Gun Policy News
Criminal sanctions to punish and deter gun crime
Jamaica to Introduce the The Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act, 2022
29 July 2022
Jamaica Information Service
The House of Representatives recently approved the report and recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on the Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act (2022).
The Report outlines the recommended changes to the Bill, following the review and deliberations of the Joint Select Committee.
"Having regard to the number of amendments, it is proposed that the original Bill that was tabled on February 10, 2022, be withdrawn and a new amended Bill be tabled,"... (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)
Jamaica Hatches New Plan to Seize Illegal Guns as Murders Soar
10 February 2022
InsightCrime
As attention continues to focus on Jamaica's spiraling homicides, the country's prime minister has promised to stem the violence by clamping down on illegal firearms – a proposition that is easier said than done.
More than 90 guns have been seized as part of the government's "Get Every Illegal Gun" campaign, which launched in early February. The Jamaica Constabulary Force confiscated the latest batch at a gated community in Trelawney after a shootout that left a top... (GunPolicy.org)
Kyrgyzstan: Gun Control Needs to be Tightened
21 January 2022
Central Asian Bureau for Analytical Reporting (Cabar Asia)
In recent years, mass attacks on educational institutions have become widespread in various countries. If such tragedies were previously known to the world from the West, now they are known from all over the world, including Russia. Last year, the former Soviet Union countries were shocked by the tragic events in Russia: 15 people were killed by gunmen at Perm University and Kazan high school. Given the common information space shared between Russia and Central Asian... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Central Asian Bureau for Analytical Reporting (Cabar Asia)
Police U-turn on Firearm Amnesty
21 October 2021
New Era (Namibia)
Despite assurances by police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga and safety and security minister Albert Kawana that no one will be prosecuted for handing in unlicensed firearms and ammunition, an about-turn saw police announcing those who surrendered firearms used in the commission of a crime will indeed be arrested and prosecuted.
When he announced the amnesty earlier this year, Ndeitunga was quoted as saying "Cabinet endorsed the month of September as the amnesty month to... (GunPolicy.org)
Fewer Firearms in Portuguese Homes
25 September 2021
Diario de Noticias (Portugal)
New licences decrease every year
PSP estimates that there are fewer firearms in the home, taking into account those voluntarily surrendered and new weapons acquired, but stresses that this decrease "may not constitute a trend" due to the pandemic.
In an assessment made to Lusa news agency regarding the two years of the entry into force of the weapons law, which aims to limit the number of firearms in the home, the Public Security Police said that "there has been a... (GunPolicy.org)
Argentina,Brazil,Chile,Colombia,Mexico
Gun Laws in Latin America's Largest Economies
26 August 2021
Council of the Americas (COA)
Countries may adopt stringent gun control laws, but their efforts are complicated by international arms smuggling. We explore policies in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico.
For government across Latin America, reducing violence and providing security are top agenda items. AS/COA Online looks at gun-related legislation in Latin America's largest economies, identifying regulations for arms licensing. In Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigerian Reps Move to Tighten Gun Control Laws
13 July 2021
Premium Times (Nigeria)
In a bid to address the proliferation of arms and ammunition in the country, the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Firearms Act.
The bill, which also seeks to provide strict penalties for illegal possession of firearms and to allow the production of arms and ammunition by private entities, was passed for second reading on Tuesday.
The sponsor of the bill, Adejoro Adeogun (APC, Ondo), said in his legislative... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigeria Adopts Tougher Penalties for Illegal Firearms
1 July 2021
Daily Independent (Nigeria)
The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill which provides for three years jail term or N3 million fine or both, as penalties for anyone caught illegally possessing or dealing in firearms in Nigeria.
Titled 'Firearms Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021', the piece of legislation amends section 35 (2) of the Principal Act which previously provided a fine of just N1000 as penalty.
The amendment to section 35(2), which is captured in Clause 4 of the bill, provides for stiffer... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigerian State Vows to Prosecute Herders with Firearms
2 March 2021
Daily Independent (Nigeria)
Herders and livestock owners in Bayelsa State who are caught with firearms will be arrested and prosecuted by the state government when the anti-open grazing bill before the House of Assembly is passed into law and assented to by Governor Douye Diri.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo SAN, stated this while speaking at the public hearing on the legislative document titled, 'Livestock Breeding and Marketing Regulation Bill, 2021' at the House... (GunPolicy.org)
Penal Code Not Well Adapted to Faroese Conditions
28 January 2021
Kringvarp Føroya (Faeroe Islands)
Hundreds of rifles and shotguns are stored away in homes across the country.
