Gun Policy News
Firearm violence, gun control and small arms
Turkey: One in Three Households Owns a Firearm
28 September 2022
Al Monitor
Thirteen-month-old Kaan Tas was being pushed around a garden by his sister when she noticed blood coming from his head. He died a short while later, the latest young life lost to gun crime in Turkey.
The Tas family was visiting the southern city of Gaziantep when Kaan was hit in the head on Tuesday evening by a "tired bullet" — a round fired into the air, usually at celebrations such as weddings or send-offs for men starting their military service. The phenomenon is... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Women Take Up Shooting After Gun Ownership Legalized
13 September 2022
Saudi Gazette
Saudi women can now legally lock and load. In barely two years, Saudi women have earned the right to both drive and to own a firearm. While women have been legally behind the wheel since 2019, it was only last year that they were allowed to own firearms.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, shooting became popular with many Saudis as a social distanced and outdoor activity. Yet, some women have been shooting for far longer.
"At a young age my father taught me how to use and... (GunPolicy.org)
2 August 2022
Small Arms Review
Its society beset by civil wars in the last fifty years, Yemen is awash in small arms. Nearly every Yemeni male over the age of ten carries some form of weapon, from the traditional jambiya (curved dagger) to assault rifles, as personal apparel and icons of masculinity. In the remote mountains and wadis, open carry of an assault rifle is not only common and widely accepted, but is considered de rigueur. Even heavy weapons such as the DsHk 12.7 machine guns and RPG-7s... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkey Has 627,765 Gun Owners Licensed to Carry
9 July 2022
Agenda (Turkey)
In the statement made by the EGM, it was stated that "individual armament has increased and there are 25 million unlicensed and 2.5 million licensed guns in Turkey" on a website with "falsified" information.
In the statement, which stated that they had to publish a denial because of a similar news before, it was emphasized that the fight against fake news on this issue would continue.
Noting that there has been a decrease in the number of newly issued licensed guns in... (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)
Kuwait Government Calls for Surrender of Firearms
5 March 2022
Arab Times (Kuwait)
The Public Relations and Security Media Department of the Ministry of Interior stated that, based on the directives of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, Lieutenant-General Anwar Al-Barjas, to address the crimes of possessing weapons without a license, and to arrest anyone who violates Law No. 6 of 2015 regarding regulating the collection of weapons, ammunition and explosives, and as part of the efforts of the criminal security sector to impose the prestige... (GunPolicy.org)
Azerbaijan MIA Reveals How Many Weapons Found Last Year
3 January 2022
APA (Azerbaijan)
Necessary measures taken by law enforcement officers to clear the liberated territories of mines and other explosive devices, as well as to collect the weapons thrown down by the Armenian military units during the withdrawal, are being successfully continued, the Barda regional group of the Interior Ministry's (MIA) press Service told APA.
According to the MIA, In 2021, 225 submachine guns, 102 grenades, 68 machine guns, 64 tanks and anti-personnel missile systems, 10... (GunPolicy.org)
Lebanese Rush to Buy Weapons for Personal Security
30 December 2021
The National (Lebanon)
The business of firearms dealer Abdullah has been booming since Lebanon's economy collapsed.
He sells at least three rifles a day – Kalashnikovs are popular among households in fear for their safety as crime rates soar. He also sells boxes of ammunition and grenades.
An automatic rifle or machinegun costs between $400 and $1,400.
His sales have risen threefold since the financial crisis began in 2019, even though the dollar value of the minimum wage has dropped to... (GunPolicy.org)
Israel's New Public Security Minister Weighs Tightening Gun License Applications
23 July 2021
Haaratz (Israel)
Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev is examining the possibility of making it harder to obtain a gun license, following years of policies that facilitated the proliferation of civilian access to firearms.
Any proposed changes will to be brought to the Knesset Interior and Environment Committee for approval, in a policy shift. Bar-Lev's predecessors advanced gun policy without obtaining Knesset approval and flouted objections by the attorney general.
The criteria... (GunPolicy.org)
Report Shows Gun Ownership on the Rise in Turkey
10 March 2021
Stockholm Center for Freedom (SCF)
A report drafted by Turkey's Gendarmerie General Command has revealed an increasing demand for gun ownership in the country, with a 34 percent increase in the number of applications for gun permits in 2020, Turkish Minute reported.
In 2019, a total of 13,206 people applied for a license to carry a firearm, rising by 34 percent in 2020, with 17,751 applying for permits, the activity report for 2020 said.
According to the Umut (Hope) Foundation, a leading advocate of... (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)
Jordanians Polarized by Effort to Restrict Firearms
22 July 2019
Al-Monitor
The Jordanian government is pushing to amend a 67-year-old law regulating the possession of firearms in the kingdom. If the amendments pass, Jordanians would have six months to hand over unlicensed handguns, automatic and semi-automatic firearms or face heavy penalties. The proposed amendments would also restrict the issuance of new licenses and cancel permits to carry guns. The legislation to replace the current 1952 law is being debated in an extraordinary session of... (GunPolicy.org)
Jordan Pushes Bill to Limit Firearm Ownership
6 July 2019
The Jerusalem Post
Members of Jordan's lower house are working to push forward a bill that would prevent citizens from purchasing automatic or semi-automatic firearms, even if they are to be used for hunting. The legislation does not grandfather in those who already own such weapons, forcing people with legal permits to hand them over to the authorities.
It is said that a big reason for this reform revolves around King Abdullah II, who is cracking down on festive firing at celebrations.... (GunPolicy.org)
92% of Crime Guns are Unlicensed in Jordan
2 July 2019
Jordan Times
Minister of Interior Salameh Hammad touched a sensitive cord when he revealed on Sunday during a parliamentary debate on the amendments to the legislation on "weapons and ammunition" that 92 per cent of all violent crimes committed in the country are carried out with unlicensed arms.
For starters, the mere mention of the right to carry arms in Jordan, legal or otherwise, has been a taboo for much too long in the country. The carrying and/or keeping of arms by people in... (GunPolicy.org)
Jordan Promotes Gun Control Law
3 March 2019
MediaLine
King said to be concerned by festive firing at celebrations, but others cite terrorism
Members of Jordan's lower house are working to push forward a bill that would prevent citizens from purchasing automatic or semi-automatic firearms, even if they are to be used for hunting. The legislation does not grandfather in those who already own such weapons, forcing people with legal permits to hand them over to the authorities.
It is said that a big reason for this reform... (GunPolicy.org)
Azerbaijan Launches Production of Assault Machine Gun.
7 November 2018
Azer News (Azerbaijan)
Azerbaijan began the serial production of the HP-7.62 type assault machine gun with a caliber of 7.62 x 54 mm, created at the enterprise of the Ministry of Defense Industry. The assault machine gun, which was introduced in September 2018, during the third international defense exhibition ADEX-2018 in Azerbaijan, was developed by local experts and was successfully tested, the defense ministry told Trend. The HP-7.62 type assault machine gun is designed to destroy the... (GunPolicy.org)
Kuwait Committed to Combat Against Illicit Trafficking of Firearms
18 October 2018
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
VIENNA -- Assistant Undersecretary of Kuwait's Ministry of Interior for Criminal Security Affairs Maj.-Gen. Khaled Al-Duyayn said Wednesday that his country continues to contribute to the international campaign against organized crimes, including the illicit trafficking and misuse of firearms.
Kuwait is working with the State Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to ensure effective implementation of the Protocol against the Illicit... (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)
West Africa Terror Groups Get Guns from Syria and Iraq - Study
17 November 2016
PJ Media (US)
A report issued this month tracking the flow of weapons across Libya and the Sahel revealed that terror groups operating in West Africa are getting much more than just inspiration from terror hubs in Iraq and Syria.
The study by UK-based Conflict Armament Research, an independent organization that tracks the flow of conventional weapons and materiel, found that weapons stockpiles remaining from the nearly 42-year dictatorship of Moammar Gadhafi have migrated as far as... (GunPolicy.org)
Syria,Iraq,Slovakia,European Union
Europe Split on Reforms and Regulations to Curb Gun Violence
14 November 2016
EUObserver (Belgium)
EU lawmakers are meeting on Tuesday (15 November) for another round of backroom talks to curb gun violence and prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons on the black market.
Debates around the European Commission's EU firearms directive reform, proposed in the aftermath the Paris November terrorist attacks, appears to be advancing as positions converge between the two co-legislatures at the European Parliament and the Council, representing member states.
"There is a... (GunPolicy.org)
Yemen,Turkmenistan,Finland,Uzbekistan,Saudi Arabia,United Arab Emirates
Finland Under Scrutiny for Rising Arms Exports to Conflict Zones
1 November 2016
Modern Tokyo Times
As the global economy continues its slow recovery from the 2008–2009 worldwide recession, armament sales appear to have been one of the few recession-proof export sectors. The greater Middle East has been main emporium for such purchases. While the United States and Russia remain the world's two leading armaments exporters, other countries have also rushed in to fill niche markets, such as small arms, training aircraft and light artillery. Notably, Finland has been... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Iraq,Afghanistan
US Lost Track of Millions of Guns Sold to Middle East After 9/11
30 October 2016
The Washington Diplomat (US)
The United States has flooded Iraq and Afghanistan with billions of dollars worth of small arms since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and has lost track of millions of them, according to a recently published report on 412 Department of Defense contracts by the London-based advocacy nonprofit Action on Armed Violence.
People often associate U.S. military assistance with heavy hardware such as armored fighting vehicles, anti-tank weapons and attack helicopters.... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,France,Algeria,Saudi Arabia,Yemen,Iraq
Germany's Arms Exports Rise to 4.03 Billion Euros [FR]
26 October 2016
Les Echos (France)
[Translated summary: Germany's arms exports rose to 4.03 billion euros in the first six months of 2016, an increase of 15% in relation to the same period last year. Germany sells to Algeria and Saudi Arabia, a country that is in a controversial war with Yemen, but the Ministry of Economy explains that they have particularly restrictive rules.]
Les crises internationales profitent aux industriels allemands de l'armement. Selon les chiffres publiés mercredi par le... (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)
Corruption Scuttles India Army Deal with Israeli Rifle Maker
26 October 2016
IndiaToday (India)
Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar has scrapped a controversial Army tender worth around '1,000 crore to procure 45,000 rifles amid allegations of corruption in the acquisition process.
The tender was under the scanner over the possibility of favours being given to Israeli firm, Israeli Weapons Industry, over its other rivals in the deal. The tender for the rifles was issued in 2010 in which 44,600 close quarter carbines (rifles) were to be provided to the infantry... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,Australia,New Zealand,Japan,Switzerland,France,Poland,Iraq
German Ammo Sales Up Tenfold, €4 Billion Arms Sales in 2016
25 October 2016
Mo4ch (US)
Germany's small arms ammunition sales have increased by 10 times in the first 6 months of 2016, while total arms sales have reached €4 billion over the same period and have set a new record, Deutsche-Presse Agentur (DPA) says, citing a government report.
The total value of the small arms ammo export contracts has risen from €27 million ($29.3 million) in the first half of 2015 to €283.8 million ($308 million) in the first six months of 2016, the reports says,... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil's Merchants of Death: Unchecked Gun Exports Kill - NYT
23 October 2016
New York Times, Opinion
RIO DE JANEIRO — As Brazil weathers the worst political and economic crises in living memory, Brazilians can hardly be blamed for being distracted. But there is a subject that the country's politicians — and citizens — are not discussing, even though it risks tarnishing Brazil's international reputation as an advocate of peacebuilding and diplomacy: an unchecked arms industry and its involvement in foreign conflicts around the globe.
