gun Trade Still Growing at Expense of Development - Study
8 June 2016
Inter Press Service News Agency
UNITED NATIONS - A report released by The Small Arms Survey here Monday shows the alarming rate at which the trade of small arms and light weapons has been increasing.
Under Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN last September, UN member states have agreed to significantly reduce illicit arms trade flows by 2030.
"The Sustainable Development Agenda puts a clear emphasis on arms as one of the elements that will need to be taken into account for... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Arms Industry Needs Tougher Regulation
8 June 2016
Liberal Democrat Voice (UK)
The UK's arms industry is one of the most prolific and lucrative in the world. From fighter jets to armoured vehicles to small arms, our arms dealers have a lot to offer the world by way of military equipment.
No one will deny the power this industry wields in Britain. Until as recently as 2002, UK citizens and companies could arrange the transfer of arms between any other countries in the world (apart from those under a binding UN arms embargo) with complete impunity... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Arabia,Italy,Germany,United Kingdom,Netherlands,United States,Iran,North Korea,United Arab Emirates
Global Gun Trade Leapt 17 Percent in Aftermath of Arab Spring
7 June 2016
Deutsche Welle
Global trade in small arms hit $6 billion (5.3 billion euros) in 2013, a jump of 17 percent over the previous year, according to a non-profit arms-tracking organization, which released its results at a UN conference in New York on Monday.
The report, which was produced by the Swiss-based Small Arms Survey, again found that the United States was, by far, both the largest exporter and importer of small arms and light weapons, exporting a record $1.1 billion worth of... (GunPolicy.org)
North Korea,Iran,United Kingdom,Switzerland,Germany,Saudi Arabia,United Arab Emirates,United States,Italy
Switzerland Loses Top Slot in Gun Trade Transparency Ranking
7 June 2016
SwissInfo
For the first time since 2007, Switzerland gave up the top spot in the Small Arms Survey's latest evaluation of the most transparent small arms exporters.
"Its lower score in comparison with previous years reflects less complete reporting to United Nations Comtrade [UN Commodity Trade Statistics Database] and a lack of information on licence denials," the authors said in the 2016 bulletin published on Monday.
Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Law Forces Police to Subsidise Cost of Shooting 'Hobby'
3 June 2016
Police Professional (UK)
Although the cost of applying for firearms licences increased in 2015, forces still have to pay for administration and conducting background checks.
Former Kent PCC Ann Barnes, replaced by Matthew Scott in May, had long campaigned against police covering the costs, claiming the process was only subsiding a certain group's hobby.
But just four weeks after assuming office, Mr Scott has announced he will release £39,000 to hire new staff to help the department clear... (GunPolicy.org)
Boss of UK's Biggest Known Gun Smuggling Ring Gets 35 Years
3 June 2016
Guardian, Press Association (UK)
The ringleader of Britain's biggest known gun-smuggling operation has been sentenced to 35 years in jail for shipping £100,000 worth of weapons from the same source used in the Charlie Hebdo terror attack.
Harry Shilling bragged "we [are] now officially gangsters" after 22 assault rifles and nine Skorpion sub-machine guns from eastern Europe sailed up the river Medway from Boulogne in France.
The 26-year-old and Michael Defraine, 30, were found guilty of gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Europe Must Improve, Share Gun Data to Cut Violence - Study
25 May 2016
BBC News
Governments across Europe need to improve the way they gather and share information about firearms to cut gun crime, a major UK-led report has said.
Researchers' main concern was the lack of emphasis placed by some countries on investigating the source of weapons.
As part of the study, experts examined 1,000 gun cartridge cases from Serbia and found links to 50 shootings.
The findings of the research project, led by Coventry University, will be presented in Brussels... (GunPolicy.org)
Armed Police to Patrol Six of London's Gun Crime Hotspots
25 May 2016
BBC News
Armed police patrols will target London's gun crime hotspots such as Hackney, Lambeth and Southwark after a rise in the number of shootings.
Met Police chiefs say there are more guns on the streets which have fuelled a "significant" rise in the number of shootings in the past three months.
There were 226 shootings in 2015. So far this year there have been 122, with a particular rise since March.
Newham, Haringey and Brent were also highlighted as shooting... (GunPolicy.org)
Eleven Gun Attacks in Belfast So Far This Year
10 May 2016
Belfast Live (UK)
May 9 will for ever be remembered in Belfast as a day of terror.
Three separate shooting incidents occurred within 24 hours in the city, leaving one man dead.
So far this year, 11 gun attacks have already hit the greater Belfast area.
It started with Conor McKee being shot dead in North Belfast on January 8, with the latest incident seeing 55-year-old delivery driver Dan Murray blasted in his car in West Belfast around 10pm on May 9.
Our timeline, below, gives a... (GunPolicy.org)
UK War Veteran Jailed Over Huge Stash of Illegal Weapons
30 April 2016
Daily Mail (UK)
A pensioner has been jailed for possessing a 'terrifying arsenal' of illegal weapons at his home in Greater Manchester - including guns, shells and a missile.
RAF veteran Harry Jones was secretary of the Tameside Gun Club for nearly 40 years and was a trusted authority on weaponry.
But his obsession with firearms led to him amassing the huge stash of weapons, including nine handguns and an Al Capone-style Tommy gun kept in a violin case - all in full working... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Sweden,United Kingdom,Australia,Japan,Switzerland,Israel,South Africa
Americans Face Extreme Difficulty Exporting Their Guns
27 April 2016
Wall Street Journal, Blog
When American Tom Heberlein tried to import his firearms to Sweden, he got as far as his transfer in the U.K. before it started to become complicated. There, despite having the correct paperwork, a U.K. customs official said: "You can't have these guns."
And thus began Mr. Heberlein's global gun education.
Although Mr. Heberlein did, after a lot of negotiation, finally get his guns through U.K. customs and in to Sweden, the entire experience created a hassle he hadn't... (GunPolicy.org)
137 Guns Handed Over to Police in Lancashire, UK
22 April 2016
Lancashire Evening Post
Thousands of rounds of ammunition have been taken off the streets as part of a county-wide firearms surrender.
A total of 3,737 pieces of ammo were handed over to police in Lancashire Police's Western Division which includes Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.
Officers in the division also received three live rifles, six live handguns, six shotguns and a total of 15 air powered weapons.
The ammunition handed over in the west of the county made up almost 90 per cent of the... (GunPolicy.org)
More Than 800 Firearms Surrendered in UK Gun Amnesty
22 April 2016
BBC News
More than 800 firearms were handed in during a two-week guns amnesty launched after a spate of shootings in Salford.
Police urged people to "give up the gun" during the firearms and ammunition surrender across Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire and North Wales.
Rifles, handguns, air weapons and a number of imitation and antique firearms were collected.
Unusual items included a replica AK-47 and a Smith & Wesson pistol.
There has been a... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Gang Bought Guns from Same Shop as Paris Terrorists
21 April 2016
Guardian (UK)
A British crime gang bought the largest haul of automatic weapons ever detected by police on the UK mainland from the same source in eastern Europe as terrorists behind the Paris attacks of January 2015, it can be revealed.
The 22 Kalashnikov-style assault rifles and nine machine guns were described by police from the National Crime Agency as "mass casualty weapons". They were intercepted in an operation led by the NCA after being smuggled from eastern Europe to France... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Doesn't Track Small Arms Dealers and Exporters
20 April 2016
Politics Home (UK)
The UK is the sixth largest exporter of arms in the world, and business is booming. As tensions rise around the planet so too has the demand for weapons, with global sales increasing 14% in the last five years. According to SIPRI, the UK's arms exports have risen 26% in the same period, now supplying 4.5% of the total demand. And that's just what we know about.
The bulk of these figures are constituted by the sale of so-called 'large weapons,' such as aircraft. The... (GunPolicy.org)
UK War Veteran Jailed for Illegal Possession of Guns
19 April 2016
Daily Caller (USA)
Next time someone tells you how "great" the gun control laws are in the United Kingdom and that "we should look at them," you might want to bring up Albert Patterson. Albert Patterson spent 22 years wearing the uniform of a British soldier. This included service with the Parachute Regiment and with the elite Special Air Service Regiment.
The 67-year-old veteran fought in the 1982 Falklands War, and a Browning High Power pistol surrendered to him by an Argentine officer... (GunPolicy.org)
Handguns, AK-47s Seized in London Police Crackdown
14 April 2016
ITV (London)
Officers have so far arrested 30 people in a week-long crackdown on gun crime, which began on Monday, including for attempted murder, assault and drug offences.
Operation Kestrel 2 is pulling together specialist policing units to track down criminals who carry or hide guns.
Firearms seized:
- Eight handguns
- One Magnum rifle
- Three AK-47 assault rifles
- Two shotguns with ammunition
Weapons sweeps, intelligence-led operations and patrols by armed response vehicles... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Amnesty Follows Spate of Shootings in Manchester
4 April 2016
BBC News
Four police forces are staging a two-week firearms amnesty after a spate of shootings in Salford.
There has been a spike in tit-for-tat attacks since Salford "Mr Big" Paul Massey was murdered in July 2015.
People are being urged to "give up the gun" during the firearms and ammunition surrender in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire.
During the last amnesty almost two years ago hundreds of weapons were handed in, mostly antique firearms.
Greater... (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)
Police, UK City Ban 18 Men for Links to 'Gun or Gang Crime'
23 March 2016
BBC News
The names of 18 men banned from parts of Birmingham for what police say are their links to "gun or gang crime" can be revealed by the BBC.