This is not because the gun owners are criminals; rather, it is because leisure shooting, such as target shooting and – in particular, shooting hares – are popular pastimes for Faroese people.
But now, defence lawyer Jógvan Páll Lassen is warning the public that police have stepped up their enforcement of the weapons law.
"If I owned a rifle, I would ask a lawyer to call the police and... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigerian Police Give Deadline for Submission of Illegal Firearms
17 September 2020
Premium Times (Nigeria)
As part of efforts to curb the proliferation of firearms, the Niger State command of the Nigeria Police Force has issued an ultimatum for submission of illegal and prohibited firearms.
"The Niger State Police Command hereby calls on members of the public who are in possession of illegal and prohibited firearms such as single barrel, double barrel, automatic pump action and locally fabricated gun etc to render such firearms to a nearby Police Division, Area Command or... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigerian State Sets Up Special Squad on Illegal Firearms
21 August 2020
Daily Independent (Nigeria)
The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr Mike Okoli, has set up a special squad to mop up illegal firearms in the state.
A statement on Friday by Mr Asinim Butswat, the Police Public Relations Officer, quoted CP Okoli as saying that the initiative was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu.
He said the IGP had specifically directed "commissioners of police to initiate appropriate actions to identify, isolate, disarm,... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigerian Security Bans Display of Firearms in Public
29 January 2020
Daily Independent (Nigeria)
The Commandant General of the corps, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu of NSCDC, has banned members of the Civil Defence armed squad from the display of firearms, especially in public places.
He said this when he paid a condolence visit to the former governor of Imo state and serving Senator Rochas Okorocha to commiserate with him on the demise of an illustrious son of the state.
Abdullahi maintained that the order was necessitated by the need to prevent future occurrences of... (GunPolicy.org)
Ethiopia's 2020 Gun Control Law: The Key Details
10 January 2020
AfricaNews
Ethiopia's parliament passed a new gun control law amid rising deadly violence across the country. The Firearm Administration and Control proclamation, passed into law by the country's upper house of parliament on Thursday, is seen as a key tool to combat insecurity in the country.
The legislation bans private trade in weapons and prescribes tough prison sentences for illegal possession of firearms.
Under the new law:
- An individual can own only one gun.
- The... (GunPolicy.org)
NZ Ban on Most Semiautomatic Weapons Takes Effect
20 December 2019
New York Times
A sweeping nationwide ban on most semiautomatic weapons took effect in New Zealand on Saturday, as a monthslong gun buyback and amnesty program ended amid debate over its success.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had announced a temporary ban just days after a terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch in March that left 51 people dead and was streamed live on Facebook. Weeks later, all but one of Parliament's 120 lawmakers voted to make the ban permanent. It outlaws... (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)
Ex-Firearm Dealer Gets 11 Years for Smuggling 'Mass Kill' Guns
14 May 2019
Australian Associated Press
A Victorian man who imported "mass killing machines" has had years added to his prison sentence after an appeal.
Paul Robert Munro, 65, was originally ordered to serve at least six years behind bars for importing a dozen Thureon machine guns, capable of firing 1000 rounds a minute.
But on Tuesday the Court of Appeal revealed it had increased his non-parole period to 11 years.
The maximum 10-year sentence handed down by the County Court last May was also increased to... (GunPolicy.org)
Sweden Calls for Tighter Penalties for Arms Smuggling
5 May 2019
Vägen ut
A black car rolls up a shot is fired from a gun and a young man falls to the ground. Another fatal shooting added to the statistics and another family losing a loved one. A total of 45 people lost their lives in fatal shootings last year, with the most deaths in the Southern Region and the most shootings in the Stockholm area.
The number of fatal shootings continues to rise and the prognosis looks bleak. Fatal violence has been declining for a long time. But the trend... (GunPolicy.org)
NSW Dealer Accused of Trafficking
11 April 2019
Sporting Shooter / SSAA
Shane Simpson, gun shop owner and presenter on Hunting The Menu, is accused of being a major underworld weapons supplier and of selling firearms used in crimes across Australia, including the executions of two of Sydney highest-ranking organised crime figures.