The fingerprints of Brazil's... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia,Afghanistan,Russia,Central Asia,Pakistan,China,Turkey,Brazil
UN Rule of Thumb Suggests 600,000 Illegal Guns in Australia
21 October 2016
Age (Melbourne)
As many as 600,000 illegal guns could be circulating in the Australian underworld, but national efforts to control the spread is being hampered by inconsistencies between states, a firearms intelligence report has found.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission report on guns - to be released on Friday, the same day as state and federal government representatives meet to thrash out a way to combat illegal firearms - also backs a national amnesty.
Chris Dawson,... (GunPolicy.org)
Israel Gun Trade 'Helping to Fuel South Sudan War,' Says UN
20 October 2016
Times of Israel
A United Nations panel of experts found evidence of "well-established networks" of arms suppliers in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, including from Israel, that are fueling the war in South Sudan.
In a confidential report to the Security Council obtained by AFP on Thursday, the panel described the arms deals that are not recent and involve Israeli and Bulgarian firms.
The Council has threatened to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan to try to end the fighting... (GunPolicy.org)
New Australian Gun Ban Hits Rapid-fire Shotgun - NY Times
19 October 2016
New York Times, Associated Press
Australia's tough gun controls will be further tightened to restrict access to new rapid-fire shotguns, the prime minister said Wednesday.
But a pro-gun independent senator warned Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that the move will add to the government's difficulty in getting legislation through the Senate.
Turnbull was commenting on the fate of the Adler A110 shotgun, a Turkish-manufactured lever-action weapon that was banned from importation last year as an... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Arabia Biggest Weapon Buyer in US Proxy War [ES]
18 October 2016
Hispan TV (España)
[Translated Summary: Since 2010, Saudi Arabia has acquired arms worth US$1 billion to be used in the US Middle East proxy war. In 2014, Saudi Arabia became the biggest arms importer by buying military equipment, mainly from the US, with a total value of US$6.4 billion.]
Un alto cargo militar iraní dice que la venta de armas a Arabia Saudí se produce en el marco de la guerra subsidiaria de EE.UU. en Oriente Medio.
"Desde 2010 hasta hoy, Arabia Saudí ha adquirido... (GunPolicy.org)
Azerbaijan Looks to Greater Reliance on Domestic Weapons
14 October 2016
Euroasianet
With an array of new, domestically produced weapons, including sniper rifles, machine guns, armed drones, and armored vehicles, Azerbaijan is showcasing its arms industry amid growing tensions with neighboring Armenia.
Much of the attention on Azerbaijan's growing military has focused on the country's weapons purchases from abroad, notably from Russia and Israel. But the country also has been steadily building up its indigenous production capabilities. The new wares... (GunPolicy.org)
Eyes on Armenia, Azerbaijan Builds Its Own Gun Industry
14 October 2016
Eurasianet.org (EU/Asia)
With an array of new, domestically produced weapons, including sniper rifles, machine guns, armed drones, and armored vehicles, Azerbaijan is showcasing its arms industry amid growing tensions with neighboring Armenia.
Much of the attention on Azerbaijan's growing military has focused on the country's weapons purchases from abroad, notably from Russia and Israel. But the country also has been steadily building up its indigenous production capabilities. The new wares... (GunPolicy.org)
DIY Submachine Guns Are Popping Up Across the West Bank
14 October 2016
Washington Post
AZZUN — In the predawn hours, 150 Israeli troops, including masked special forces operatives, arrived in this Palestinian town in armored personnel carriers and hardened jeeps to hunt for guns and gun makers. They found one of each. The operation was deemed a success.
The raid in Azzun is part of an aggressive campaign by Israel to rid the occupied West Bank of guns — specifically a crude kind of do-it-yourself, handmade submachine gun known on the Palestinian... (GunPolicy.org)
Spain,United States,Greece,Italy,Turkey,France,Syria
Europol Dismantles Spain/Syria/Libya Gun Trafficking Network
11 October 2016
EFE News Agency
A huge haul of arms and drugs was seized from a trafficking network run by Syrian nationals, Spain's police said Tuesday.
A total of 109 people were arrested and 100 tons of hashish, 11,400 firearms, over a million ammunition rounds and 10 tons of explosives were seized in an international operation against a trafficking network that sold drugs to arm jihadist groups in countries like Libya.
The joint operation was carried out by security forces from Spain, Italy,... (GunPolicy.org)
Eastern Europe Approved €1.2 Billion Arms Sale to Middle East
30 September 2016
Jewish Business News
An investigation has found that countries in Eastern Europe discreetly approved the sale of weapons worth over €1 billion to countries in the Middle East. Those countries in turn ship weapons to war-ravaged Syria and Yemen. The hardware includes shells, anti-tank missiles, machine guns and thousands of Kalashnikov-style assault rifles.
The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) conducted the... (GunPolicy.org)
Oman,Belgium,Saudi Arabia,United Arab Emirates
Belgium Enjoys Record Year of Arms, Gun Sales to Saudi Arabia
20 September 2016
Brussells Times
Saudi Arabia bought 60% of Walloon weapons sold in 2015.
This is per the report of the "Weapons" sub-commission of the Wallonia parliament on export licences granted or refused during the last year. Le Soir is reporting this today (Tuesday).
Wallonia has never exported so many arms to Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia has only accounted for 34 export licences of the 1,369 delivered from 68 countries across the whole of the year.
However, these contracts represent a total of... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Arabia Main Importer of Guns Made in Belgium [FR]
20 September 2016
RT-TV Novosti (Russia)
[Translated summary: According to a report by the firearms commission of the Walloon parliament, in 2015 Ryad was the main importer of arms manufactured in the Belgian region. Saudia Arabia has purchased a total of 575.8 million EUR in weapons, including firearms, cannons, mortars, ammunition, rockets and armoured vehicles.]
Selon un rapport de la commission sur les armes du parlement wallon, Ryad a été, en 2015, le premier importateur d'armes produites dans la... (GunPolicy.org)
China,Eastern Europe,Saudi Arabia,Turkey,Syria,Iraq
'Almost Direct' Supply Chain Sells Guns from Europe to ISIS
11 September 2016
Huffington Post (UK)
Islamic State fighters are illegally using guns and other weapons made in Eastern European factories, in a newly-discovered supply chain that is "almost direct", a weapons expert has claimed.
James Bevan, the director of Conflict Armament Research (CAR), told The Huffington Post UK that investigations this summer have seen a rapid, frightening change in the source of weapons used by the so-called Islamic State to fight other groups and carry out massacres.
These... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil's Big Gun Maker Charged with Sales to Yemeni Trafficker
6 September 2016
Reuters
Brazilian prosecutors said on Tuesday they had charged Forjas Taurus SA, Latin America's largest gun maker, in May for dealing with a known Yemeni arms trafficker in violation of international sanctions, prompting the company's shares to plunge.
Taurus confirmed on Monday a Reuters report that two former executives had been charged over a deal in 2013 that allegedly sent arms to Yemen's civil war, but the company said it was only a concerned party in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazilian Company Taurus Sold Guns to Yemeni Trafficker [ES]
5 September 2016
Radio Formula (Mexico), Reuters
[Translated summary: Federal prosecutors in Brazil accused two former Forja Taurus executives of sending 8,000 handguns to an active Yemeni arms trafficker in 2013. Forja Taurus is a major gun manufacturer which supplies the Brazilian police and the Army, and is one of the five main gun suppliers to the American market, where it sells three-quarters of its production.]
Fiscales federales en el sur de Brasil acusaron en mayo a dos ex ejecutivos de Forjas Taurus de... (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)
Brazil Gun Manufacturer Sold Guns to Trafficker from Yemen
5 September 2016
Reuters
Brazil's Forjas Taurus SA, the largest weapons manufacturer in Latin America, sold guns to a known Yemeni arms trafficker who funneled them into his nation's civil war in violation of international sanctions, according to charges in court documents reviewed by Reuters.
Federal prosecutors in southern Brazil charged two former executives of Forjas Taurus (FJTA4.SA) in May with shipping 8,000 handguns in 2013 to Fares Mohammed Hassan Mana'a, an arms smuggler active... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Switzerland,European Union,Egypt,Saudi Arabia,Yemen,Bahrain,United Arab Emirates,Qatar,Kuwait,Lebanon,Jordan
Arms Trade Treaty Member Nations Flout Gun Trade Rules [FR]
26 August 2016
SwissInfo
[Translated summary: Many countries that have signed the Arms Trade Treaty continue to ignore the rules. Only Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden have been completely transparent about their trade. US, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France and Italy continue to sell arms to Egypt which translates into the torture and death of hundreds of people.]
Disposer d'un traité sur le commerce des armes, c'est bien. Encore faut-il qu'il soit respecté. Pour Amnesty International, trop... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Afghanistan,Iraq
US Lost Hundreds of Thousands of Guns In Iraq, Afghanistan
24 August 2016
New York Times
Early this year, a Facebook user in Baghdad using the name Hussein Mahyawi posted a photograph of a slightly worn M4 assault rifle he was offering for sale. Veterans of the latest war in Iraq immediately recognized it. It was a standard American carbine equipped with a holographic sight, a foregrip that was military-issue during the occupation and a sticker bearing a digital QR code used by American forces for inventory control. Except for one detail — an aftermarket... (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)
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)
Hundreds of Russian and Italian Guns Found in Cyprus Port
19 August 2016
Cyprus-Mail (Cyprus)
Turkish Cypriot police discovered 645 guns, of which 318 automatic and 327 rifles, in a container about to be loaded on 'Rizokarpaso' cargo vessel in the Famagusta port, Turkish Cypriot press reported on Friday.
Two hundred of the guns are Russian-made Baikals, and the rest Italian-made Benellis, Brownings, Berettas and Winchesters.
The guns, press reports said, had been transported to Famagusta aboard the 'Morphou' on July 21st, and remained in a storage facility... (GunPolicy.org)
US Approves $1.15bn Military Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia
10 August 2016
Guardian, Agence France Presse
The United States has approved the possible sale to Saudi Arabia of up to 153 tanks, hundreds of machine guns and other military gear in a deal worth $1.15bn.
The announcement coincided with news that Saudi-led coalition warplanes had resumed air strikes on Yemen's capital for the first time in three months, killing 14 people and shutting the airport after UN-brokered talks were suspended.
Elizabeth Trudeau, a state department spokeswoman, said she was "very... (GunPolicy.org)
Eastern Europe,Syria,Jordan,Saudi Arabia,Turkey,Germany,United Arab Emirates
Eastern Europe and the Lucrative Middle East Arms Trade
9 August 2016
Deutsche Welle
War-torn Syria is full of arms: thousands of AK47 assault rifles, machine guns, mortar shells, rocket launchers and anti-tank weapons, aging T-55 and T-72 tanks. Most are believed to come from the following countries: Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Montenegro, Serbia and Romania. They reach Syria via a circuitous route. First, they are sent by air or sea to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates or Turkey – then on from there to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Harsher Penalties for Illegal Guns Touted in Israel [FR]
8 August 2016
The Times of Israel
[Translated summary: Israel's State Attorney has recommended a sentence of three years for possessing a firearm without a licence, and from four to six years for more serious crimes related to illegal guns. Illegal firearms are very common among the Arab Israeli community and the homicide rate is 1.8 per 100,000 citizens.]
Pour Shai Nitzan, les procureurs devraient insister pour des peines de prison pour les possesseurs et les vendeurs d'armes sans permis
Le Procureur... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,West Asia,Asia,Americas,Africa,United States
Global Mass Shooting Study Uses Bad Methodology - Critics
28 July 2016
Fox News (USA)
A much-heralded and widely cited study of 171 countries over nearly a half century purports to show more guns mean more mass shootings, but critics say the report uses bad methodology in a way that rigs the results.