Interim injunctions were obtained by West Midlands Police, but the force had declined to reveal the men's identities until permanent orders were granted.
However, details were revealed in County Court documents seen by the BBC.
Labour MP Khalid Mahmood criticised police using civil action to tackle gun crime rather than criminal... (GunPolicy.org)
France,Slovakia,Germany,Eastern Europe,United Kingdom
East Europe's Shadow Gun Market Fuels Terrorism in West
18 March 2016
Black Sea, Der Spiegel, Le Soir
The trafficking of Communist-era weapons leads from a Slovakian website to last year's ISIS terror attack in Paris and new regulations have failed to stop the sale of deadly weapons to criminals, we can reveal.
7 January 2015. Chérif Kouachi and his brother Said leave a bloodbath in the newsroom of magazine Charlie Hebdo. Two days later, Kouachi's close contact, Amedy Coulibaly, assaults the kosher supermarket Hyper Cacher in Paris.
When Coulibaly takes the... (GunPolicy.org)
UK: Northampton Police Seized 2,700 Guns in Past 5 Years
17 March 2016
BBC News
Gangs, turf warfare and drugs have been blamed for the growing number of firearms in Northamptonshire.
In the last five years county officers responded to more than 1,100 incidents involving a firearm and seized more than 2,700 of the weapons.
Police said guns have become more available online and there are a number of gangs using guns in the county.
The force said it is currently working hard in towns like Northampton and Wellingborough to reduce gang... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Mexico,Honduras,Finland,Philippines,Thailand,United Kingdom
US Gun Smugglers Illegally Sent Firearms to 46 Countries
16 March 2016
Washington Post
Arms trafficking from within the United States, long thought to be relegated to gun-running for Mexican drug cartels, is far more extensive than previously thought, according to a new report by a weapons research group released Wednesday.
The report, published by the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, examines more than 150 court cases involving arms trafficking from within the United States from 2010-2015. Spanning 46 countries and six continents, the report details... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,United Kingdom,Japan,Australia
So, America, This Is How Other Countries Do Gun Control
14 March 2016
Guardian
Thirty people will be shot dead in America today. On average. It could be more. If it's less, then more will die tomorrow. Or the next day.
The United States's gun homicide rate is 25 times higher than other high-income countries, according to a recent study.
Americans are divided on whether the country's gun deaths could be reduced through tougher laws on gun ownership. Liberals argue that legal restrictions on gun ownership could save lives. Conservatives say that... (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)
The People Who Want British Gun Laws to Be Relaxed
23 February 2016
BBC News
Gun debate in Britain tends to focus on what is happening in the US, but more than 700,000 firearm owners live in England and Wales. Who are they, and why do some want laws relaxed?
"It's frustrating for me that when you tell someone you own a gun you're instantly labelled a weirdo. It's like a secret society," Callum Long-Collins explains from a gun shop in Botley Mills, Hampshire.
He owns seven firearms, but did not want to show them in his own home in case it gave... (GunPolicy.org)
Liberia,Sierra Leone,New Zealand,United Kingdom
Hospital-Based Research in Liberia on Armed Violence
19 February 2016
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War / IPPNW (USA)
Results of hospital-based research in Liberia on armed violence spearheaded by members of IPPNW was published recently by the Small Arms Survey in Switzerland. A main finding of The Value of Hospital Data - Understanding and Preventing Intentional Injury in Liberia (1) was that the Liberian Armed Violence Observatory (LAVO) is not receiving all the data it needs to most effectively inform intervention strategies on armed violence prevention.
"Our analysis of hospital... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War / IPPNW (USA)
United States,Australia,Brazil,Argentina,United Kingdom
Australian Gun Expert Critiques America: You've Lost Control
10 December 2015
Washington Post, Opinion
Although we foreigners can offer no immediate solution to America's gun infestation, we can see how you lost control of the plague of armed violence. Outsiders are also perplexed to see that you've done so little to grant your citizens a basic human right — the freedom to live without fear of death by gunshot.
Historically, there's little mystery as to how it began. The early laws of each European empire relied on two pillars of gun safety: Firearm owners were... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Australia,United Kingdom,New Zealand,Canada
How a Conservative-Led Australia Ended Mass Gun Killings
4 December 2015
New York Times
In the continuing debate over how to stop mass killings in the United States, Australia has become a familiar touchstone.
President Obama has cited the country's gun laws as a model for the United States, calling Australia a nation "like ours." On the campaign trail, Hillary Clinton has said the Australian approach is "worth considering." The National Rifle Association has dismissed the policies, contending that they "robbed Australians of their right to self-defense... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia,United States,Canada,United Kingdom
US Political Debate About Australian-Style Gun Laws
20 October 2015
Sydney Morning Herald
Asked about Hillary Clinton's suggestion that the United States consider Australian-style gun laws, one of the country's leading gun industry champions laughed.
"You've got to ask yourself how much the NRA paid the Clinton Foundation to get her to say that," Richard Feldman, a former National Rifle Association lobbyist said.
"Forget gold, that comment is worth its weight in platinum."
Australia has been raised again in the US debate over guns in the wake of the... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Australia,United States,Israel
Gun Control Advocates Envy Australia, Britain's Strict Laws
14 October 2015
Washington Times
Australia and Britain have been held out as examples of foreign countries that moved quickly to impose gun restrictions in the wake of national tragedies as the United States grapples with what — if any — policy reforms could prevent future mass shootings like the recent attack in Oregon.
Both countries saw a drop in gun-related crimes after imposing restrictions, though analysts debate whether the laws deserve credit.
But all sides agree the moves Britain and... (GunPolicy.org)
Argentina,Canada,Mexico,Australia,United Kingdom,Russia,China,South Africa,United States,Israel,Norway,Finland,Germany,Switzerland
Three European Countries Lead US in Mass Shootings: WSJ
3 October 2015
Wall Street Journal
The latest U.S. shooting that ended in the deaths of 10 people at an Oregon college last week is reigniting calls for tighter gun laws and prompting comparisons to gun violence in other countries.
President Barack Obama asked why Americans can't follow the example of the U.K. and Australia. They crafted laws that "almost eliminate mass shootings," he said. "We know there are ways to prevent it."
Adam Lankford, an associate professor at the University of Alabama... (GunPolicy.org)
'Chaotic' UK Gun Licensing a Danger to Public, Says Watchdog
15 September 2015
Guardian
Britain faces new gun massacres unless the chaotic firearms licensing regime is overhauled, a police watchdog has warned.
The public are at risk because of a litany of failures and inconsistencies in the way prospective and existing gun-owners are vetted and monitored, inspectors found.
In a highly critical report, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) said lessons had not been learned in the wake of tragedies such as the killing of 12 people by taxi... (GunPolicy.org)
UK 'Chaotic' Gun Licensing Could Lead to Another Massacre
15 September 2015
ITV
The UK could face more massacres like the Cumbria shootings unless "chaotic" firearms licensing is overhauled, a police watchdog has warned.
In a highly critical report, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary said lessons have not been learned in the wake of tragedies such as the killing of 12 people by taxi driver Derrick Bird in Cumbria in 2010.
HMIC highlighted weaknesses in arrangements for assessing an individual's medical suitability to have a firearms... (GunPolicy.org)
How The UK Covers Up Murder Stats - NRA
17 July 2015
America's 1st Freedom
We've addressed the fact that few law-abiding citizens—including the police—are armed in the United Kingdom these days. Even those Brits who successfully defend themselves against attackers and home invaders, with a gun or otherwise, may start to wish they hadn't once they're found liable for damages. That's right: In the UK, a burglar can sue you—and win—for injuring him after he breaks into your house.
As far as we're concerned, depriving citizens of their... (GunPolicy.org)
British Police Fired Their Weapons Only Three Times in 2013
15 August 2014
Economist
The shooting of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old African-American, by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, is a reminder that civilians—innocent or guilty—are far more likely to be shot by police in America than in any other rich country. In 2012, according to data compiled by the FBI, 410 Americans were "justifiably" killed by police—409 with guns. That figure may well be an underestimate. Not only is it limited to the number of people who were shot while... (GunPolicy.org)
As UK MP Suggests Relaxing Laws, Secret Life of Britain's Guns Uncovered
7 June 2014
Voice of Russia, Audio
The leader of the UK Independence party, Nigel Farage, has suggested in an interview that Britain's gun laws should be relaxed. He said it was party policy for hand guns to be legalised and licensed in the UK. They've been banned for the last 18 years following the Dunblane School shooting in 1996.
VoR's Juliet Spare hosts a discussion.
Recent statistics from London's ambulance service reveal paramedics were called to 973 victims under the age of 25 suffering a gun or... (GunPolicy.org)
Jersey Gun Ownership Down Since 2012
7 June 2014
BBC News
The number of registered guns and gun owners in Jersey has fallen since 2012.
Police records show there are 1,514 firearm owners which is a 16% drop over the past two years.
Between them, the island's gun owners keep 9,328 guns, including air rifles and pistols, which is 4% down since 2012.
Gun ownership in Jersey has been in the spotlight since a Glock 9mm pistol went missing from an unlocked car on Friday 30 May.
The pistol was handed in two days later by a member... (GunPolicy.org)
40,000 Guns Across the Scottish Highlands and Islands
3 June 2014
Inverness Courier (Scotland)
Almost 40,000 rifles and shotguns are in private hands across the Highlands and Islands, it has been revealed.