The Daily Telegraph reported police allege arms dealer Shane James Simpson operated out of a gun shop in Port Kembla near Wollongong and sold guns which were used in the murders of two of Sydney's most... (GunPolicy.org)
NSW Gun Dealer Arrested for Selling Guns Illegally
10 April 2019
Illawarra Mercury
A Port Kembla firearms dealer has been arrested, and more than 300 weapons seized from his business, after he allegedly sold guns police say were used to shoot dead at least one Sydney underworld figure.
Shane Simpson was taken into custody after officers raided his firearms and hunting store - Simpson Sports, on the corner of Wentworth and Fitzwilliam streets - about 8.30am on Wednesday.
The Mercury understands police arrested the 46-year-old licensed firearms dealer... (GunPolicy.org)
Results of WA Gun Control Campaign
3 January 2019
West Australian (Perth)
Close to 7 per cent of WA gun owners targeted in a six-week operation recently were pinged by police for allegedly not storing guns properly.
Police charged 185 gun owners with non-compliance offences out of 2710 addresses checked, with officers alarmingly finding 26 firearms had been lost or stolen. About 400 firearms, including 28 handguns, were seized.
Seventy-two people were charged with 320 unrelated offences. Operation Bluesun Commander Jo McCabe said she was... (GunPolicy.org)
Tasmanian Gun Dealer Charged With Gun Trafficking
4 December 2018
The Advocate
Police laid more than 80 firearms charges against a 58-year-old Ulverstone man on Tuesday.
In a release, police said a "lengthy criminal investigation" led to the charges being laid, along with a suspension of the man's firearms dealer's license and his personal firearms license.
He has been charged with 12 counts of unregistered firearm possession, 54 counts of a licensed firearms dealer failing to keep records in an approved form and four counts of possessing... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Gun Laws Successful, Study Finds
13 March 2018
Australian (Sydney)
The gun laws enacted after the Port Arthur Massacre have unequivocally prevented mass shootings, a new study says.
The National Firearms Agreement was enacted after the 1996 tragedy in which 35 people were killed. The legislation included uniform gun registration, banned private gun sales and civilian ownership of semiautomatic weapons, removed self-defence as a reason to hold a firearm license and standardised penalties.
The University of Sydney study analysed... (GunPolicy.org)
Malaysia Shuts Down North Korean Arms Trafficking Firms
28 February 2017
Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's authorities were aware that two North Korea-linked companies operated an arms business in the country and both were being struck from the Company Registry, the police chief said on Tuesday.
Reuters reported on Monday that North Korean intelligence ran an arms operation out of Malaysia called Glocom, and two companies linked to the trade were International Global System and International Golden Services.
Confirming details of the story,... (GunPolicy.org)
Stiffer Sentences for Illegal Gun Possession in Argentina [ES]
16 November 2016
La Nación (Argentina), Agencia DyN
[Translated Summary: Argentina's Chamber of Deputies approved a bill that sets more severe sentences for gun carrying and possession. For illegal possession, sentences can go from six months to eight years if the firearm has been modified from its original condition. And for illegal carrying, sentences can be from four to eight years, depending on the case.]
Cámara de Diputados aprobó hoy y giró al Senado un proyecto impulsado por el Frente Renovador y apoyado por... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Deaths in Uruguay Spark Ammunition Calibre Debate [ES]
14 November 2016
Espectador (Uruguay)
[Translated summary: Uruguay has registered 604,678 firearms since 1944 and is considered one of the most armed countries in the world. Recent deaths and injures caused by shots in the air generated a debate about which ammunition the police should use. The Interior Ministry advocates for the use of bullets with greater destructive power and less rebound, while the Ministry of Defence thinks it's better to use "full metal jacket" ammunition.]
Un joven murió por una... (GunPolicy.org)
Marianas to Register Firearms After Court Nixes Gun Controls
14 November 2016
Guns (US)
Despite a federal ruling issued in September that struck down a handgun registration scheme in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, local lawmakers have passed another.
After a series of lawsuits ended the U.S. territory's total ban on handgun ownership, the local government adopted the Special Act for Firearms Enforcement earlier this year. The law imposed sweeping gun control measures, licensing schemes and strict rules regarding how one carries and... (GunPolicy.org)
In China, Life Sentence or Even Death for Replica Firearms [ES]
2 November 2016
W Radio (Colombia), EFE News Agency
[Translated Summary: China's strict legislation on firearms can cause firearm replica owners to be accused of trafficking, and go to jail. Even a life sentence or the death penalty are possible in severe cases. The definition of a firearm includes any weapon that can shoot with a force of more than 1.8 joules per square centimetre. This prohibits many replicas.]