The study by Adam Lankford, a criminal justice professor at the University of Alabama, was published in the journal Violence and Victims in January and has been cited by media outlets -- including The New Yorker, The Washington Post and Time magazine. But... (GunPolicy.org)
Ukraine,Russia,Iraq,Syria,Libya
Ukraine Once Again a Trove for Black Market Gun Trafficking
25 July 2016
New York Times, Reuters
SLOVIANSK/MOSCOW — On Feb. 12 last year, the same day that a ceasefire ended the worst of the fighting in eastern Ukraine between rebels and government forces, a former rebel fighter seized a chance to turn his inside knowledge of the conflict into hard cash.
He traveled to a spot on the Russian-Ukrainian border where he retrieved a cache of weapons hidden there earlier by his comrades in the pro-Russian rebel movement.
Four days later, shortly before 6:00 p.m., he... (GunPolicy.org)
Israeli Company Creates Gun Lock to Prevent Unauthorized Use
25 July 2016
Times of Israel
Jerusalem-based Zore is one of a group of companies trying to make guns safer, and it has a personal reason to do so.
The company, led by CEO Yonatan Zimmerman, was founded by a group of Israeli army veterans, who decided to tackle accidental deaths caused by the misuse of firearms after an army friend of theirs was shot by friendly fire.
The team has developed a gun lock, Zore X, that combines a gun's original mechanism with technology to create a storage solution... (GunPolicy.org)
Syria,Iraq,Jordan,Lebanon,Turkey,United States,Qatar,Saudi Arabia
Weapons of the Syrian War: Small Arms
19 July 2016
Defense One (USA)
Small arms were already plentiful in Syria before the war, thanks to years of Soviet and Russian support. More flooded in after the conflict began
First use: March 18, 2011. After the Assad regime detained more than a dozen teenagers as part of its Arab Spring crackdown, protesters burned down a police headquarters in the southern city of Dara'a. In response, police fired tear gas at protesters, and then opened fire on them.
Origin: Small arms were already plentiful... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Arabia,United States,Jordan
CIA Guns for Syrian Rebels Stolen for Jordanian Black Market
26 June 2016
New York Times
Weapons shipped into Jordan by the Central Intelligence Agency and Saudi Arabia intended for Syrian rebels have been systematically stolen by Jordanian intelligence operatives and sold to arms merchants on the black market, according to American and Jordanian officials.
Some of the stolen weapons were used in a shooting in November that killed two Americans and three others at a police training facility in Amman, F.B.I. officials believe after months of investigating... (GunPolicy.org)
Lebanon,Iraq,Jordan,Oman,Egypt,Saudi Arabia,Croatia,Israel,Kuwait,Germany,Spain,United Arab Emirates,Italy,Qatar,Switzerland,United States
World's Small Arms Trade Reached US$5.8 Billion in 2013
17 June 2016
Israel Homeland Security
The Small Arms Survey (SAS) released its annual Transfers and Transparency trade update for 2016, which reveals that the world's top and the largest of the smaller arms exporters conducted trade to the tune of $5.8bn in 2013. This represents an increase of 17 percent in small arms trade on 2012, which came in at $5bn flat.
The United States alone, the world's largest arms manufacturer and exporter, exported a record breaking $1.1bn worth of small arms in 2013. In a... (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)
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)
West Asia,United States,South Asia
Gun Imports to Middle Eastern Countries Doubled - Study
6 June 2016
New York Times, Associated Press
Annual sales of small arms and light weapons to Middle Eastern countries nearly doubled in dollar terms in 2013 over the year before, as conflicts heated up across the region, according to a study released Monday.
Meanwhile, the U.S. was both the biggest exporter and importer of weapons ranging from pistols and military firearms to hunting rifles, ammunition and anti-tank guns, according to the report.
"Trade Update 2016: Transfers and Transparency," a study by the... (GunPolicy.org)
Navy SEAL Emblum Rifle Found Near Shooter's Home in Israel
30 May 2016
Israel National News
Border Police officers located a semi-automatic M-16 assault rifle on Monday in a home in the Arab Israeli village of Ain al-Sahla in the Wadi Ara region in the north.
Making the finding of the M-16 all the more unusual was that the lethal weapon was inscribed with the logo of the US Navy SEALs, though the insignia appears likely to have been faked.
Adding another troubling aspect to the find is the fact that Wadi Ara was the hometown of the terrorist Nashat Milhem,... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Sellers Want Harsher Penalties for Poachers in Cyprus
13 May 2016
Cyprus Mail
The gun sellers' association has called for legislation with harsher penalties for poachers, saying that registered hunters have nothing to do with illegal actions reported in recent days, including the killings of the protected moufflon.
In an announcement, the gun sellers expressed their concern on the rise of "serious poaching incidents" and referred to Game Service data suggesting there has been an increase in the poaching of moufflon, while the number of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Belgium Main EU Exporter of Guns to Middle East [FR]
6 May 2016
Sud Info (Belgium)
[Translated summary: A report from the EU on firearm exports indicates that Belgium was, in 2014, the largest European exporter of firearms and the second largest exporter of ammunition to the Middle East, specially Saudi Arabia. The country exported 259,9 million Euros worth of firearms and 187,9 million Euros in ammunition during 2014.]
Ce classement ressort du rapport annuel de l'Union européenne sur les exportations d'armes. Officiellement, la Belgique se situe... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Controls to Be Loosened in Israel, Says Minister
4 May 2016
Jerusalem Post
Gun controls will soon be loosened to allow more trained civilians to carry firearms, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan wrote in a letter to MK Amir Ohana Wednesday.
"In order to strengthen the security of Israeli citizens and their feeling of security in public spaces, I instructed that there be a controlled broadening of the existing criteria to give permits to carry a firearm, in a way that will allow trained civilians, primarily those who were in security... (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)
Europe,Eastern Europe,Croatia,Bulgaria,France,Albania,Saudi Arabia,Syria,Serbia,West Asia,Iraq,Yemen,Slovakia,Sudan
Balkan Gun Trade Fuels Crime, Terrorism in Europe, Asia
16 April 2016
Economist
The arsenal discovered in the apartment of Reda Kriket, a suspected terrorist arrested on March 24th near Paris, included explosives, Kalashnikov AK-47 rifles and a machine pistol from Croatia. The terrorists who staged the attacks last November in Paris employed AK-47s made by Zastava, a Serbian manufacturer. The Kouachi brothers, who attacked the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo the previous January, used Kalashnikov ammunition made in Bosnia. Whatever else these... (GunPolicy.org)
Amnesty for Israeli Soldiers Who Stole Army Guns [FR]
11 April 2016
L'Orient-Le Jour (Beirut), Agence France Presse
[Translated summary: The Israeli army is trying to recover military weapons from soldiers who took them home. To date, a no-punishment amnesty has netted 220 firearms.]
Des centaines d'armes, des dizaines de milliers de munitions… L'armée israélienne réalise l'une de ses plus importantes saisies d'armement depuis longtemps, non pas dans les réseaux palestiniens, mais auprès d'Israéliens présumés au-dessus de tout soupçon.
Ces citoyens, hommes et femmes,... (GunPolicy.org)
Asia,United States,Africa,Libya,Yemen,Iraq,Syria
Middle East: Militias Use Facebook Groups to Sell Weapons
6 April 2016
New York Times
A terrorist hoping to buy an antiaircraft weapon in recent years needed to look no further than Facebook, which has been hosting sprawling online arms bazaars, offering weapons ranging from handguns and grenades to heavy machine guns and guided missiles.
The Facebook posts suggest evidence of large-scale efforts to sell military weapons coveted by terrorists and militants. The weapons include many distributed by the United States to security forces and their proxies in... (GunPolicy.org)
Africa,Asia,Iran,United States
Middle East Gun Runners Immune to Arrest in Arabian Sea
5 April 2016
Washington Post
The Navy disclosed Monday that it recently confiscated a weapons cache from a small fishing craft in the Arabian Sea, seizing about 1,500 Kalashnikov rifles, 200 rocket-propelled grenade launchers and 21 .50-caliber machine guns. It marks the fourth seizure by a U.S.-led maritime task force in the region since September — and underscores the difficulties the United States faces in stopping weapons smuggling to nations like Yemen, where Houthi rebels continue to rely... (GunPolicy.org)
Soldiers Can Now Keep Their Guns While Off Duty in Israel [FR]
23 February 2016
Le Figaro (France)
[Translated summary: Israeli soldiers can now carry their guns when they are not on duty, to enable them to intervene following a surge of Palestinian attacks. The decision was made after the homicide of an Israeli soldier who was not allowed to keep his gun with him.]
Les soldats israéliens ont reçu ordre de porter leurs armes personnelles en rentrant chez eux même en dehors de leur service pour pouvoir intervenir à la suite de la recrudescence des attaques de... (GunPolicy.org)
Neither Side Wants an Israeli Second Amendment
18 February 2016
Jerusalem Post
Gun control isn't usually a major political issue here, but it has come up in a big way in recent months, after several terrorists in the current wave of terrorism were subdued by civilians.
The debate on gun control came to a head in Monday's inaugural meeting of the Knesset Caucus on Firearms Policy - perhaps the closet Israel has ever gotten to a US-style "gun lobby" - but even those in favor of easing regulations have made it clear that they're not gunning for... (GunPolicy.org)
European Union,Albania,Bosnia & Herzegovina,Bulgaria,Croatia,Greece,Kosovo,Macedonia,Montenegro,Serbia,Turkey
European Commission Tightens Gun Control Across the EU
18 November 2015
European Commission - Press release
The European Commission today adopted a package of measures to make it more difficult to acquire firearms in the European Union, better track legally held firearms, strengthen cooperation between Member States, and ensure that deactivated firearms are rendered inoperable. The proposals presented today were foreseen in the European Security Agenda adopted in April 2015, but have been significantly accelerated in light of recent events. The Commission is hereby supporting... (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)
United States,Australia,Turkey
Weakening Australia's Gun Laws a 'Huge Mistake' - Ex-PM
10 September 2015
ABC News (Australia)
The Federal Government has agreed to allow the importation of the Adler lever-action shotgun in a year's time, pending a review into the system.
Gun control advocates say the rapid-fire weapon from Turkey should be permanently banned because of its fast firing rate and its eight-round capacity.
Mr Howard, who introduced a ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, said he did not believe Australians wanted to see weaker... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Yemen,Switzerland,Finland,Serbia
US Has 5% of World's Population, 31% of Mass Shootings
23 August 2015
EurekAlert! The Global Source for the Science News (USA) - American Association for the Advancement of Science
Chicago - Despite having only about 5 percent of the world's population, the United States was the attack site for a disproportionate 31 percent of public mass shooters globally from 1966-2012, according to new research that will be presented at the 110th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA).
"The United States, Yemen, Switzerland, Finland, and Serbia are ranked as the Top 5 countries in firearms owned per capita, according to the 2007 Small... (GunPolicy.org)
Jordan Bans Use of Firearms in Public but People are Still Shooting
21 August 2015
The Arab Weekly
Amman - Samer Khalidi, 17, was hit by a bullet in the head at the end of July while attending a wedding party in the northern city of Ramtha. He died instantly. No one expected that the wedding would turn into a funeral, especially when the person who fired a gun into the air was the groom, who ended up in jail.
In Kerak, south of Amman, a bride was hospitalised in May after she was seriously wounded in the forearm by a stray bullet in her outdoor wedding... (GunPolicy.org)
New Gun Control Laws Come into Effect in Kuwait
24 June 2015
New Arab
On Tuesday, a controversial new Kuwaiti law came into effect that will see citizens' homes searched for unlicensed arms, ammunition and fireworks.
The Interior Ministry has pledged to "respect the customs of the people of Kuwait" in implementing the law, vowing to use female police officers when searching homes.