As the debate about the routine arming of local police continues, a new report shows that gun ownership per head in the Highlands is one of the highest in Scotland. In total 39,933 guns are in the possession of 10,853 individuals.
Most legally held weapons are owned by farmers and on shooting estates.
The figures are contained in a report prepared by Police... (GunPolicy.org)
More Firearms and Shotguns Legally Held in Scotland
30 May 2014
BBC News
There are about 84,000 guns and more than 141,000 shotguns legally held in Scotland, according to new statistics.
The numbers are up on the previous year's figures, with the increase the first seen in five years.
However, the rise in the number of certificates for guns is in part due to a change in what is recorded as a "firearm".
The number of shotguns held on certificate is the highest for the past 10 years.
Firearm and shotgun certificates must be renewed every... (GunPolicy.org)
Scottish Police Chief Secretly Authorises 440 Officers to Carry Handguns
18 May 2014
Daily Record (Scotland)
More than 400 police officers across Scotland have been secretly authorised to carry handguns in a holster while on routine patrol, we can reveal.
Permission was given by Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House without any requirement for approval by politicians.
It means specialist officers are routinely allowed to carry handguns on duty – even though there may be no obvious threat to them or the public.
Previously, firearms officers had to collect... (GunPolicy.org)
Airgun Licensing Bill Introduced in Scotland
15 May 2014
BBC News
Anyone who owns an airgun will need a licence under new measures proposed by the Scottish government.
The licensing system is included in a new bill that has been laid with the Scottish Parliament to impose tighter controls on air weapons.
The proposals follow a long-running campaign by the Scottish government to crack down on the misuse of airguns.
It followed the death of two-year-old Andrew Morton, who was shot in the head with an airgun in Glasgow in 2005.
Mark... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Pilots Voluntary Mental Health Info Sharing for Gun Licence Applicants
7 May 2014
BBC News
A pilot to carry out more health checks on people applying for a firearms licence has revealed some people who would otherwise have been allowed one, police say.
Applicants can volunteer to let their GP give Durham Police relevant details about their mental and physical health.
Ch Insp Steve Ball said it was clear some had not been "particularly candid" about medical conditions in the past.
The force used to rely on people self-declaring such issues.
It is now... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil,United States,United Kingdom,Australia
Lessons in Gun Control from Australia and Brazil
6 May 2014
Emergency Management
In the year and a half since 20 children were killed by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., a handful of states have passed laws requiring universal background checks, bans on semi-automatic weapons and limits on high-capacity magazines. But the U.S. remains a patchwork of uneven regulations on firearms, ammunition and gun owners. Meanwhile, at least 44 school shootings have occurred since the Newtown tragedy.
If state leaders want to curb... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Russia,Germany,Thailand,Kazakhstan,Italy,United States,Canada,Norway
Kalashnikov Small Arms Production in Russia More Than Doubles in 2014
28 April 2014
RIA Novosti (Russia)
MOSCOW – The Kalashnikov Concern produced 230 percent more small arms weapons in the first quarter of this year than in the year-ago period, the company's press service told RIA Novosti Monday.
"In the first three months of the year we had a record-high volume production of small arms in the amount of 31,000 items, which makes 41 percent of the total output of similar products for 2013," the company said.
"The current results are 230 percent higher than those in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Pheasant-shooting UK PM Blocks Lifting of 13-year Shooters' Subsidy
22 April 2014
Guardian (UK)
An internal coalition battle over a taxpayer subsidy for cheap gun licences spilled into the open on Tuesday when a Liberal Democrat Home Office minister said that he will attempt to force through reforms despite being blocked by the prime minister, David Cameron.
Norman Baker, who has responsibilities for shotgun certificates, said he has been frustrated by the decision to block plans to raise the cost of gun licences, forcing police services to find more than £17m... (GunPolicy.org)
Uzi, Machine Guns Amongst Scotland Yard's Biggest Gun Haul in UK
17 April 2014
Telegraph (UK)
Assault rifles, sawn off shotguns, an Uzi and a Thompson machine gun have been seized by an anti-gang squad in one of Scotland Yard's biggest gun seizures.
Thirty firearms and ammunition were seized yesterday morning by the Waltham Forest Gangs Task Force in east London following an intelligence operation.
A 51-year-old man was arrested at the address and remains in custody.
Acting Detective Superintendent Gary Bruce said: "Seizing guns has helped us vastly reduce... (GunPolicy.org)
Gangs Use 'Antique' Guns Loophole to Import Banned Guns into UK
17 April 2014
London Evening Standard
Criminals are using a legal loophole to import guns into Britain for use in street shootings and robberies, the Standard can reveal.
They are exploiting legislation allowing people to own firearms legally if the weapons are classified as "antiques", according to police and officials.
The guns — which detectives say are lethal weapons — are brought from Europe, where they are easily and legally bought at antique arms fairs. Police say they are also being traded in... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Police Seized Over 320 Firearms in London since April 2013
17 April 2014
Guardian (UK)
Police have seized 30 firearms including assault rifles, sawn-off shotguns, an Uzi sub-machine gun and a Thompson machine gun in one of the largest arms finds recorded in London.
The huge arsenal, which included a large amount of ammunition, was found at an address in Waltham Forest, east London, after Metropolitan police officers executed a search warrant on Wednesday morning.
A 51-year-old man was arrested and remains in custody, the Met said..
Detectives from... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,Bahrain,South Korea,Japan,United Kingdom,Italy,United States
Local Gun Control Laws Make Overseas US Military Bases 'Safer'
9 April 2014
Stars and Stripes (USA)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Strict gun laws in foreign countries mean many in America's overseas military communities feel safer than they would at home, although they're divided over whether tougher rules would reduce gun violence in the U.S.
"For the most part, I feel safer over here because we're not allowed to bring guns," Sgt. Roseann Baena, a 26-year-old soldier assigned to Europe Regional Dental Command in Sembach, Germany, said Tuesday.
Her comment was typical... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Man Wanted on Firearms Charges Arrested in Cyprus
4 April 2014
Manchester Evening News (UK)
A man convicted of firearms offences who went on the run after being released on licence has been arrested in Cyprus.
Louis Larsson, 29, from Bolton, was arrested in Paphos, the popular holiday resort in the south of the island, after a joint operation by Greater Manchester Police and the National Crime Agency.
It is understood armed Cypriot police were also involved in the arrest.
In 2010, Larsson, admitted a series of firearms offences after he mail-ordered gun... (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)
Slovenia,Malta,El Salvador,Denmark,Croatia,Hungary,Finland,Estonia,France,Spain,Italy,Bulgaria,United Kingdom,Germany,Slovakia,Ireland,Latvia,Romania
Methodists Welcome 18 Countries Ratifying Arms Trade Treaty Including UK
3 April 2014
Christian Today
The Methodist Church has praised the government's ratification of the UN's Arms Trade Treaty.
The President of the Methodist Conference, the Reverend Ruth Gee, hailed it as a "legal milestone that should help to protect those who are abused and oppressed".
Countries that ratify the treaty will be required to establish national arms regulators to control the exporting of conventional weapons and weapons components, and to properly regulate arms brokers. Domestic weapon... (GunPolicy.org)
Italy,United Kingdom,Slovakia,Germany,Romania,France,Spain,Bulgaria,Croatia,Malta,Denmark,El Salvador,Estonia,Finland,Hungary,Ireland,Slovenia,European Union,Latvia
18 Countries Ratify UN Arms Trade Treaty
2 April 2014
Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS — Eighteen countries, including five of the world's leading arms exporters, ratified a landmark treaty regulating the multibillion-dollar global arms trade on Wednesday, giving a significant boost to the campaign for the treaty's entry into force.
The ambassadors of the 18 countries handed over the documents at a U.N. ceremony on the first anniversary of the General Assembly's adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty, which is aimed at stemming the global... (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)
United Kingdom,United States,Cambodia,Liberia,Mexico,Mozambique
Melding Guns Into Weapons of Mass Attraction – Global Picture Gallery
6 March 2014
Guardian (UK)
Art of War - Picture gallery captions:
Non-Violence, or the Knotted Gun, by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd. The bronze replica of a 45-calibre revolver, a gift from Luxembourg to the United Nations, was sculpted in memory of the Swedish artist's longtime friend John Lennon. Though not created from recycled munitions, the sculpture has been cited as one of the inspirations behind the arms-to-art movement.
Sculptor Gonçalo Mabunda recycles weapons recovered from... (GunPolicy.org)
New Idaho Gun Law: Teachers Ask 'When May I Shoot a Student?'
27 February 2014
New York Times, Opinion
BOISE, Idaho — To the chief counsel of the Idaho State Legislature:
In light of the bill permitting guns on our state's college and university campuses, which is likely to be approved by the state House of Representatives in the coming days, I have a matter of practical concern that I hope you can help with: When may I shoot a student?
I am a biology professor, not a lawyer, and I had never considered bringing a gun to work until now. But since many of my students... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Police Returned Licensed Guns to Farm Where Women Were Shot Dead
25 February 2014
Guardian (UK)
Police firearms officers returned a number of shotguns to a dog-breeding farm in Surrey seven months before the suspected double murder of a mother and daughter on Sunday.
The police watchdog said it was considering launching an investigation after Surrey police confirmed they had confiscated several licensed shotguns during a search of the farm in Farnham, Surrey, in May last year – but had returned the firearms in July.