MPs opposed the bill mainly because it entailed searches of homes and citizens, viewing it as an infringement of civil rights. The ministry promised it would... (GunPolicy.org)
Nicaragua,Peru,Haiti,Dominican Republic,Cuba,Mexico,Honduras,Guatemala,Turkey,El Salvador,United States,Russia,Austria,Belgium,Colombia,Brazil,Czech Republic,Germany,Israel,Venezuela,Italy,Spain
16 January 2015
Los Angeles Times, Opinion
During the 1980s, El Salvador was the single largest recipient of U.S. military hardware and weaponry in the Western Hemisphere. Although the Central American country's civil war ended in 1992, the guns, grenades and bullets linger, as do their murderous effects. In September, a U.S. official from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives estimated that half the weapons available on El Salvador's vibrant black market were made in the United... (GunPolicy.org)
More Israelis Applying for Gun Permits
19 November 2014
Virtual Jerusalem
Yoram Issachar, who owns a contracting company in Jerusalem with his father and two brothers, has carried a Baretta 765 for the past 25 years. He works in Jewish communities on land Israel acquired in the West Bank, employing 15 - 30 Palestinian laborers, and carries the gun for his protection. Now, after the attack in Jerusalem that killed four worshippers and a police officer, he plans to upgrade to a larger gun. Immediately after the attack, he says, he took out his... (GunPolicy.org)
South America,Central America,Caribbean,Cuba,United States,Russia,Nicaragua,Israel,El Salvador,Honduras,Europe,Belgium,Czech Republic,Germany,Italy,South Africa,Spain,Colombia,Mexico,Venezuela,Brazil,Argentina,Chile,Paraguay,Panama,Ecuador
Small Arms Trade a 'Dramatic Threat' to Latin America
13 October 2014
NACLA
Small arms and gun violence present the most dramatic threat to public safety in Latin America and the Caribbean. After decades of uncontrolled proliferation, at least 45 million to 80 million small arms and light weapons—that is, weapons operated by an individual or small group, including handguns, assault rifles, grenades, grenade launchers, and even man portable surface to air missiles—are circulating throughout the region.(1) Gunshots kill between 73,000 and... (GunPolicy.org)
Georgia Embraces Tougher Gun Laws
19 September 2014
Agenda.ge (Georgia)
The Georgian Government is taking a tougher stance on the country's currently relaxed gun laws and making it illegal for people to buy or carry guns without special permission.
In particular, 18-year-olds will no longer be able to obtain a firearm legally and the age of owing a gun will increase to 23.
The Government believed the new rules acted as a preventive measure to further protect the lives and health of Georgian citizens.
Under the new rules Georgian... (GunPolicy.org)
Bahraini Man Sentenced to Death After Gun Homicide
26 June 2014
Gulf Daily News (Bahrain)
A Bahraini has been sentenced to death for the vicious murder of a 20-year-old fugitive who allegedly posed as a woman looking for a date.
Hussain Ebrahim Hussain died after being shot twice, repeatedly stabbed with a screwdriver, beaten with a metal bar and a wrench and hit with stones.
His 40-year-old killer Sayed Haitham Adnan Qahiri was found guilty of premeditated murder and possessing and smuggling an unlicensed firearm by the High Criminal Court yesterday.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Arabian Authorities Crack Down on Online Arms Dealers
18 June 2014
Arab News (Jeddah)
The Interior Ministry is closely monitoring and tracking down arms trafficking through the Internet and social networking sites.
Mansour Al-Turki, the ministry's spokesman, said violators — either individuals or website operators — will be treated as criminals.
He pointed out that trade in weapons and its accessories are prohibited in the Kingdom.
Al-Turki said competent security agencies regularly follow up and track the information and data available on trade... (GunPolicy.org)
Kuwaiti Officials Investigate 25 Guns Lost from Military Camp
23 May 2014
Qatar News Agency
KUWAIT - Kuwaiti acting Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammad Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah who is also acting Interior Minister and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has ordered the formation of an ad-hoc security committee to fully and urgently investigate the loss of 25 pieces of weapon from the Special Forces' military camp.
An Interior ministry statement issued here last night said the committee includes the General Administration of Criminal Investigations and the... (GunPolicy.org)
Rundown of Gun Licensing Laws in Israel
20 May 2014
Haaratz (Israel)
Following the deadly shooting at the Be'er Sheva bank, here's a look at who meets the specific licensing criteria in Israel, aside from members of the Israel Defense Forces, Israel Police, Israel Prison Service and other official bodies.
There are 292,625 licensed guns in private hands in Israel. Some 160,000 are owned by citizens who meet specific licensing criteria, like former members of the security forces and residents of the territories. The other roughly 130,000... (GunPolicy.org)
Going to a Saudi Wedding Celebration? Leave Your Gun at Home
15 May 2014
Saudi Gazette, Opinion
I don't know what kind of thrill some people get by firing machine guns and other weapons into the air during wedding celebrations and other festive occasions.
Several years ago the Ministry of Interior banned the use of weapons and firearms during wedding parties after several unfortunate incidents occurred which turned these occasions of joy and happiness into tragedies. However, recently there has been an increase in such incidents, the latest of which was the death... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Man Avoids Bahrain Jail After 'Showing Off' Unlicensed Handgun
14 May 2014
Gulf Daily News (Bahrain)
A man who pulled out a gun in a Manama bar will avoid prison.
The 59-year-old Saudi was "showing off" his newly purchased firearm to a Bahraini in April 2012.
He told him he had just bought the 6.5mm Italian handgun from a man in the street outside.
However, the 29-year-old customer he showed it to alerted hotel security guards, who called police.
The High Criminal Court convicted him of possessing an unlicensed weapon and ammunition, but handed him a suspended... (GunPolicy.org)
Congo (DRC),Africa,Sudan,South Sudan,Bulgaria,Iran
Chasing Bullets, Firearms in the Democratic Republic of Congo
13 May 2014
IRIN (UN News)
Virunga National Park — Her job is to track and trace small arms and ammunition in Africa's conflict zones.
Each bullet, assault rifle, mortar, rocket or other item of military hardware she documents forms a piece of a huge jigsaw being created by the UK-based NGO Conflict Armaments Research (CAR) to map the precise flows of conflict weaponry in Africa.
Moving within the ebb and flow of the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) conflict, the investigator, who asked... (GunPolicy.org)
Can 'Stray Bullets' Be Deemed Innocent? Turkey Considers New Gun Laws
23 April 2014
Today's Zaman (Istanbul), Opinion
Earlier this week, Turkey saw two terrifying incidents in which stray bullets caused injury and, in one case, the death of a 24-year-old. Erkan Bektaş, a waiter who was leaving work at a café in İstanbul's Beşiktaş district at 5 a.m., was shot in the head by a stray bullet when he was walking down the street. The individual who shot him was caught up in a bar fight. The dispute, which the young waiter was not involved in, had reportedly erupted among a group of men... (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)
Call for Israel to Sign Arms Trade Treaty to Prevent Gun Violence Against Women
4 April 2014
+972 Magazine, Blog
The Knesset Committee for Advancement of the Status of Women is about to discuss a national action plan, initiated by a wide coalition of feminist NGOs, for the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325. The resolution calls for the adoption of a gender perspective in peace and security issues, or simply put – for the consideration of women's special security needs, and of the unique nature of harm they suffer. For the first time, the national action plan... (GunPolicy.org)
Peru,Colombia,Jordan,Mexico,Guatemala,Honduras,Uruguay,Argentina,Brazil
Gun Thefts From Peru Army Supplies Points to Possible Corruption, Trafficking
3 April 2014
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Authorities in Peru say the majority of arms used by criminal groups are stolen from private owners and security forces, highlighting a common regional phenomenon that is often facilitated by corrupt officials.
Specialists consulted by El Comercio said the majority of pistols and shotguns used by criminal groups in Peru were stolen from legitimate owners, rather than acquired through the black market. Authorities reported that 1,767 firearms were declared lost or... (GunPolicy.org)
Yemen's Firearms Dealers Use Social Media for Advertising, Sales
1 April 2014
Yemen Times (Sana'a)
Facebook increasingly used to sell arms
Sitting among friends inside the arms shop he owns in the well-known Jahana arms market, Ali Awla busily posts photos of newly-arrived arms on his Facebook page.
Several types of weapons are carefully hung inside the shop to attract customers.
The Jahana arms market, which is located about 25 kilometers from Sana'a, is home to over 40 stores selling an impossibly wide range of weapons and body armor, including rocket-propelled... (GunPolicy.org)
Health, Security Experts Warn Against Carrying Illegal Guns in Saudi Arabia
30 March 2014
Saudi Gazette
MAKKAH – Security and social experts on Monday warned against carrying unlicensed weapons and said the deadly arms should not be left in the hands of irresponsible or mentally unstable citizens because they may use them to commit crimes at moments of extreme anger or frustration.
Speaking to Makkah daily, the experts asked for severe punishment for anyone carelessly carrying illegitimate arms. They also asked for intensifying control and supervision over firearms so... (GunPolicy.org)
Despite Crackdowns, Firearms Still Rife in Yemen
27 March 2014
Gulf Times (Qatar) / Media Line
At the centre of the country, it's difficult to find a bottle of water to buy while you can effortlessly purchase a firearm.
UN aid worker Khalid Abdu told The Media Line that during a recent visit to Sawadia District of the central province of Baydha, he found most of the shops were closed except for those selling firearms. He later learned there were tribal feuds taking place in the area.
"Owners here usually close their shops before sunset, because they are afraid... (GunPolicy.org)
Africa,North Africa,Russia,Syria,Mali,Qatar,Turkey,Libya,Egypt,Chad,Somalia,Nigeria,Niger
Libya's Guns Free-For-All Fuels Region's Turmoil
22 March 2014
St Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri)
TRIPOLI — At the heart of the Libyan capital, the open-air Fish Market was once a place where residents went to buy everything from meat and seafood to clothes and pets. Now it's Tripoli's biggest arms market, with tables displaying pistols and assault rifles. Ask a vendor, and he can pull out bigger machine guns to sell for thousands of dollars.
Libya, where hundreds of militias hold sway and the central government is virtually powerless, is awash in millions of... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkish Airlines Denies Arms Shipment to Nigeria
20 March 2014
Daily Trust (Abuja)
Turkish Airlines has denied reports that it has been bringing arms into Nigeria which might have found its way to the Northeast, where Boko Haram militants have caused violence.
"Turkish Airlines has not been involved in any carriage of arms to that country (Nigeria) from Turkey nor from any country," the airline said in a statement yesterday.
The reports stem from a leaked tape, where Mehmet Karatas, an assistant executive of the airline, allegedly tells Mustafa... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkish Man Shoots, Kills Six Colleagues and Self at Former Workplace
19 March 2014
Hürriyet Daily News (Istanbul)
Seven people were killed and several are reported injured after an armed attack on the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) office in the northeastern province of Kars on March 19.
It has been revealed that the assailant was an employee recently fired by TÜİK. He committed suicide right after the raid, which was staged soon after the opening of the office, Kars Governor Eyüp Tepe said in a statement.
"Someone who was dismissed from his job ran amok and killed... (GunPolicy.org)
Man Killed by Celebratory Gunfire in Turkey
18 March 2014
Hürriyet Daily News (Istanbul)
A 30-year-old man has been killed by a stray bullet during Nevruz celebrations in the southeastern province of Şırnak.
Local took to the streets in the city March 17, with many firing celebratory shots into the air using guns, hunting rifles, and Kalashnikovs.
Garip Taşkın was hit by a gun shot while he was going home at around 6.30 p.m. He was immediately taken to the hospital but could not be saved.