Detectives are investigating whether one of... (GunPolicy.org)
Libya,West Asia,Egypt,Syria,Mali,North Africa,Italy,France,United States,United Kingdom,Russia,Belarus,China,Algeria,Caribbean,South America,Niger,Chad,European Union,Tunisia
Post-Uprising Gun Proliferation is Destabilising the Middle East
20 February 2014
Fair Observer
In recent years, as order in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) eroded between uprisings and armed conflicts, the desire for arms amongst a wide range of actors became one more destabilizing factor in the complexities of each situation.
However, arms proliferation is nothing new to the MENA region. Whether it was through state actors or black market trading, weapons have circulated throughout the Middle East and North Africa for many years.
Today, arms... (GunPolicy.org)
French Alps Killing Suspect Had 40 Guns, Suspected of Trafficking
20 February 2014
Herald (Scotland)
A former police officer arrested in connection with the killing of a British engineer and his family in the French Alps is suspected of arms trafficking, investigators have said.
Saad al-Hilli and wife Ikbal, from Claygate, Surrey, and her mother Suhaila al-Allaf, who lived in Sweden, were all shot dead on a remote forest road in Chevaline, near Annecy, on September 5, 2012. Local cyclist Sylvain Mollier was also murdered.
French police arrested a 48-year-old,... (GunPolicy.org)
China,Australia,United Kingdom,United States,Japan,Russia
Japan Set to Ratify Arms Trade Treaty Despite Proposal to Relax Gun Exports
16 February 2014
Japan Times
A bill to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty, the first international pact to regulating trade in conventional arms, is scheduled to be submitted to the Diet by the end of this month, government sources said.
The measure, coming less than a year after Japan signed the treaty adopted at the U.N. General Assembly last April, underscores Tokyo's eagerness to nudge others to join the framework, the sources said Saturday.
However, the move appears incongruous with the stance of... (GunPolicy.org)
Man Arrested After Huge Firearms Seizure From UK House
6 February 2014
Dockland & East London Advertiser
Police have seized one of the largest hauls of firearms recovered in a 24-hour period in London.
The haul was found in a flat at Stepney in London's East End following a minicab being stopped by officers in Battersea yesterday and the seizure of a vehicle in Hornchurch.
Detectives from Trident Gang Crime Command found a black bag on the back seat of the minicab next to the passenger, a 22-year-old man, which contained a Colt 45 loaded with six bullets.
Officers later... (GunPolicy.org)
China,Congo (DRC),Germany,United Kingdom,Myanmar,Israel,European Union,Italy,Spain,Egypt,France,Libya,Saudi Arabia
European Arms Sales to Middle East Reach Record Level, NGOs Concerned
1 February 2014
Ekklesia (UK)
European Union countries licensed arms exports in 2012 valued at €39.9 billion, according to newly released figures. This included a record €9.7 billion in sales to the Middle East – a 22 percent increase on sales in the previous year.
The statistics are revealed in the Fifteenth Annual Report on Control of Exports of Military Technology and Equipment.
The European Network Against the Arms Trade (ENAA) says that the figures show little change in arms export... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Candidate Suggests Relaxing Gun Ban, Opponent Labels Move 'Dangerous'
24 January 2014
Guardian (UK)
Nigel Farage has called for firearm laws to be relaxed, calling the current ban on handguns "ludicrous".
The Ukip leader criticised the "kneejerk" restrictions on handguns imposed after the 1996 Dunblane massacre in which Thomas Hamilton killed 16 schoolchildren and a teacher before shooting himself.
The laws were brought in by Sir John Major, the then Tory prime minister, and extended to a total ban by Tony Blair's Labour government in 1997.
Asked about gun... (GunPolicy.org)
One Legal Firearm For Every Nine People in Scottish Region
17 January 2014
Daily Record (Scotland)
There are more than 16,000 legal guns in the region – that's one firearm for every nine people.
A freedom of information request by the News revealed the figures, although police refused to lift the lid on how many illegal weapons had been confiscated in the past decade.
The statistics on non-registered firearms were not revealed as police believed it "too time consuming" to collate the figures.
Freedom of information officer Steven Irving said: "As at 7 January... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Gangs Load Up on Antique Guns, No Registration Required
12 January 2014
Independent (UK)
Surrounded by a fearsome array of 2,000 assorted lethal weapons ranging from a rocket-propelled grenade to a homemade blunderbuss, Tony Gallagher points to a rack of 100-year-old revolvers straight out of a cowboy film. He said: "We're seeing a few more of these on the streets now."
As a forensic expert for the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) at its high-security laboratory in an anonymous building in a Birmingham suburb, Tony and his colleagues know... (GunPolicy.org)
Netherlands,Spain,United Kingdom,Italy,United States,Belgium,Iraq,Algeria,Bahrain,Egypt,Mexico,Pakistan,Canada
Canada Increases Gun Exports to Countries with 'Dubious' Human Rights
8 December 2013
Toronto Star (Ontario) / Canadian Press
OTTAWA — Bahrain, Algeria and Iraq, countries with dubious human rights records or a history of violent internal conflict, have recently become new buyers of Canadian-made guns and ammunition, an analysis of federal data shows.
The analysis by The Canadian Press found that Canadian exports to those countries swelled by 100 per cent from 2011 to 2012, the most recent figures publicly available.
During the same time period, exports of Canadian weapons also increased... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Updated Law Banning 3D Guns, Now Requires Licence
5 December 2013
Reuters
Unlicensed 3D printing of guns is illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison, the government said on Thursday, as it moved to address growing public concern about plastic guns.
Weapons made by printing their components are already banned under the 1968 Firearms Act, but the Home Office has updated its rules to prohibit the manufacture, sale, purchase and possession of them unless properly licensed.
The regulations also apply to individual gun... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Prime Minister Challenged to Justify Firearms Sales to Sri Lanka
22 November 2013
Guardian (UK)
David Cameron must explain why the government has allowed machine guns and assault rifles to be exported to Sri Lanka despite his recent highlighting of the country's human rights abuses, the head of the Commons weapons watchdog has said.
Sir John Stanley, chairman of the arms export control committee, said the government has a "questionable" approach on arms exports to Sri Lanka.
The senior Conservative MP said it was "not credible" for ministers to claim the £8m of... (GunPolicy.org)
Changes to UK Gun Licensing Process to 'Modernise' Process
20 November 2013
Shooting Times (UK)
From 1 December, there will be a single form to cover both shotgun and firearms certificate applications in England, Wales and Scotland to help simplify the application process.
A short separate form will cover variations to a firearms certificate. Holders of certificates will still be limited in the maximum amount of ammunition that they can legally possess, but the restrictions that limited how much ammunition could be bought at one time are to be lifted.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
79 Guns Seized from Welsh County in Three Years, Most for 'Licensing Issues'
20 November 2013
News North Wales
Police chiefs have defended Wrexham's gun record after figures revealed 79 firearms have been seized across the county in the past three years.
North Wales Police (NWP) said Wrexham "does not have a gun problem" after statistics showed 29 firearms had been seized by officers so far this year, including a haul of 18 shotguns and two handguns.
Of those 29 guns confiscated in 2013, 16 were taken by officers at a criminal incident location.
The figures come after a major... (GunPolicy.org)
Deadly Weapons Arsenal Seized From UK Soldier Turned Drug Lord
20 November 2013
Express (UK)
This is the terrifying arsenal of weapons seized from a former army drill instructor who switched his military career for life as the boss of a multi-million pound drug cartel.
Weapons including a MAC 10 machine gun, sawn-off pump action shotgun, a Glock pistol, a Luger handgun, two revolvers plus machetes, samurai swords, stun guns and batons were found in a lock-up garage by police investigating a turf war.
The gang, led by former King's Regiment corporal Peter... (GunPolicy.org)
Scottish Firearms Offences Fall By A Third
20 November 2013
BBC News
The number of firearms offences recorded in Scotland fell by a third in the past year, according to Scottish government statistics.
Police recorded a total of 365 offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been involved in 2012-13.
This was a drop of 32% from the 535 recorded in the previous year.
The number of offences in which a firearm was discharged and either killed or injured someone fell from 95 to 66.
Of these, only one was classed as a homicide, four... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Boy Shot in Face With Illegal Gun, By Eight-Year-Old
5 November 2013
BBC News
A five-year-old child was shot in the face by an eight-year-old boy, police have confirmed.
The boy is at the Royal London Hospital with a serious, but not life-threatening, face injury.
Police said the shooting at the house in Upper Park Road in Wickford, Essex, involved an illegally-held weapon.
An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm and drug offences. He has been released on police bail until 6 January.
A police spokeswoman said the... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Concern as Possible 3D 'Gun Parts' Found in UK Crime Raid
25 October 2013
BBC News
A 3D printer and suspected "homemade" gun components seized during police raids in Manchester are being examined.
Officers initially thought they could be a "plastic magazine and trigger" which would make a "viable" gun.
But a man who was arrested in connection with the raid said the parts were sections of the 3D printer.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has now said it "cannot categorically say" whether the objects are the component parts for a gun.
The arrested... (GunPolicy.org)
British Crime Gangs Adapting Antique Guns, As Crackdown Limits Supply
22 October 2013
BBC News
Antiques and obsolete guns are being adapted and used by criminals facing a shortage of weapons, according to police.
A decade ago, Britain's cities were experiencing a surge in gun crime but, following successful interventions by crime agencies and the government, the number of firearms offences annually is now half what it was in 2003, according to the Office for National Statistics.