Meanwhile, clashes erupted between a group of protesters and... (GunPolicy.org)
Israel,Europe,Austria,Germany,France
84 Arrested in France Over Suspected Arms Trafficking
18 March 2014
Radio France Internationale
Eighty four people were taken into custody on Tuesday morning, suspected of illegally buying arms via internet.
1,600 illegal online transactions were registered by police investigators.
According to an initial report, more than 330 handguns, 50 shotguns, dozens of spare parts and thousands of cartridges were seized.
The arms mostly came from Central Europe, Austria and Germany.
The investigation started in 2012 when French customs authorities intercepted a package,... (GunPolicy.org)
Proliferation of Firearms in Jordanian Society Rising
9 March 2014
Jordan News Agency, Media release
AMMAN - The criminal police department reported a marked rise recently in the proliferation of firearms in Jordanian society and said authorities would press for amending the anti-gun legislation to stem this phenomenon, according to a study.
Col. Raed Ouran, a senior officer at the department, told Petra that the study was meant to survey the spread of firearms in the country and look into the motives behind citizens' proclivity to possess a gun.
He said there was no... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,Colombia,United States,Libya,Georgia,Russia,Mexico
Banned German Firearms Being Sold in Colombia
1 March 2014
Deutsche Welle
German law prohibits the export of weapons to crisis or conflict regions. But guns sporting the label "Made in Germany" are being sold in war-torn Colombia. Manufacturers have denied any involvement in illegal exports.
A person who wants to buy a gun legally in Colombia must be at least 25 years old, provide proof of income and a gun license and possess no criminal record. The arms trade in the South American country is a state monopoly run by the weapons manufacturer... (GunPolicy.org)
Celebratory Gunfire a Changing Part of UAE Culture
27 February 2014
Telegraph (UK), Blog
We don't hear about gun crime in the UAE. It's just not something that happens. But that didn't stop me from feeling utterly petrified some time ago when I was woken in the early hours by the sound of gunfire.
I was staying at the time in a seafront resort in a rural area of Oman, just across the border from the UAE. As I lay rigid in bed listening to the gunshots getting closer, it struck me that we were staying in a villa right on the beach. I can't tell you the... (GunPolicy.org)
After Decades With Few Guns, Almost Every Libyan Household Has One
25 February 2014
PolicyMic
In a country where civilian gun ownership was rare for decades, a sudden inundation of small arms means plenty of people will likely get shot.
One recent afternoon, Ahmed, 26, was driving around Tripoli with his brother Bashir, 24. Without warning, the driver in the car in front of them slammed his brakes. Ahmed, who nearly rear-ended the offending vehicle, honked his horn. The other driver got out of his car. A shouting match became physical and the man went back to... (GunPolicy.org)
Europe,European Union,Albania,Macedonia,Bosnia & Herzegovina,Iraq,North Africa,Afghanistan,Serbia,Croatia
Chasing Exports, Balkan Countries Foster Gun, Ammunition Industries
24 February 2014
Southeast European Times
Balkan countries are taking measures to support domestic military firms in an effort to improve their economies and develop closer relations with NATO, experts said.
Governments pay more attention to the military industry's economic potential, said Blagoja Markovski, president of the Balkan Security Forum in Skopje.
"It offers extraordinary opportunities to create jobs and help the development of the economy. Individual countries' earnings range from tens of millions... (GunPolicy.org)
Officials Estimate Over 1 Million Unlicensed Guns in Jordan
24 February 2014
Muscat Daily
AMMAN - Jordanian border guards foiled an attempt to smuggle a large amount of ammunition from Syria and arrested five people early Monday, the army said.
"Border guards foiled an attempt to smuggle a large amount of ammunition and other material from Syria into Jordan, at around 1:30 am. (2230 GMT)," the army said in a statement on its website.
"The guards arrested five people and seized their car," it added without giving any further details.
Jordan says smuggling... (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)
Men on Trial in Bahrain After Arms Warehouse Find
17 February 2014
Trade Arabia
MANAMA - A secret underground weapons warehouse was used to hide machine guns, handguns, silencers and more than 3,000 bullets, a court heard.
The ammunition and weapons, including five AK-47 assault rifles, five 9mm pistols and five silencers, were stashed in a covert bomb-making factory that was purpose-dug at a farm in Tubli, according to prosecutors reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.
They said bird cages were used to camouflage the... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,South Africa,Saudi Arabia,Sierra Leone
German Arms Go Into Child Soldiers' Hands
15 February 2014
Turkish Weekly / Deutsche Welle / Voice of Russia (Moscow)
With Germany being one of the largest arms exporters, many of the resources are going to the countries where children are used as exploiters in the military.
Michael D, one of the former soldiers, who is currently living in Berlin states: "We were mostly deployed for attacks. We were often the first to be sent into combat and had to dodge the flurry of bullets."
Since he was a young boy, he was forced to become a soldier in his native country, Sierra Leone, where he... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Turkish Weekly / Deutsche Welle / Voice of Russia (Moscow)
Iran,Syria,Lebanon,Russia,Iraq
Profit Trumps Principle On Syria Weapons Black Market
5 February 2014
Christian Science Monitor / Alaska Dispatch
A glut of small arms in Syria and high weapons prices in neighboring Lebanon, where growing instability supports a thriving black market, have encouraged both Syrian soldiers and rebels to sell their surplus stock, sometimes to their battlefield enemies.
The trade in illegal weaponry in Lebanon has all the characteristics of a stock market, with prices increasing and decreasing according to the security climate and the mood on the Lebanese street. The savvy dealers buy... (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)
Somali Man Arrested for Smuggling Illegal Handguns in Kenya
31 January 2014
Nairobian (Kenya)
A man was arrested in Lunga Lunga for smuggling illegal weapons.
Abdillahi Edin Adano was seized with two pistols and 20 rounds of ammunition that he intended to sell.
Police laid a trap after getting tips from the public that the suspect had landed in Eastleigh with the cache. The seized man allegedly planned to sell the guns in Lunga Lunga.
Last year, six firearms and several rounds of ammunitions were recovered from the same slums where four suspects were... (GunPolicy.org)
Canadian Police Ruling on Handgun May Widen Rifle Magazine Loophole
28 January 2014
Global News (Canada)
An RCMP decision on whether to approve an Alberta man's exotic pistol could widen a loophole doubling the legal magazine capacity for semi-automatic rifles.
Last year Edward Osborne, a Calgary gun collector and competitive target shooter, imported a Czech-made VZ58 pistol, a shortened version of the popular CZ858 rifle, from the United States.
"I like it because it's very unique," he said in an interview. "I like the VZ58 platform in general, and this is one that I'd... (GunPolicy.org)
Colombia,Russia,Venezuela,Israel
'Lord of War' Arrest Shines Light on Colombia Arms Trade
22 January 2014
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Police in Colombia have captured an arms dealer whose operations reached across continents and whose criminal contacts spanned the spectrum of Colombian armed groups.
According to police, Gustavo Velasquez, alias "El Señor de la Guerra" (the Lord of War) sourced assault rifles through contacts in Israel and Russia and moved them through Venezuela and into the department of Norte de Santander in Colombia.
Police say the arms were then sold on to the narco-guerrilla... (GunPolicy.org)
Firearms Smuggling Attempt Foiled in Saudi Arabia
17 January 2014
Arab News (Jeddah)
JEDDAH - Border Guards in the Addayer area of Jazan foiled an attempt to smuggle firearms and ammunition through Saudi-Yemeni borders, but were unable to catch the smugglers, who fled toward Yemen's borders.
"They left what they were carrying and fled back to where they came from," said Gen. Abdulaziz Al-Subhi, Jazan's Border Guard commander.
He said the smugglers were spotted by a patrol that prevented the smuggling of 118 pistols and 235 magazines.
Meanwhile,... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Prices, Sales Up in Jordan Over Syria War Fears
15 January 2014
New Straits Times (Malaysia) / Agence France Presse
AMMAN - Firearm prices in Jordan have soared tenfold since the war in neighbouring Syria erupted in 2011 but more people than ever are buying guns for protection against a possible spillover of the violence.
The number of licensed weapons stands at 120,000 but there are more than one million unlicensed guns in the kingdom of seven million people, according to interior ministry estimates.
According to a study by the Jordanian Society for Political Sciences, 25 percent... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: New Straits Times (Malaysia) / Agence France Presse
Saudi Man Hunting Stray Dogs Kills Self Accidentally With Unregistered Gun
6 January 2014
Arab News (Jeddah)
Jeddah - The menace of stray dogs cost a man his life as he killed himself accidentally with a hunting firearm in Al-Aqiq in Baha on Sunday while attempting to shoot the dogs.
A police official said the man, in his twenties, was found dead next to his car apparently shooting himself while trying to kill stray dogs.
Col. Saad Turad, spokesman for Baha Police, told Arab News that preliminary investigations revealed that a gunshot broke the man's skull as it came... (GunPolicy.org)
China,Egypt,United States,Turkey
Over 2,000 Rifles Seized At Egyptian Port
29 December 2013
Egypt State Information Service
Egyptian customs authorities on Saturday seized firearms and ammunition in containers coming from the United States, Turkey and China.
Two Beirut-bound containers were found at the Alexandria port carrying 2,400 rifles of different types, said the head of the Egyptian Customs Authority Mohamed el-Salhawy.
Another two shipments of fireworks arrived at Dekheila port. They were imported under a fake request of medical supplies. Meantime, four containers were seized at... (GunPolicy.org)
Farce of 'Sporting Firearms': Turkey Fudges 47 Tons of Arms to Syria
17 December 2013
Hürriyet Daily News (Istanbul)
No weapons intended for war have been exported to Syria in 2013, Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz has said, while acknowledging that weapons "without military uses" for use in sports activities have been exported to Syria, indirectly acknowledging a recent report by daily Hürriyet.
Yılmaz, however, declined to elaborate on the addressee of the imported weaponry.
Permission for exportation of all weapons from Turkey are issued by the Defense Ministry, Yılmaz said on... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Arabia,Libya,India,Georgia,Egypt,Yemen,Vietnam,Turkey,Syria,Germany,Bahamas
Questions Asked Over Germany's Arms Exports
16 December 2013
Deutsche Welle
For a long time, arms exports to regions in conflict were taboo for the German government. However, the growing number of arms deals with Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia or Qatar, or with Asian countries like India and Indonesia suggests that these could soon become a pillar of German foreign and security policy.
This, at least, is the warning expressed in this year's weapons exports report published in Berlin on Monday (16.12.2013) by the Joint Church and... (GunPolicy.org)
Yemeni Govt Gives Cash, 100 Guns to Victims of Killer Drone Attack
15 December 2013
National Yemen
Yemeni authorities offered 32 million YR and 100 guns as compensation to victims' families as a result of Air raid that took place in Qaifah in the al-Baida governorate, leaving 25 killed and wounded last Thursday.
The announcement came hours after a source's announcement of High Security Committee that the air raid was aimed at a car belonging to one of al-Qaeda's leaders with a number of al-Qaeda's members inside it. Those members are considered among the most... (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)
Iraq,Syria,Israel,India,Ireland,Togo,Canada,United States,Afghanistan,Côte d'Ivoire,Iran,Sri Lanka,Germany,Russia
Growing Number of Personalised Firearms to Boost Safety Available
30 November 2013
Economist
To help push Soviet forces out of Afghanistan in the 1980s, America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) gave Afghan fighters shoulder-launched Stinger anti-aircraft missiles (pictured). Accurate and easy-to-use, the Stingers caused grievous losses. But after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, the CIA wanted to discourage the use of the leftover missiles. It got hold of some of those circulating on the black market and booby-trapped them, so that anyone who tried to fire one... (GunPolicy.org)
US Veteran Sentenced After Illegally Shipping Guns to Israel, Canada
28 November 2013
Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh)
A military veteran from Wheeling, W.Va., has been sentenced to five years of federal probation for illegally shipping guns to Israel, Canada and elsewhere.
Michael Frank, 26, admitted in January that he sold 24 weapons to foreign customers. The U.S. attorney's office had argued that he deserved at least four years in prison, while his lawyer asked for an alternative to jail time. He was sentenced Tuesday.
The case began in May 2012 after authorities in Jerusalem... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Authorities Seize Arms, Ammo from Smugglers
27 November 2013
Saudi Gazette
JAZAN — Smugglers are using various means to evade security personnel and smuggle arms, drugs, alcohol and other items into the country, said residents living near the borders.
Residents in these border towns have become aware of the means used by these smugglers, who also use the mountains to enter the country.
Mountains near the border have provided a safe haven for smugglers to hide drugs, arms and alcohol, said Border Guards.
Some have also set up breweries in... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkish Police Seize Unlicensed Handguns as Smuggling Concerns Rise
27 November 2013
Xinhua
ANKARA - Turkish police detained a suspect after seizing 10 handguns in a minibus in the southern province of Hatay, local Today's Zaman reported Wednesday.
A mini-bus driver called the police after a man left a suspicious bag inside his vehicle, according to the report.
By searching the bag, the police found 10 unlicensed handguns and detained the suspected owner of the bag.
The incident is still under investigation.
Smuggling of weapons has been on the rise in... (GunPolicy.org)
Two Dead After Celebratory Gunfire at Yemeni Wedding
24 November 2013
Reuters
A Yemeni wedding ended in disaster after a guest firing celebratory shots in the air with his AK-47 accidentally killed two men while they were dancing to pop hit "Gangnam Style", according to a police source and a video posted online.
The police source said the guest at the wedding in the southern city of Taiz lost control of his rifle, leading to the deaths. Two other people were being treated in hospital.
A video circulating on the web purportedly shows the... (GunPolicy.org)
23 November 2013
Bahrain News Agency
NEW YORK - The Kingdom of Bahrain signed yesterday the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) at the UN headquarters here.
The treaty was signed by the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the UN, Ambassador Jamal Faris Al Ruwaei.
The signing of the treaty is in line with the Kingdom of Bahrain's commitment to the UN goals and principles related to disarmament through joining the relevant international conventions and treaties, in order to achieve... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun-Toting Yemenis Wish They Could Lay Down Their Arms
9 November 2013
Christian Science Monitor
SANAA, Yemen - Like most Yemeni men, Mahmoud Shahra owns a gun and has known how to use it since childhood, although the 25-year-old activist used to leave his weapons at home. But since the politically motivated kidnapping of one of his close friends earlier this year, Shahra has carried a gun at nearly all times.
He seems at ease with his AK-47, but his demeanor hides internal disquiet. "Even if I feel safer and more confident, I feel like I'm betraying my values... (GunPolicy.org)
Sierra Leone,Greece,Ukraine,Syria,Libya,Turkey
Greek Coastguard Halts Ship Carrying 20,000 Kalashnikovs
8 November 2013
Greek Reporter
According to sources, the cargo ship "nourm" flagged with Sierra Leone, transferred a large amount of weapons. It was identified yesterday evening near Imia and was escorted to the port of Symi this morning.
After an investigation, the cargo ship had troubled the authorities in the past for drug trafficking and when the port board appeared, changed its direction.
Eventually, the ship stopped and was led to the port of Symi, under the port escort. The ship had started... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia,Guatemala,Italy,Israel
Beretta, Glock Pistols, Israeli Submachine Guns for Guatemala Police
7 November 2013
Fox News Latino (USA) / EFE News Agency
The Guatemalan government will invest some $12.6 million to buy new weapons for the National Civil Police, or PNC, a government minister said Wednesday.
Interior Minister Mauricio Lopez Bonilla said at a press conference that after 10 "failed bidding processes" to buy the weapons for the PNC held between 2005 and 2011, authorities opted to make the acquisition from three different foreign manufacturers via an "exceptional agreement."
The procedure, which is allowed by... (GunPolicy.org)
NRA Touts Israel as Model for US Law: Full Gun Registration, Licensing
7 November 2013
Jerusalem Post
A National Rifle Association delegation from the United States was joined by former US ambassador to the UN John R. Bolton Thursday for a tour and briefing at the capital's Police Intelligence and Observation Center, located in the Old City.
The state-of-the-art center, which features nearly 40 high definition screens monitoring the Old City 24 hours a day, is utilized to alert officers to any potential threats.
Bolton, who served under former president George W. Bush... (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)
Girl Killed by Grandfather in Turkey as He Cleaned Pistol
13 October 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
A young girl was accidentally killed by her grandfather while he was cleaning his pistol in the western province of Bursa on Saturday, adding to a soaring number of similar incidents which are raising the issue of effective gun control amid increasing fatalities.
The recent deadly incident took place in İnegöl, a district of Bursa, at around 9:00 p.m. when Satı Örs, 7, was accidentally shot by her grandfather while he was cleaning his pistol.
To save her father... (GunPolicy.org)
Elderly Woman Killed by Stray Bullet in Turkey
9 October 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
A 70-year-old woman was struck fatally by a stray bullet while standing on the balcony of her flat as a man fired rounds at the building on Tuesday in Ankara.
According to reports, an argument had broken out in a local coffee house between İsmail Ç. and Necip Ö. about an issue of paying back borrowed money. As tension escalated between the two men, people in the coffee house intervened to prevent a fight.
Necip Ö., leaving the coffee house, allegedly grabbed his... (GunPolicy.org)
Bahraini Man on Trial for Illegal Gun Possession, Drugs
9 October 2013
Gulf Daily News (Bahrain)
A man is standing trial for allegedly selling drugs and possessing two unlicensed weapons.
The Bahraini is charged with selling hashish, possessing prescription pills and possessing two firearms and ammunition at the High Criminal Court.
The 29-year-old is standing trial along with two other Bahrainis, aged 25 and 30.
His 25-year-old co-defendant is charged with selling hashish and possessing prescription pills, while the 30-year-old is accused of possessing... (GunPolicy.org)
Billions in Legal Gun Imports to Saudi Arabia in 2012, Smuggling Rising
5 October 2013
Arab News (Jeddah)
RIYADH - The value of weapons, ammunition and their accessories imported into Saudi Arabia for personal use exceeded SR3.4 billion in 2012, according to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA).
The Customs Department has thwarted attempts to smuggle more than 10,000 pieces of arms and ammunition into the Kingdom.
Border guards also managed to thwart attempts to smuggle more than 132,000 pieces of weaponry and ammunition during the first six months of the current... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,Iran,North Korea,Congo (DRC),Sudan,Syria,Europe,United States,Asia,Africa,Americas
Editorial: Containing the Conventional Arms Trade
30 September 2013
New York Times, Editorial
Efforts to control the $70 billion a year global market in conventional weapons got a big boost when the United States signed the United Nations arms trade treaty, joining more than 100 other countries in affirming the need to keep these weapons out of the hands of unscrupulous regimes, militants and criminals.
But the work is far from done. At least 50 member countries, including the United States, must still carry out the next step and ratify the treaty for it to... (GunPolicy.org)
3 Dead After Turkish Neighbourhood Shootout, Allegedly Over a Chicken
27 September 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
Three people were killed and two wounded in a fight that broke out between two neighboring families in Adana - allegedly over a chicken that had wandered into one of the family's gardens.
The quarrel started when two children began to fight over the chicken and escalated after the relatives of the children saw what was going on and joined in.
The two sides pulled guns and started shooting. The firefight left Yüksel Y., Kadir O., Orhan B. and Enis B. injured. The four... (GunPolicy.org)
Syria,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Africa,Americas,Australia
First Ever UNSC Resolution on Small Arms to be Adopted Tomorrow
26 September 2013
Oxfam Australia, Media release
A landmark, Australian-led resolution to tackle the devastating impacts of small arms and light weapons is expected to be adopted by the United Nations Security Council tomorrow, signalling a major step forward in international cooperation on arms control, international aid agency Oxfam Australia said.
The Security Council resolution is likely to be adopted on Thursday in New York (Friday AEST) at a high-level meeting on small arms hosted by Australia as part of its... (GunPolicy.org)
War Means Profit for Gun Dealer in Syria
25 September 2013
France 24 / Agence France Presse
While most Syrians get poorer with every day of war, Aleppo's main gun seller Abu Mohammad is doing just fine by selling firearms, including rocket-propelled grenades, ammunition and even swords.
"War is great business," said the northern city's only gunshop owner, as he laid several hand grenades out on a counter.
"I wanted to help the rebels because they had no arms or ammunition," the 39-year-old told AFP, adding that he makes an astonishing 50,000 Syrian pounds... (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)
2 Dead, 6 Injured After Shootout in Turkey, Gun Violence Increasing Issue
16 September 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
Two men died and six others were injured as a result of a gunfight that broke out in Muğla's Bodrum district on Sunday.
The incident took place on Sunday afternoon near the Gümbet crossroads in Bodrum. Two vehicles, one carrying individuals identified as Tahsin, Yaşar and Ahmet Kaya and the other one carrying Bekir, Naci, Yakup and Hasan Turan, pulled over near the Gümbet crossroads and started to fight over an unsettled debt. Soon the altercation turned into a... (GunPolicy.org)
Father Shoots Daughter Dead While Cleaning Gun in Turkey
11 September 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
A father shot and killed his daughter while he was cleaning his gun in Zonguldak late on Tuesday, according to reports.
The incident took place in the Tepebaşı neighborhood in Zonguldak. Ayhan Ercan, a father of two, said he accidentally fired his gun while he was putting it on the table after cleaning it. The bullet hit his daughter in the face.
The girl was then rushed to the hospital, where she died despite attempts to save her.
Reports speculated that Ercan... (GunPolicy.org)
Jordanian Politician Fires Automatic Rifle at Colleague in Govt
10 September 2013
Guardian (UK)
A Jordanian politician fired an automatic rifle at another parliamentarian in a corridor of the chamber of deputies over a personal dispute, according to two fellow deputies.
More commonly and during heated debates, lawmakers have hurled shoes and bottled water at each other. This was the first incident in recent history involving a discharged firearm in the 180-member chamber.
Over the summer, a deputy tried to point his gun at another lawmaker during a televised... (GunPolicy.org)
United Arab Emirates,Syria,Yemen,Turkey
Turkish Police Storm Gun Factory, Intercept Shipment to Middle East
3 September 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
Turkish police have stormed an illegal arms manufacturing factory in the central Anatolian province of Konya, seizing 4,500 guns and detaining two dozen suspects believed to be involved in the production and shipment of the arms to Middle Eastern countries.
Last fall, Yemeni authorities confiscated boxes of ammunition originating from Turkey in the southern Yemeni city of Aden. Officials seized 3,000 pistols found in biscuit boxes inside a container that came from... (GunPolicy.org)
Soldier Kills Comrade, Self in Turkey in 'Fit of Rage' Shooting
28 August 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
A soldier serving his compulsory military service in Gölbaşı, a district of Ankara province, killed a comrade in a fit of rage before turning his gun on himself on Wednesday.
According to reports, U.Ö., who allegedly had psychological problems, shot his friend O.D. three times after they got into an argument. U.Ö. then shot himself with the same gun. The two soldiers were immediately taken to Gölbaşı State Hospital, where they subsequently died.
The cause of... (GunPolicy.org)
Stray Bullets Caused 5 Children's Deaths in Turkey Last Month
26 August 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
Stray bullets from celebrations or disputes continue to kill people across the country, with five children having lost their lives in this manner over the last 30 days.