One reason is the supply of weapons has been severely restricted, forcing criminals... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Sweden,Germany,United States,Australia
US Man Charged Over Internet Gun Sales to Australians
18 October 2013
Australian (Sydney) / AAP
A Kentucky man accused of selling an assault rifle and a 9mm pistol to buyers in Australia via an encrypted "deep web" website has been indicted by a grand jury in the US.
Adam Joseph Bunger, 33, will be arraigned on October 30 in the District Court in Bowling Green, Kentucky, after the jury was presented with evidence collected by Australian Federal Police and US authorities.
Bunger is accused of using the German-based website Black Market Reloaded to find buyers in... (GunPolicy.org)
Denmark,Finland,Netherlands,Switzerland,Germany,Europe,United States,France,Israel,Spain,Austria,England & Wales,European Union
Authorities Worry 3-D Printers May Undermine Europe's Gun Laws
17 October 2013
New York Times
PARIS — The gun fired four shots into a gelatin block. Each nine-millimeter bullet punched deep into the substance, which was meant to mimic the density of a human body.
For the experts at the Austrian Interior Ministry performing the test, it was a clear sign: This was a deadly weapon.
But it was no ordinary gun. The officials had downloaded the gun's digital blueprints from the Internet and "printed" the weapon on a type of 3-D printer that any person could buy... (GunPolicy.org)
Two Men Convicted Over Illegal Guns Bound for Scotland
11 October 2013
BBC News
Two men have been convicted of being involved in a plot to buy guns and ammunition destined for Scotland.
The £3,500 consignment was discovered after being abandoned at Carlisle railway station in August last year.
During a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Barry Kelly and Craig Colquhoun denied trying to buy the stash.
Two other men who supplied the weapons, William Dempsey, a serving soldier, and Martin Ashdown, pleaded guilty to firearm offences.
The trial heard... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Gangs Use 'Antique' Guns as Police Crack Down on Suppliers
9 October 2013
Evening Standard (London)
Crime gangs are resorting to old-style handguns used in historic conflicts such as the Second World War after the success of police raids on gun suppliers, a Scotland Yard detective said today.
Gangsters are exploiting a "grey area" which means antique or old weapons owned by legitimate firearms dealers are being passed on to street gangs.
Detective Inspector Paul Dorey, of the Yard's Trident Gang Crime Command, said police had seen an increase in seizures of older... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Gang Armourer Jailed Over Banned Handgun, Homemade Ammo
7 October 2013
Daily Mail (UK)
An illegal armourer has been jailed for a raft of firearms and drugs offences, including possessing two handguns and hundreds of bullets.
Today at Maidstone Crown Court, Thomas Keatley, 28, of Sussex, was sentenced to nine years and four months after he was found with two handguns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, gun-making equipment and a large quantity of cannabis.
Keatley, arrested as part of an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service's anti-gun Trident... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa,United Kingdom,Japan,United States
Study: High Gun Ownership Doesn't Correlate to Low Crime Rate
6 October 2013
United Press International
NEW YORK - Using frequency of crime as an indicator of a citizenry's safety, U.S. researchers found more gun owners doesn't translate into less crime in developed nations.
Dr. Sripal Bangalore of New York University's Langone Medical Center and Dr. Franz H. Messerli of St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, examined data for 27 developed countries.
The gun ownership data were obtained from the Small Arms... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia,United States,England & Wales
Obama Praises Australian Gun Laws After US Mass Shootings
23 September 2013
Australian (Sydney) / Agence France Presse
US President Barack Obama has used Australia as a positive example of a country that tightened gun laws after a mass shooting.
He was speaking at a memorial service for the victims of America's latest mass shooting and was making yet another impassioned appeal for the US to reform gun ownership laws.
"No other advanced nation endures this kind of violence. None," he declared, at a ceremony in the Washington Navy Yard, where a contractor killed 12 people in a gun... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Region Launches First Firearms Amnesty in Decade
21 September 2013
BBC News
Leicestershire Police has launched its first firearms amnesty in 10 years.
The force is asking for people to surrender unlawfully held guns and ammunition to help avoid them "getting into the wrong hands".
Officers said many firearms were held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or were overlooked and forgotten in people's homes.
Ch Insp Chris Brown said there had only been one death this year from a firearm but it was still "one death too many".
"We want... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada,Australia,United States,United Kingdom
Hard Evidence: Does Gun Control Work?
20 September 2013
SBS (Australia), Series
This week brought news of yet another gun massacre in the United States at Washington Navy Yard. It is the latest in a string of 146 mass shootings, with more than 900 victims since 2006. The tragedy gives us pause to reflect on the "common sense" gun controls proposed by president Barack Obama but blocked by gun lobby senators only a few months ago.
Among other measures, Obama's proposals sought to reform the national firearm purchase check system, so that offenders... (GunPolicy.org)
Japan,United Kingdom,South Africa,United States
High Gun Ownership Makes Countries Less Safe, US Study Finds
18 September 2013
Guardian (UK)
Guns do not make a nation safer, say US doctors who have compared the rate of firearms-related deaths in countries where many people own guns with the death rate in countries where gun ownership is rare.
Their findings, published Wednesday in the prestigious American Journal of Medicine, debunk the historic belief among many people in the United States that guns make a country safer, they say. On the contrary, the US, with the most guns per head in the world, has the... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Netherlands,Switzerland,Finland,South Africa,England & Wales,Japan,United States
Around the World, Gun Ownership and Firearms Deaths Go Together
18 September 2013
National Public Radio (USA), Blog
A study on guns, violence and mental health, long scheduled to be published this week, finds that gun ownership is a bigger factor than mental illness when it comes to firearms deaths. But the data suggest that both play roles.
Earlier research has found that places with high rates of gun ownership have more firearms deaths, but critics of those findings say that it could be that people living in dangerous places are apt to buy firearms to protect themselves.
And the... (GunPolicy.org)
Qatar,France,United States,England & Wales,Libya
Guns Openly Available For Sale in Libya on Facebook
17 September 2013
Independent (UK)
TRIPOLI - On a late July day in downtown Tripoli, a young man steps into a car idling next to the Libyan capital's iconic Martyrs' Square. From the back seat, he hands to the driver what Libyans refer to as a "Turkish pistol" and some bullets. In return, the driver hands him a thick stack of 10-dinar notes. The exchange had been arranged using one of the numerous Facebook "groups" created in recent months to link gun-sellers to gun-buyers through the social... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia,United States,Sweden,England & Wales,Germany
US Man Charged With Shipping Guns Internationally, Including Australia
12 September 2013
Courier-Journal (Kentucky) / Associated Press
In a secretive corner of the Internet, buyers and sellers can meet up in a marketplace where virtually anything is available.
That's where federal investigators say that 33-year-old Adam Joseph Bunger used various aliases to sell weapons to buyers overseas — including to people in countries with strict firearm purchasing and ownership laws.
Bunger is charged in federal court in Kentucky with shipping a firearm in foreign commerce, delivering a firearm to an... (GunPolicy.org)
Draft European Union Decision to Approve UN Firearms Protocol
12 September 2013
UK Home Office and Ministry of Justice
The Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice (Damian Green): The UK has opted into the draft Council Decision to approve, on behalf of the EU, the UN Firearms Protocol against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition. The Protocol supplements the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime.
The Protocol creates a legal regime for the transnational movement of firearms and contains... (GunPolicy.org)
Scottish Police Chiefs Voice Concerns Over Plans to License Air Guns
5 September 2013
Herald (Scotland)
Serious doubts have been cast over planned new controls of air guns after Scotland's most senior frontline officers warned licensing would be too expensive and unwieldy.
The move is likely to cause embarrassment, coming days after the Scottish Government announced new laws to license air weapons as part of its last programme of legislation before the 2014 independence referendum.
The licensing of air weapons was a key part of the SNP's manifesto and for years focused... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Licence Question Over Farm Killings in Scotland
10 August 2013
Evening Times (Scotland)
The investigation into the deaths of two men in a farm shooting should centre on how the killer was able to obtain a firearms licence, the local MP has said.
Robert McCormick, 53, is said to have gunned down 59-year-old Peter Thompson and injured his fleeing son John, 36, shooting him in the leg.
McCormick then turned the gun on himself during the incident at Meadowhead Farm and equestrian centre in Auldhouse, South Lanarkshire on Tuesday.
Michael McCann, the MP for... (GunPolicy.org)
'Pillar Of The Community' Lived Double Life as UK Gangland Gun Dealer
6 August 2013
Daily Mail (UK)
A Tory candidate has been jailed for 16 years for selling submachine guns he smuggled from Serbia to drugs gangs in Britain.
Marcus Simpson, who narrowly missed out on being elected to his local council, offered gangsters a 'menu' of weapons that included a Scorpion submachine gun, a laser-sighted assault rifle and Walther PPKs, plus silencers and ammunition.
Simpson, 42, was a Conservative candidate for Corby, Northamptonshire, in the 2011 local elections. He lost by... (GunPolicy.org)
Domestic Abusers Facing Gun Ban in UK
31 July 2013
BBC News
People with a history of domestic violence should be prevented from having guns, says the Home Office.
Police in England, Wales and Scotland should review a person's suitability to keep firearms after every domestic violence incident, ministers say.
Police have also been told to ask family members confidentially if they have concerns about an applicant.
The change comes after a man from County Durham shot three members of his family and then himself in... (GunPolicy.org)
English MP 'Shocked' at Failure of Gun Owner Background Check Bill
23 July 2013
Lancashire Telegraph
An MP has said he is shocked plans to block abusive partners from owning guns haven't been taken up.
Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said he was planning to support measures aimed at tackling domestic abuse when parliament returns in September.
He said: "I am 'shocked' by a recent government vote that will mean people with a history of domestic violence can keep applying for firearms licences.
"Over the summer the government rejected a Labour amendment to the Anti-Social... (GunPolicy.org)
Majority of Scottish People Oppose New Airgun Licence Plan
19 July 2013
BBC News
An overwhelming majority of those who responded to a Scottish government consultation on licensing air weapons oppose the plan.
Under the proposed new scheme, anyone wanting to own an air gun would need to demonstrate they had a legitimate reason for doing so.
A total 87% of respondents rejected the idea - with some describing it as "draconian" and "heavy-handed".
A small number of people felt ministers were not going far enough.
The Scottish government has... (GunPolicy.org)
British Man Accuses MPs of Inaction Over New Gun Law
16 July 2013
BBC News
A man whose mother, sister and aunt were killed by a gunman, has criticised ministers for rejecting calls to ban people with violent pasts owning guns.
Policing Minister Damian Green said the government would instead issue "tough new guidelines" to police forces on how they should license firearms.
Michael Atherton shot his partner Susan McGoldrick, her sister Alison Turnbull and her daughter Tanya at his home.
Bobby Turnbull accused the government of "pussy-footing... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Judge Orders Almost 13,000 Guns Destroyed in Arms Dealer Case
2 July 2013
York Press
A judge has ordered the destruction of nearly 13,000 AK47 rifles associated with jailed York arms dealer Gary Hyde – after turning down a request for them to be deactivated for use in films.
Former special constable Hyde, 42, was jailed for seven years last December for overseeing an £800,000 consignment of rifles, 9mm pistols, rifles and bullets, from China to Nigeria in 2007.
The businessman, from Newton-on-Derwent, east of York, "put two fingers up" to strict... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,European Union,Taiwan,United Kingdom,Swaziland
Swaziland King Under Suspicion on Arms Deal
29 June 2013
Swazi Media Commentary (Gaborone)
News that Swaziland's army has taken delivery of another arms shipment has sparked fears that King Mswati is acting as an intermediary for a rogue state that cannot directly buy arms due to embargoes.
The Swazi Army took delivery of an arms shipment on Thursday (27 June 2013), including firearms and other military hardware.
Local media reported a cargo plane delivered the shipment under conditions of great secrecy.
The shipment has aroused the suspicion of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Bermuda Gun Clubs Upset Over Amendments to Gun Law
28 June 2013
Royal Gazette (Bermuda)
Local target shooting enthusiasts are mulling filing a complaint against Government for what they say is a law which discriminates against Bermudians.
They are also up in arms over the seizure of pistols valued at more than $70,000 by the Police Commissioner in 2011 for which they have not been compensated.
Bermuda's gun control regime began with the Firearms Act 1973, a legislative response to the murders of Police Commissioner George Duckett, the Governor Richard... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Regional Police Force Admits Gun Registry Bungle
27 June 2013
Daily Mail (UK)
A police force has had to write to thousands of firearms licence holders after admitting they are unsure where they are living and what guns they own.
It has been revealed that a member of staff from South Yorkshire Police's firearms licensing team had been wrongly recording details or not recording them at all.
Following the bungle South Yorkshire Police have been forced to write to 9,000 licence holders for them to confirm their details, and double check they have... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada,Thailand,Scotland,South Korea
Drunk Thai Student Shoots, Injures Three at Restaurant After Rejection
23 June 2013
Bangkok Post
Three foreign tourists were injured by gunshots in Chiang Mai after a drunk university student opened fire at a restaurant because a waitress rejected him, police said.
Chiang Mai police on Saturday arrested Don Praweenmeth, a 27-year-old sixth year medical student at a university in Bangkok.
Police said Mr Don confessed that he fired five shots from a 9mm handgun in a busy restaurant on Nimmanahaemin Road at about midnight.
The suspect said he was flirting with the... (GunPolicy.org)
English Police Call for Gun Licensing Change After Shooting
14 June 2013
BBC News
The police watchdog has called for the same rules to be applied when licensing shotguns and firearms, following the shooting of three women.
The IPCC outlined a number of national recommendations in its report into the shooting at a house in County Durham.
Michael Atherton legally owned both shotguns and firearms despite a history of domestic violence.
The 44-year-old shot himself following the shootings in Horden on New Year's Day last year.
Susan McGoldrick, who... (GunPolicy.org)
Report: UK Police Failures May Be Allowing Gun Crimes to Go Unsolved
11 June 2013
Telegraph (UK)
Gun crimes may be going unsolved because police forces are failing to update a national database, a watchdog has found.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found gaps in the way forces in England and Wales are entering records about firearms and ammunition which are found at crime scenes.
Very few forces are properly updating intelligence reports on gun crime in the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (Nabis) database, said the report.
In one case... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Sports Shooters Claim Licence Fee Rise an Attempt to Control Guns
9 June 2013
Telegraph (UK)
Shotgun and firearms owners should pay significantly more for licences to meet a huge funding gap in managing the gun control scheme, the Association of Chief Police Officers has said.
Fees have not risen for more than a decade and there is a shortfall of £19 million each year for police forces to process certificates.
Chief Constable Andy Marsh, the association's spokesman on firearms licensing, also called on the Treasury to plug the financial hole.
Sporting gun... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Anti-Gun Campaigner Admits Firearms Offence
7 June 2013
BBC News
An anti-gun campaigner has admitted possessing an imitation gun after a dispute that saw police seal off part of Liverpool city centre.
Stephen French, 53, of Eleanor Park, Prenton, was arrested after armed officers responded to an argument on Water Street in March.
French, who also admitted possessing a bladed weapon, will be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on 3 July.
In 2008 he said he wanted to stop the spread of guns in Merseyside.
French was arrested after... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 280 Weapons Collected in English County Amnesty
5 June 2013
BBC News
More than 280 weapons have been handed in at police stations in Derby during a month-long amnesty.
A Derbyshire Police spokesman said the weapon amnesty will help to make the city's streets safer.
Among the weapons recovered were illegal handguns, a World War II firearm and a crossbow.
All of the weapons will be destroyed, police said, except the World War II weapon which will be offered to a museum.
Fourteen swords, eight machetes and 230 knives were surrendered at... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Gun Owners Fall But Number of Firearms Held Rises in Scotland
29 May 2013
BBC News
Scotland has fewer people with firearm licences but they own more guns, the latest statistics have shown.
By the end of last year, 141,569 shotguns were held on certificate along with 72,005 firearms. Those figures represented a 10-year high.
The number of licences issued by the end of 2012 was 48,168, which represented a 10-year low.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the weapons belonged to people who "had a legitimate reason for owning it".
He also made a... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Tragedy Father Honoured by UK Govt as Arms Trade Treaty Passes
23 May 2013
BBC News
A father whose toddler was killed by a gunman with an illegal weapon in Turkey is to be honoured by the UK government for his campaigning efforts.
David Grimason, who lost his two-year-old son Alistair in 2003, has pressed for tighter controls on the trade of weapons for the past decade.
An international arms trade treaty has been approved by the UN.
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore will present Mr Grimason with the letter of thanks during a ceremony in... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Plans Changes to Airgun Laws but Clubs Fight Back
21 May 2013
Courier (UK)
An airgun club chief has hit back in the row over proposed new licensing.
Kathleen Male, chairwoman of Tayside Airgun Club, said they don't have any problem with a fair licensing system but they do object to the Government's proposals.
She said: "We still do not agree there should be greater restrictions where airweapon owners can shoot as there are adequate laws, at present, in place, restricting where they may be used, and, on the street of a town or city is not one... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,Nigeria,China,United States,United Kingdom
Former Doyen of UK Gun Lobby Pleads Guilty to More Gunrunning
17 May 2013
Democrat and Chronicle (USA)
British arms dealer Gary Hyde has admitted helping smuggle illegal AK-47 magazines into the United States for sale by a Chili-based firearms wholesaler, federal court records show.
Hyde signed a plea agreement in late April but it was not filed until this week, records show.
Hyde admitted that he had helped alter the markings on the 5,760 magazines so their country of origin — China — would not be known. In the U.S., there is a federal ban on the importation of... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil,Iceland,United States,United Kingdom,Denmark
Low Rates of Gun Homicide in Iceland Despite High Gun Ownership
16 May 2013
BBC News
Even though I grew up in New England, there was something novel about seeing an Icelandic blizzard. It was paralysing, with epic wind gusts that made snowflakes feel like razors.
As I dragged my bags along Reykjavik's snowy pavement, an older man in a Jeep pulled alongside me.
"You want to get in?" he asked.
It sounded crazy. Why would I ever get in a stranger's car?
Despite everything I was taught about riding in cars with strangers, I climbed in the backseat. And... (GunPolicy.org)
Spanish Cops Bust UK Drug Gang with Guns
13 May 2013
Local (Spain)
Spanish and British police have nabbed a hashish-smuggling ring that hid hundreds of kilos of drugs in electrical transformers before shipping them off to the UK.
Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and Spain's national police have arrested nine people and seized 322 kilos of hashish from an international organization that smuggled drugs inside industrial electrical transformers.
The joint investigation found that the drugs were purchased in Spain then... (GunPolicy.org)
Scottish Man Dies After Being Accidentally Shot in Car
9 May 2013
Daily Record (Scotland)
A young dad bled to death after an accidental shooting on his family farm.
Adam Hepburn, 22, was in his Land Rover with another man when a rifle went off.
A high-velocity bullet passed through the father-of-one's left thigh, leaving him writhing in agony.
The other man in the Freelander 4x4 dialled 999 and rushed Adam on a 10-mile trip to Hawick Cottage Hospital, which does not have an accident and emergency department.
An ambulance raced to the hospital, where... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Forces in English Region Share Information to Reduce Gun Crime
1 May 2013
Yorkshire Post (UK)
A new database will allow police forces across the region to share information about gun crime and the number of officers trained to use firearms.
The four forces have bought a single firearms deployment and training records system, known as Chronicle, so that they can work together more effectively. It means firearms officers across the region will be trained to the same standards to avoid confusion over procedure when two forces work together.
There will also be a... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,United States,Europe
Gun Crime, Homicide Falling But Violence Still Costs UK £124b a Year
24 April 2013
Kensington and Chelsea Today (UK)
Surprisingly, the UK is 11% less violent than a decade ago but the lack of peace still has an economic impact of £124 billion which comprises both direct and indirect costs and lost productivity annually. In 2012 this was the equivalent of £4,700 per household an astonishing 7.7% of the UK's annual GDP. These figures were released today by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) in the first-ever UK Peace Index (UKPI), which reveals London was beaten to the bottom... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Crime Falls 20% in London in a Year, Youth Crime Down 30%
23 April 2013
BBC News
The number of people affected by serious youth violence fell by 30% with 1,900 fewer victims over the past financial year, according to the Met.
Overall, recorded crime in London fell by about 6% with 45,000 fewer reports between 2012-13.
The Met said personal thefts have gone up by 17% on the year before, with 70% involving mobile phones being taken.
Former Met officer Mike Pannett said he was concerned how the crime reduction would continue to improve.
He said:... (GunPolicy.org)
England & Wales,United States,Serbia
Motives Unclear in Serbian Gunman's Rampage, Law Change Demanded
10 April 2013
Montreal Gazette (Québec) / Associated Press
Serbia held a national day of mourning Wednesday as police searched for possible motives in the Balkan nation's worst peacetime shooting massacre, which left 13 villagers dead and triggered demands for tighter gun-control laws.
Police say a 60-year-old veteran went on a pre-dawn, house-to-house rampage Tuesday in a village near Belgrade, including killing his mother, his son and a two-year-old cousin before shooting himself and his wife. The two are in critical... (GunPolicy.org)
Serbia,Montenegro,Bosnia & Herzegovina,Kosovo,Slovenia,Croatia,Macedonia,United States,England & Wales,Yemen
Citizens in Former Yugoslavia 'Traumatised and Heavily Armed'
10 April 2013
Washington Post
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — The wars from 1991 to 1999 as Yugoslavia broke up took up to 200,000 lives, turned millions into refugees and left much of the region's people traumatized and heavily armed. It was the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II.
The millions of weapons that remained in possession of civilians after the fighting have caused fatalities every week, as traumatized former soldiers either shoot family members or commit suicide or... (GunPolicy.org)
Knife Crime Falls in British Region After Gun, Knife Crime Campaign
9 April 2013
BBC News
Knife crime in the West Midlands has fallen by a quarter, according to new police figures.
West Midlands Police said knife-related offences had fallen from 2,995 between April 2011 and 2012 to 2,237 during the following 12 month period.
It had received £1m from the government over two years to tackle the problem.
The force said incidents like the fatal stabbings of two Big Issue sellers and teenager Christina Edkins in Birmingham were "mercifully rare".
Assistant... (GunPolicy.org)
Iran,Syria,United Kingdom,Kenya,North Korea
Iran, N. Korea, Syria Block Arms Trade Treaty at Last Minute
29 March 2013
Australian (Sydney)
Iran, North Korea and Syria have held up agreement on the first global treaty on the $US80 billion ($A76.97 billion) a year conventional arms trade.
The three states twice blocked moves to adopt a treaty by consensus at the end of 10 days of arduous talks at the UN headquarters.
Kenya announced that a coalition of countries from around the world would now take the treaty straight to the 193-member UN General Assembly next week for approval. It can be passed with a two... (GunPolicy.org)
England & Wales,Germany,Guyana
Politicians Block Guyana Gun Control Laws Despite Arms Trade Treaty
28 March 2013
Guyana Times International
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has lamented that while critical steps are being taken in the international arena to hammer out an Arms Trade Treaty, locally the opposition has voted down a bill that seeks to strengthen this country's fight against illicit arms.
Negotiators from around 150 countries gathered in New York at the United Nations for a final push to hammer out a binding international treaty to end unregulated conventional arms sales, a pact that a... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,Mexico,United Kingdom,Ghana,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa
Arms Trade Treaty Talks Enter Stormy Final Round
26 March 2013
Rappler / Agence France Presse
More than 100 countries complained Monday that talks on a conventional arms trade treaty had gone "backwards" from a vow to conclude a strong accord on the $80 billion a year trade.
The major western powers, who expressed confidence that an accord could be reached, face tough criticism over the treaty as talks at the UN headquarters entered the final straight.
A group representing 103 countries blasted the latest text as a step "backwards."
A statement by the 103,... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,United Kingdom,France,Mexico,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,China,Russia,United States
Armed Violence Kills 66,000 Women and Girls Each Year
20 March 2013
New Zealand Herald, Associated Press
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has urged the world's nations to agree on a strong UN treaty to regulate the multibillion-dollar global arms trade in the next two weeks, saying it will save lives and make it more difficult for warlords, organised criminals and terrorists to obtain weapons.
Hopes of reaching agreement on what would be a landmark treaty were dashed last July when the United States said it needed more time to consider the proposed accord - a... (GunPolicy.org)
Africa,Americas,Asia,Europe,Oceania,United States,Russia,Italy,Germany,Brazil,Switzerland,Israel,Austria,South Korea,Belgium,Spain,Turkey,Norway,Canada,United Kingdom,Australia,France,Pakistan,Yemen,Honduras,El Salvador,Jamaica
Fact and Figures: Global Trade in Small Arms
18 March 2013
al Jazeera
Diplomats from around the world have gathered at the UN for talks on an international arms trade treaty, in an effort to stop the sale of illegal conventional arms.
Similar talks held last July failed, mainly due to the objections of the US and Russia, the world's two largest arms exporters.
Al Jazeera has compiled a list of facts related to the global production and trading of small arms.
1. Authorised international transfers of small arms, light weapons, their... (GunPolicy.org)
London Gun Murder Investigation Unit to Be Realigned, Merged
14 March 2013
Guardian (UK)
Police confirmation that they had moved the central core of Operation Trident – its dedicated murder investigation unit – to the homicide and serious crime command, effectively signals the end of Trident, the London-based organisation I founded with other community activists in the mid-1990s.
Back then, while the culture of gun crime affected whole communities and neighbourhoods, 90% of homicide victims were black, mainly black men. The police response was woeful,... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Coroner Calls for Radical Overhaul of Gun Licensing
8 March 2013
Guardian (UK), Press Association (UK)
A coroner has called for radical overhaul of gun licensing at the conclusion of an inquest into a taxi driver who shot dead three members of his family before killing himself.
Andrew Tweddle described the current system as flawed, adding that it was fortuitous there had not been more incidents like the one in Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham, on New Year's Day 2012.
Michael Atherton, 42, killed his partner, Susan McGoldrick, 47, her sister, 44-year-old Alison... (GunPolicy.org)
Scottish Man Jailed for Storing Guns and Ammo
4 March 2013
BBC News
A man who was caught with firearms and drugs at his home in North Lanarkshire has been jailed for seven years.
Police raided 50-year-old John Lucas' isolated home at Roughrigg, Airdrie, on April 27 last year.
They found cocaine worth £164,000, cannabis worth £12,000, amphetamine worth £11,000 and £38,000 in cash. They also found gun barrels and ammunition.
Wheelchair user Lucas was jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh after earlier pleading guilty to the... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Cop Illegally Sold Guns, Granted Licence for Killer With Abuse History
4 March 2013
BBC News
A police officer who illegally sold guns to the public played a part in granting a gun licence to a man who shot three members of his family.
Michael Atherton, 42, shot his partner Susan McGoldrick, Alison Turnbull, her daughter Tanya and then himself, in County Durham on New Year's Day 2012.
Former Durham PC Damien Cobain was convicted of misconduct in a public office in 2010 and left the force.
An inquest heard he was part of a team that dealt with Atherton's... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Soldier with PTSD Steals Gun, Plans Suicide
18 February 2013
BBC News
A soldier who stole ammunition and a gun from his barracks has been told he may escape jail because he had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Harry Killick, 36, from Brighton, had returned to Britain from Afghanistan seven months before the thefts from a Territorial Army barracks in the city.
Lewes Crown Court judge Anthony Scott-Gall adjourned sentencing.
The court heard Killick was planning to kill himself when he stole the items.
He pleaded guilty last month... (GunPolicy.org)
Europe,Italy,England & Wales,United States
Arms Manufacturers Losing Money But Still Making Billions
18 February 2013
Yahoo (America) / Associated Press
STOCKHOLM — The world's largest arms vendors are expanding in the cybersecurity sector as austerity measures weigh on sales of traditional weapons, a Swedish peace research institute said Monday.
Sales by the 100 largest arms producing companies, excluding Chinese companies, fell by 5 percent to $410 billion in 2011, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in its annual review of the industry.