The most recent incident took place in Ağrı on Aug. 24. People were celebrating a henna night by firing guns into the air when stray bullets apparently hit 7-year-old Mehmet Keser and Altın Kalkuç Koç, who were attending a wedding ceremony two blocks away.
The two critically wounded were rushed to... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkish Man Kills One, Injures Another and Self with Unlicensed Gun
22 August 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
A 63-year-old cleaner, Şeyhmus Yıldız, attempted suicide after shooting Özlem Görükmez and Özlem Akdağ in Diyarbakır on Wednesday, Turkish media reported on Thursday.
According to media reports, the incident took place in Bağlar, where Yıldız shot Akdağ dead and injured Görükmez.
Yıldız, a cleaner at a family health center in Bağlar, is thought to have been in love with Görükmez, who worked at the health center as a nurse. He decided to kill her... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkish Groom Kills Nephew at Wedding with Celebratory Gunfire
12 August 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
Sixteen-year-old Onur Yılmaz died after being hit by a stray bullet fired by his uncle at his uncle's wedding ceremony in Çorum, Turkish media reported on Monday.
The incident took place in Aşdavul village, in Çorum's Ortaköy district, at the wedding of Osman Yılmaz and Oya Çelik. Yılmaz fired celebratory rounds of gunfire and a bullet hit and seriously injured his teenage nephew.
Onur Yılmaz was taken to Ortaköy State Hospital and later transferred to Hitit... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkish Official Warns Against MPs Carrying Guns in Govt as Tensions Rise
11 August 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
Parliament's Administrative President Malik Ecder Özdemir has warned deputies against carrying guns while inside the general assembly hall, noting that this is a violation of Parliament's bylaws.
Özdemir, a Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy, said "Guns can be pulled out at any time in Parliament, and party leaders are in danger." His warning comes at a time when tension is high in Turkey following mass anti-government protests that took place in May.
He said... (GunPolicy.org)
Drive to Register Guns Held in Oman After Recent Crimes, Deaths
6 August 2013
Times of Oman
MUSCAT - The Royal Oman Police (ROP) recently carried out a drive to register all unlicensed weapons and conventional guns in the Musandam governorate.
More than 500 guns and conventional weapons were registered between May and August this year, according to a ROP official.
After the specified period, all unlicensed guns and conventional weapons that are found unregistered will be confiscated by the ROP, the official informed.
The ROP recently arrested a citizen on... (GunPolicy.org)
Jordan Border Police Seize Large Arms Cache Smuggled from Syria
1 August 2013
Montreal Gazette (Québec)
AMMAN, Jordan - An army spokesman in Jordan says border police have arrested smugglers trying to sneak in a large cache of arms from neighbouring Syria.
The spokesman says the group arrested late Thursday included Jordanians and other Arab nationalities.
The official said the arms included mainly machine-guns. He said … an investigation had begun.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with army regulations.
Jordan has been concerned that... (GunPolicy.org)
Changes to Israeli Gun Rules to Require Psychological Test for Permit
31 July 2013
YNet News (Tel Aviv)
This year, 11 individuals were murdered and five committed suicide in Israel using privately owned weapons, said Internal Security Minister Yizhak Aharonovich Wednesday.
At a meeting of the the Internal Affairs Committee on reducing weapons, headed by MK Miri Regev, Aharonovich stated that as part of the gun reform in Israel, anyone who wishes to receive a gun permit will be required to undergo a medical and psychological examination. "If they won't pass the... (GunPolicy.org)
Syria,Sudan,South Africa,Kenya
South Africa: Gun Dealer Sold Arms to Conflict Zones
20 July 2013
Independent/IOL Daily News (South Africa) / Saturday Star
JOHANNESBURG - A director of a Joburg gun shop was allegedly involved in importing military weapons for "special forces" and then selling them to countries in conflict.
This emerged in a state affidavit placed before the Lenasia Magistrate's Court on Friday.
In the bail application of Gareth De Nysschen, a director at Dave Sheer Guns, the State indicated that the business had been investigated by military intelligence for two years.
De Nysschen was arrested last week... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Independent/IOL Daily News (South Africa) / Saturday Star
Oman Seizes Over 30,000 Pistols in Port, Allegedly Headed to Yemen
11 July 2013
Fox News (USA)
MUSCAT, Oman – Oman police say they have seized more than 30,000 pistols aboard a tanker, which a newspaper reports was bound for neighboring Yemen.
The seizure comes two years after an Abu Dhabi court sentenced six people for a foiled plot to smuggle 16,000 pistols from Turkey to Shiite rebels in northern Yemen.
The official Oman News Agency quoted a police colonel as saying nine Omanis were arrested in connection with the alleged shipment of 30,393 pistols... (GunPolicy.org)
UAE Signs UN Arms Trade Treaty
10 July 2013
Gulf News (Dubai)
NEW YORK - The UAE last night signed the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, becoming one of the 79 nations to sign so far.
The treaty was signed by Ambassador Ahmad Abdul Rahman Al Jarman, the UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and counter-signed on behalf of the United Nations by the director of agreements in the presence of a number of international officials involved in the United Nations and members of the diplomatic corps' missions to the United... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkish Shop Owner Arrested for Shooting Gun in Air
9 July 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
A shop owner who was enraged by continuing protests near his shop in Taksim was detained by police after he fired a gun into the air in a move to scare away protesters on Monday.
He was sent to jail after being questioned by an İstanbul prosecutor at the Çağlayan Courthouse on Tuesday.
The court judge ruled for his arrest for violation of Law No. 6136, as he put people's lives in danger by firing a gun in a public... (GunPolicy.org)
Libya,Syria,Turkey,Qatar,Russia
UNSC Asked to Probe Alleged Arms Supply from Libya to Syrian Rebels
5 July 2013
Xinhua
MOSCOW - Russia on Friday urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to investigate media reports about illegal arms supply to the opposition in Syria.
"Russia applied to the UNSC Committee overseeing sanctions against Libya asking to initiate an investigation of the information (about alleged arms supply to the Syrian opposition from Libya)," the ministry said in an online statement.
It cited reports in western media that Libya has been supplying Syrian opposition with... (GunPolicy.org)
Journalists Print 3D Gun, Point it at Israeli President
4 July 2013
Times of Israel
Reporters managed to smuggle a home-made plastic gun into the Knesset with little difficulty, and pulled it out only meters away from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The correspondents from Channel 10′s nightly culture and technology program "Tzinor Layla" printed the gun using instructions downloaded from the Internet on a three-dimensional printer.
Investigative reporters from the program went through all the Knesset security checks with the gun in their... (GunPolicy.org)
Bahrain Authorities Investigate After Hidden Guns, Ammo Found
4 July 2013
Bahrain News Agency
Manama – Interior Ministry announced that the efforts of the policemen resulted in confiscating firearms and ammunition from a depot in Tobli area this morning, where it was raided based on prior investigations, which led to the discovery of a hidden underground storage containing Kalashnikovs, guns and a large amount of ammunition, in addition to a number of silencers for the guns, and materials used in manufacturing explosives.
Meanwhile, the required measures... (GunPolicy.org)
Experts Concerned Over Italy's Well-Armed Gangsters Going 'Clean'
2 July 2013
Local (Italy)
Italian mafia homicides have fallen by almost half in recent years, underscoring the gangsters' ongoing shift into what look like legitimate business sectors, researchers said on Tuesday.
Anna Alvazzi del Frate, research director of the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey think-tank, told reporters that mafia killings in Italy dropped by 43 percent between 2007 and 2010, and that the trend was continuing.
"We think that this may be related to the increasing involvement of... (GunPolicy.org)
South African Soldiers Arrested for Selling Stolen Ammo
28 June 2013
Independent/IOL Daily News (South Africa)
JOHANNESBURG - More than 200,000 rounds of ammunition have allegedly been stolen from the military and sold off to a gun shop - which exported the ammunition to a country in conflict.
Two soldiers and a civilian have been arrested and have appeared in the Lenasia Magistrate's Court on charges of theft of ammunition and fraud.
The Star has reliably learnt that more warrants of arrest have been issued, with more arrests imminent.
Sergeant Peter Motaung, 49, a storeman... (GunPolicy.org)
Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa,Colombia,Somalia,Yemen,Oceania
Red Cross, World Medics Launch 4-Year War on Armed Violence
26 June 2013
International Committee of the Red Cross (Geneva), Media release
Geneva – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Medical Association (WMA) signed a memorandum of understanding in Geneva today, in which the two organizations agree to join forces in a worldwide effort to combat violence against patients and health-care workers.
The memorandum of understanding brings the WMA on board as a partner in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement's "Heath Care in Danger" project, a four-year... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: International Committee of the Red Cross (Geneva)
Two Killed in Family Dispute in Southeastern Turkey
21 June 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
Two brothers were killed as a result of a family dispute in the southeastern province of Gaziantep on Thursday.
The incident began when Bahattin C. came across his brother-in-law, Mikail C., near Bahattin's house. Bahattin C. pulled out his gun and shot Mikail C. after a fight erupted between the two men. Mikail's brother Nedim C. was also shot while trying to separate the two.
The two brothers were severely injured at the scene of the incident, and a child on the... (GunPolicy.org)
40,000 Guns Seized in Yemeni Governorate Since May
20 June 2013
Yemen Times (Sana'a)
In Taiz Governorate, on the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, around 40,000 illegal weapons have been seized since May. The guns were likely smuggled into the country through Mocha Port. The four largest seizures happened during the weekend, Ali Mosed, the Military Commander of Taiz, noted as this is when smugglers expect security measures will be more lax. Mosed said that there is an ongoing campaign curb the flow of illegal weapons coming from Mocha... (GunPolicy.org)
France,Syria,Germany,Libya,Qatar,Switzerland,United States
Is Anyone Counting the Guns in Syria?
18 June 2013
Pacific Standard (USA)
Last night, in a televised interview with Charlie Rose, President Obama made the case for arming anti-Assad forces in Syria. In part, Obama was responding to critics who claim the U.S. weapons, once released, will be hard to control.
Is that true? Scholars who study small arms proliferation have looked at the 2011 war in Libya as a guide and found evidence of illegal arms transfers and poor tracking of weapons. More than a year after the war ended, no overall... (GunPolicy.org)
Palestinian Judge Killed Accidentally While Cleaning Gun
9 June 2013
Xinhua
GAZA - A Hamas military judge was killed while cleaning a gun at his office in Gaza City, the Hamas health ministry said Sunday.
A bullet was fired from the pistol and ended up in judge Ayman Emad Al-Deen's head, said Ashraf Al-Qedra, a spokesperson of the ministry.
Police spokesperson Ayyoub Abu Sha'ar said that an investigation was underway.
The judge, part of the Hamas military judiciary, was in the panel in charge of several tribunals that handed down death... (GunPolicy.org)
Two Men Arrested After Unregistered Gun Used in Saudi Shooting
6 June 2013
Arab News (Saudi Arabia)
RIYADH - Riyadh police yesterday arrested two men who opened fire at Romansiya Restaurant in Al-Suwaidi district on Monday.
"The brothers have admitted to the crime and explained the incident in detail to the police," said Riyadh police spokesman Col. Nasser bin Saeed Al-Qahtani.
The elder brother admitted that he arrived at the restaurant after hearing about his brother's involvement in a fight with the restaurant workers. He said he started firing his gun randomly... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkish Govt Raises Gun Ownership Age for Some Weapons
3 June 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
The minimum age for gun ownership in a law proposal being deliberated by the Weapons Sub-commission of the parliamentary Interior Affairs Commission has been raised from 18 to 25, another increase from 23 in the previous version of the draft.