The drop was mainly due to austerity measures and the... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Sells Arms to Sri Lanka's 'Brutal' Regime
18 February 2013
Belfast Telegraph
Britain is selling millions of pounds worth of arms and ammunition to Sri Lanka despite the country's dire human rights record.
Figures taken from the Government's own database show how the authorities in Colombo have gone on a buying spree of British small arms and weaponry worth at least £3m.
Some of the items sold to Sri Lanka include pistols, rifles, assault rifles, body armour and combat shotguns – despite the Foreign Office still classifying the South Asian... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa Gun Culture in Spotlight After Athlete's Murder Charge
14 February 2013
Telegraph (UK), Video
About one citizen in every 20 owns a registered firearm and millions more weapons circulate illegally. The gnawing fear of violent crime is such that most houses are surrounded by walls and barbed wire, often electrified to deter intruders.
The wealthier neighbourhoods of Pretoria and Johannesburg are patrolled by armed guards from private security firms, who can be summoned at the touch of a panic button.
Even so, many people opt to live – like Oscar Pistorius –... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Officials Say Most Gun Crime Traced to Under 1,000 Illegal Guns
2 February 2013
Washington Post
LONDON — When police on a weapons raid swarmed a housing project after London's 2011 riots, they seized a cache of arms that in the United States might be better suited to "Antiques Roadshow" than inner-city ganglands. Inside plastic bags hidden in a trash collection room, officers uncovered two archaic flintlock pistols, retrofitted flare guns and a Jesse James-style revolver.
These days, that kind of antiquated firepower is about the baddest a British gang member... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Hospitals Not Sharing Gun, Knife Crime Data
31 January 2013
BBC News
A coalition pledge to make hospitals share violent crime data with police is being carried out in only a third of areas in England, an audit shows.
The government has written to hospitals and chief constables for an explanation after the Department of Health audit.
Accident and emergency departments are meant to share information about where knife or gun attacks are happening with the police and local council.
This was part of the government's programme for... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Authorizes Guns for Madagascar Despite Diversion, Hunting Fears
27 January 2013
Mongabay / TanaNews (Madagascar)
Britain has authorized the export of thousands of guns to Madagascar, according to TanaNews.com, sparking concerns that the firearms could be used for hunting endangered lemurs.
Data from the UK government's Strategic Export Controls website shows that licenses for the export of 3,174 guns to Madagascar were granted between August 2011 and June 2012. Most of the weapons were for anti-piracy activities, but 190 sporting guns — guns specifically intended for hunting... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Italy,Netherlands,Germany
British Queen's Soldiers Jailed After Attempting to Smuggle Guns
25 January 2013
Telegraph (UK)
The Queen's Royal Hussars soldiers, based in Sennelager, Germany, attempted to smuggle five guns worth £18,000 on the black market and cocaine worth £72,000 into the UK by car via the Channel Tunnel, Woolwich Crown Court heard.
Lemar Loveless 26, of Brydon Walk, Kings Cross, was arrested with former colleague Trave Dyce, 22, in Folkstone as they left a Euroshuttle from Calais in two BMWs on January 25 last year.
Officers, who had received intelligence about the... (GunPolicy.org)
Welsh Man Finds Over 30 Guns Hidden in Wall While Renovating
24 January 2013
Wales Online
The sheer scale of a secret arsenal of guns and ammunition uncovered hidden behind a false wall by a builder renovating a house has been revealed.
These pictures show the secret haul of more than 30 shotguns and pistols as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition that Simon Berni, 41, was shocked to discover.
He said: "It was an incredible arsenal – full, absolutely choc-a-bloc with eight shelves of fire arms and ammunition."
Police are investigating the gun stache... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,France,United States,England & Wales,Switzerland,Australia
Editorial: Three Million Guns in Australia is More Than Enough
15 January 2013
Sydney Morning Herald, Editorial
It should be troubling to Australian governments that since 1988, after more than 1 million guns have been destroyed as a result of government buyback programs, numerous amnesties, voluntary returns, the banning of semi-automatic weapons and the tightening of gun import controls, the number of guns in private hands in Australia is as large as it has ever been.
It's not hard to see why. Since 1988, while governments have been running
a variety of gun control programs,... (GunPolicy.org)
British County Knife, Gun Crime Rate Halves in 10 Years
14 January 2013
BBC News
The number of people killed with knives in the West Midlands has halved since 2002, according to police figures.
West Midlands Police said the number of fatal knife incidents dropped from 20 between April 2002 and March 2003 to 10 in the same period in 2011 to 2012.
However, 12 people died in knife-related incidents between April and December 2012, and on Friday, two men were stabbed to death in Birmingham.
Ch Insp Simon Wallis said fatal incidents were "mercifully... (GunPolicy.org)
British Girl Shot Dead in Jamaica, Authorities Condemn 'Senseless' Act
13 January 2013
BBC News
An eight-year-old girl from south London shot dead when a gunman opened fire in a shop in Jamaica was a "happy, playful and popular" pupil, her head teacher has said.
Imani Green was inside her cousin's shop in the rural north coast town of Duncans on Friday when a man entered the store and an argument broke out.
Police said the man then opened fire, shooting at people inside.
Imani, from Balham, was hit and died later in hospital.
Three other people are being... (GunPolicy.org)
British Armed Forces Get 25,000 New Pistols
11 January 2013
BBC News
British forces are to be equipped with a new standard issue pistol for the first time in more than 40 years.
The MoD has signed a £9m contract to provide the Armed Forces with more than 25,000 new Glock 17 sidearms, replacing the Browning pistol which has been in service since 1967.
Warrant Officer 1 Mark Anderson of the Royal Marines showed the BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt the features of the new... (GunPolicy.org)
England & Wales,Djibouti,Sri Lanka,Yemen,Somalia,European Union
British Authorities Question Legality, Security of 'Floating' Gun Armouries
10 January 2013
Guardian (UK)
Private security companies guarding ships against Somali pirates are increasingly storing their weapons on so-called "floating armouries" in international waters, to avoid arms smuggling laws when they dock in ports.
About 20 ships stocked with assault rifles and other small arms as well as ammunition, body armour and night vision goggles are scattered around the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, the EU naval force has confirmed.
The legal status of... (GunPolicy.org)
Stop the Gun Madness in the US - Opinion
1 January 2013
Washington Post, Opinion
Guns do kill people. Our national New Year's resolution must be to stop the madness.
It is shameful that gun control only becomes worthy of public debate following an unspeakable massacre such as Newtown — and even more shameful that these mass killings occur so often. What usually happens is that we spend a few weeks pretending to have a "conversation" about guns, then the horror begins to fade and we turn to other issues. Everything goes back to normal.
"Normal,"... (GunPolicy.org)
China,United States,Australia,England & Wales
Opinion: The Solution to US Gun Violence is Clear
20 December 2012
Washington Post, Opinion
Announcing Wednesday that he would send proposals on reducing gun violence in America to Congress, President Obama mentioned a number of sensible gun-control measures. But he also paid homage to the Washington conventional wisdom about the many and varied causes of this calamity — from mental health issues to school safety. His spokesman, Jay Carney, had said earlier that this is "a complex problem that will require a complex solution." Gun control, Carney added, is... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Finland,Colombia,Mexico,Western Europe,Australia,Yemen,Canada,New Zealand,United States
On Guns and Gun Law, America an Outlier Among Developed Nations
20 December 2012
Huffington Post (USA)
How freely do guns flow in the United States compared with the world's other industrialized countries?
According to GunPolicy.org, run by Philip Alpers, a firearms analyst at The University of Sydney, the United States is unusual with what Alpers described as the "two pillars" of gun control: licensing gun owners and registering weapons.
"You are basically the only country in the developed world that doesn't license gun owners across the board and you are almost alone... (GunPolicy.org)
Why Japan Is So Safe from Guns - Opinion
19 December 2012
New York Daily News, Opinion
Everyone wants to live in a country that never has any mass shootings.
The Japanese do. So, what's their secret?
It's not hard to figure out: Japan stringently suppresses gun ownership. Even compared to the United Kingdom, whose gun controls are the most repressive of any major country in Western Europe, Japan is extreme. No rifles. No handguns. Shotguns and air guns are allowed only under a licensing system that is designed to discourage everyone but the most highly... (GunPolicy.org)
Yemen,Norway,Switzerland,Canada,Germany,Spain,Finland,United States,United Kingdom,Australia
Homicides Down after Tougher Gun Laws Adopted Abroad
19 December 2012
Los Angeles Times
Twelve days after the worst mass murder in Australian history, when 35 people were shot to death at Tasmania state's Port Arthur tourist mecca in 1996, the government issued sweeping reforms of the country's gun laws. There hasn't been a mass shooting since, and suicides, deaths by firearms and robberies at gunpoint have plummeted.
The results of toughened gun rules in Britain after the massacre in the Scottish town of Dunblane that same year weren't so immediate or... (GunPolicy.org)
Norway,Switzerland,Finland,Germany,Canada,Australia,United Kingdom,United States
Around the World, Gun Massacres Spurred Gun Control, Public Safety
18 December 2012
ABC News (USA) / AP
If there's anywhere that understands the pain of Newtown, it's Dunblane, the town whose grief became a catalyst for changes to Britain's gun laws.
In March 1996, a 43-year-old man named Thomas Hamilton walked into a primary school in this central Scotland town of 8,000 people and shot to death 16 kindergarten-age children and their teacher with four legally held handguns. In the weeks that followed, people in the town formed the Snowdrop campaign — named for the... (GunPolicy.org)