The draft also has provisions in the tear gas category, including pepper spray, which has been in the news recently due to its much criticized overuse by the police force during the Taksim Gezi Park demonstrations in İstanbul and... (GunPolicy.org)
Jordan Govt Endorses New Firearms Draft Law to Curb Violence
30 May 2013
Jordan Times / Zawya
AMMAN - A new draft firearms and ammunition law places further restrictions on the acquisition of automatic weapons, a top official said on Thursday, amid a significant increase in the use of guns and violence across the Kingdom over the past few years.
Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammed Momani told The Jordan Times on Thursday that the government will move to have the bill enacted by Parliament as soon as possible.
According to the draft... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Arabia,Libya,Mexico,Germany
Weapons Exports Reveal Faults in German System
30 May 2013
Deutsche Welle
Germany prides itself on having "strict, even restrictive regulations" for the export of weapons of war. All the same, German weapons regularly show up in regions they should not be in.
For years, every single government coalition in Germany has stated that the country has particularly strict regulations for sales of weapons of war to foreign countries. Regularly, however, weapons used abroad but "made in Germany" get into the news. People are outraged when assault... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkey Fights to Stem Arms Smuggling
27 May 2013
National (Abu Dhabi)
ISTANBUL - Turkish custom agents knew exactly what they were looking for when they searched the Libyan-flagged fishing vessel.
Thanks to a last-minute tip, what was supposed to be an empty cargo hold was discovered to be carrying almost 1,000 pump-action shotguns and more than 400 handguns.
"Arms and munitions were discovered on a ship bound for Libya on April 21 in Istanbul," a Turkish official said.
The discovery followed other major weapons seizures in the country... (GunPolicy.org)
Armed Fugitive Admits Gun Smuggling in Bahrain
27 May 2013
Gulf Daily News (Bahrain)
An armed fugitive who tried to shoot policemen as he was arrested in Bani Jamra has confessed to being part of a gang that smuggled guns into Bahrain.
Redha Abdulla Isa reportedly admitted bringing a "large number" of automatic weapons and pistols that were used to attack police, as he appeared at the Public Prosecution yesterday.
He also confessed to making explosives and is wanted by police in connection with a car blast outside the Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH)... (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)
Czech Firm Wins Egyptian Tender for Pistols, Submachine Guns
23 May 2013
Xinhua
PRAGUE - Czech arms firm Ceska zbrojovka won an international tender to supply 50,000 pistols to the Egyptian interior ministry, company CEO Lubomir Kovarik said on Thursday.
Speaking at a defence industry trade fair in Brno, Kovarik said some of the firearms were sent to Egypt last week. The CZ P-07 Duty pistols are smaller than those supplied by Ceska zbrojovka to the Czech military and security forces.
The one-year contract will be followed by the supply of several... (GunPolicy.org)
Israel Announces New Gun-Control Rules After Be'er Sheva Bank Shooting
22 May 2013
Ha'aretz (Tel Aviv)
One day after a Be'er Sheva man shot dead four people in a local bank before turning his gun on himself, the Public Security Ministry on Tuesday announced new rules to limit the number of guns in circulation. School security guards will have to turn in their weapons, which guarding firms will reissue at the start of the new school year. Licensed gun owners will have to store their weapon in a safe at home. Security companies must obtain special exemptions from being... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkish Soldier Dies in Gun Prank Accident
20 May 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
A soldier was killed when a fellow soldier accidentally shot him during a prank in Mardin's Midyat district on Sunday, according to Turkish media reports.
Private E.Y. was reportedly killed when his friend Pvt. M.S. accidentally shot him while both were on guard duty in Cevat Paşa Barracks in Midyat.
E.Y.'s body was taken to Midyat State Hospital's morgue and an investigation has been started to look into the incident. M.S. was hospitalized after he suffered from a... (GunPolicy.org)
Israeli Gunman Kills Four Then Self with Licensed Handgun
20 May 2013
Washington Post
JERUSALEM — A gunman stormed into a bank in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba Monday, killing four people in a gunfight and taking a hostage before killing himself, police said.
Police initially suspected a bungled bank robbery but later changed their assessment.
They identified the gunman as a former military officer who fell on hard times financially. The 40-year-old man arrived at the bank to withdraw money and settle a debt, police said. He reportedly got... (GunPolicy.org)
Iranian Jailed for Illegal Arms Importation into Nigeria
14 May 2013
This Day (Lagos)
Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court in Lagos monday sentenced an Iranian national, Azim Aghajani, and his Nigerian counterpart, Ali Jega, to 17 years imprisonment each for their involvement in the importation of firearms into Nigeria.
Justice Okeke while delivering his judgment, held that he was not in doubt that the 13 containers loaded with arms were imported into the country, contrary to the claim by the accused persons that the containers contained... (GunPolicy.org)
Israeli Police asks Public to Hand in Illegal Guns After Rise in Murder Rate
13 May 2013
Times of Israel
Following a recent surge in gun murders in Israel, Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich has called on citizens to hand illegally held guns to police without facing criminal charges. The public will be able to turn the munitions at police stations throughout the country for a month, starting Wednesday.
The law calls for a maximum penalty of seven years in jail for someone caught in possession of an unlicensed firearm. Police sources told Ma'ariv they expected... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Report Shows 80 per cent of Guns Unregistered in Turkey
11 May 2013
World Bulletin (Istanbul)
A report recently drafted by the National Police Department's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department shows that almost 80 percent of guns that police seized from individuals in incidents threatening public security from 2010-2012 were unregistered.
According to the report, the types of firearms confiscated in police operations over the course of past five years were manufactured guns (51 percent), handmade guns (33 percent), blank guns turned into real guns (16... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Licensing Law Changes Considered in Turkey
10 May 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
A bill recently submitted to Parliament could give former gun license holders who forgot to renew their licenses another chance.
The current Law on Firearms, Knives and other Weapons states that gun carrying and keeping licenses shall be valid for five years following the date of confirmation and shall be renewed once every five years on condition of payment of the renewal charge. The license holder is also required to inform the public institution that has issued the... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkey Plans Ban on Guns at Bars and Cafes, Safety Training for Owners
9 May 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
According to a new regulation, people carrying guns will not be allowed as a security measure to enter entertainment venues such as bars, cafés, night clubs and places where wedding ceremonies are held, Interior Minister Muammer Güler announced on Wednesday.
Under the regulation, Güler told reporters, people who want to buy guns will receive training on how to use them safely. Moreover, those carrying weapons will be denied entrance to entertainment venues such as... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkey Launches Locally Made Rifles, Aims for $100M in Exports
6 May 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
ISTANBUL - Sarsılmaz Firearms Industry, the leading private producer of guns and rifles in Turkey, introduced on Monday the country's first domestically produced infantry rifles as well as new generation pistols, firearms with which the company is targeting to reach the $100 million export mark in the next three years.
The 133-year-old company invested TL 14 million in its new products and plans to increase its investment to TL 27 million in line with an expected... (GunPolicy.org)
Yemen,Argentina,Costa Rica,Libya,Germany,United States,Brazil,Paraguay,Austria
Most Brazilian Guns Exported to US
29 April 2013
Folha de Sao Paulo
BRASILIA - The U.S., currently discussing restrictions on the sale of firearms, purchased 7.9 million guns from Brazil in the past 40 years, and 59% of those were exported during the Lula administration (2003-2010).
That is the result of a new study by the Army Command to which Folha had access through the Access to Information Act, with a detailed record of the sellers and buyers of 9.9 million revolvers, pistols, rifles and shotguns, among other weapons, exported... (GunPolicy.org)
Questions Over Gun Ownership Rates in Israel as Gun Crime, Theft Rises
26 April 2013
Ha'aretz (Tel Aviv)
A 36-year-old mother of four was killed Tuesday by a gunshot in the Galilee village of Rama. Preliminary evidence shows she was killed while her husband, a career soldier in the Israeli army, who possesses a registered weapon as part of his duties, was cleaning his weapon. The loaded firearm apparently discharged a bullet by accident, hitting the woman.
This incident raises – yet again – the question of whether there is a need for all members of the Israeli armed... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkish People Spent TL 117 Million on Guns in 2012
22 April 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
Turkish people spent TL 117,922,000 on guns and bullets last year, with gun sales increasing by 54 percent, according to data from the state-owned Turkish Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE).
While a total of 19,575 handguns were sold in Turkey in 2011, the number of handguns sold last year rose to 30,207. The price of handguns ranges between TL 570 and TL 12,000. Of the 30,207 handguns, 21,464 were made in Turkey. A total of TL 57.8 million of revenue... (GunPolicy.org)
14 Gun Crimes Committed in Armenia Over 2 Months as Total Crime Rises
17 April 2013
Azer News (Azerbaijan)
An increase in the number of crimes was recorded in Armenia in the first quarter of the current year, News.am reported on Monday.
4,322 crimes were registered during this period, whereas the figure for last year was 3,968, according to the Armenian police.
A total of 2,171 minor offenses were registered in the first quarter of 2013, against 2,032 such misdemeanors in the same period of last year.
The number of crimes of medium severity increased four-fold, totaling... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Police Concerned Over Rise in Illegal Guns, Crime in Valley
17 April 2013
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU - Metropolitan Police Circle, Balaju, raided a rented house at Mitranagar, and rounded up four crime suspects with a cache of illegal weapons yesterday.
Acting on intelligence input, an MPC team backed by local armed police had cordoned off the house late at night before carrying out a thorough search in all rooms.
Officials informed that Yam Bahadur Thapa, 23, of Gorkha, his sister-in-law Alisha Gurung, 20, of Gorkha, Pankaj Malla, 19, of Banke and Rudra... (GunPolicy.org)
Poland,Ukraine,Israel,Côte d'Ivoire,Bulgaria,Belarus,China,Angola,Russia
Guns Easily Available in Côte D'Ivoire Despite Embargo
16 April 2013
IRIN (UN News)
ABIDJAN - Côte d'Ivoire's recent turbulence - including the ouster of president Henri Konan Bédié in 1999, a long-running insurgency and deadly poll unrest in 2011 - has left the country awash in arms, which have contributed to human rights abuses, widespread crime and persistent insecurity.
Two years after coming to power in 2000, Laurent Gbagbo's administration faced an army mutiny, which morphed into a full-scale rebellion. In response, the government underwent a... (GunPolicy.org)
Levels of Violence Rise at Jordan's Universities, Gun Drawn at Parliament
15 April 2013
Al-Monitor (Washington DC)
Residents of the city of Karak have been dressing in black to mourn the death of a 20-year-old engineering student.
Officials said the man was killed [April 2] on the campus of a public university in this tribal stronghold 120 km (75 miles) south of the Jordanian capital, Amman. Recent violence that has wreaked havoc in Jordan's educational institutions, including student rioting that moved Karak into the forefront, could be a warning that there is a threat to... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns of 15,000 Abusive Men Seized in Turkey
14 April 2013
Today's Zaman (Istanbul)
Family and Social Policy Minister Fatma Şahin has announced that the weapons of 15,000 men found to have been involved in violence against women have been confiscated as a protective measure since the Law on the Prevention of Violence against Women came into effect 13 months ago.
Speaking to the Akşam daily during her visit to Helsinki, Şahin provided some details about the implementation of Law No. 6284 on the Prevention of Violence against Women and the Protection... (GunPolicy.org)
Syria,North Korea,Iran,United States
Expert Says Explaining Benefits of Arms Treaty will Boost US Support
11 April 2013
New York Times, Opinion
On April 2, the United States joined an overwhelming majority of countries at the United Nations in voting to adopt a treaty regulating the international trade in conventional weapons — a monumental achievement after seven years of diplomacy, lobbying and out-and-out arm-twisting.
The United States pushed for the General Assembly vote last week after securing, in a March conference, the treaty language its negotiators wanted.
Yet now, just days after the United... (GunPolicy.org)