La estricta legislación china sobre armas de fuego puede provocar que los propietarios de réplicas sean... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Agrees to First National Gun Amnesty in 20 Years
21 October 2016
Associated Press
Australia will allow gun owners to hand in illegal firearms without penalty next year as concerns grow over gun crimes involving such weapons, a federal minister said Friday.
Australia's police and justice ministers agreed at a meeting to start a nationwide gun amnesty from the middle of 2017, Justice Minister Michael Keenan said.
"Australia is world-renowned for the strength of our firearm laws, but illegal firearms do remain a deadly weapon of choice for organized... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Extends Ban on Adler Rapid-fire Lever Action Shotgun
20 October 2016
ABC News (Australia)
Police ministers met in Melbourne this morning to consider a new classification for the lever-action shotgun.
There is currently a ban in place on Adler shotguns that have a magazine capacity of more than five rounds.
The ABC understands concerns were raised that tightened restrictions on the seven-shot Adler would struggle to pass Parliament in certain states.
The Australian Federal Police and Justice Minister Michael Keenan said there was a "majority" view but that... (GunPolicy.org)
Amazingly, There Is No US Federal Law Against Gun Trafficking
13 October 2016
Mother Jones (USA)
Rep. Caroline Maloney (D-N.Y.) first learned that there is no federal law against gun trafficking at, of all places, a Fast and Furious hearing. In June 2011, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform convened to scrutinize the gunrunning sting known as Fast and Furious, which had flown off the rails when agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) allowed assault weapons to land in the hands of Mexican drug cartels. Much of... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexico Lawmakers Push Tougher Penalty for Gun Carrying [ES]
11 October 2016
Informador (Mexico)
[Translated Summary: PRI, a political party in Mexico, opposes an initiative to allow civilians to carry firearms in their households, work places and vehicles. They want to increase jail sentences up to 10 years and fines of 200 days for anyone caught carrying a military firearms. They also want to know where firearms are located in the country.]
El grupo parlamentario del Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) en la Cámara de Diputados busca revertir la... (GunPolicy.org)
Peru to Tighten Penalties for Illegal Firearm Possession [ES]
8 October 2016
Terra (Peru)
[Translated summary: Peru's Interior Minister announced that he is working on a new law that seeks to punish with a prison sentence of no less than 5 years to anyone who carries a firearm without authorisation. He also said that Peru has a great problem with illegal firearms and with firearms that are rented secretely by police officers.]
El ministro del Interior, Carlos Basombrío , anunció que el sector a su cargo está trabajando en una normativa que busca castigar... (GunPolicy.org)
Uruguay Mulls New Gun Bans, Limits on Gun Ownership [ES]
26 September 2016
El Espectador (Uruguay)
[Translated summary: A regulatory decree proposed for Uruguay would ban civilians from importing and owning automatic rifles, shotguns, handguns, ammunition for these weapons and silencers. Only three guns per person would be permitted. Civilians who previously bought prohibited firearms, or who own more than three, would have to surrender them for destruction.]
A efectos de continuar conociendo cómo se encuentra regulada en el derecho uruguayo la tenencia de armas de... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Mulls More Gun Control as Gun Crimes Spike - NRA
20 September 2016
America's First Freedom
Hillary Clinton has said Australia's 1996 gun ban—and subsequent confiscation and destruction of over 650,000 guns from pump shotguns to rimfire .22 rifles from lawful people like you—is an idea "worth considering on the national level."
Australians beg to differ.
Today, 20 years after Australia's gun ban, gun crime is skyrocketing in Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city. And now politicians are talking about passing new gun-control laws to further disarm... (GunPolicy.org)
Criminal Gun Misuse in Australia Reveals Gun Law Limitations
16 September 2016
NRA Institute for Legislative Action
While anti-gun politicians like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama tout Australia's gun control laws as a model for the United States, recent reporting on crime in Melbourne from newspaper The Age revealed the limitations of Australia's stringent laws. According to the paper, "Despite Australia's strict gun control regime, criminals are now better armed than at any time since then-Prime Minister John Howard introduced a nationwide firearm buyback scheme in response to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns Seized so Far This Year at Texas Airports: 2,653 [ES]
15 September 2016
El Paso (Mexico)
[Translated summary: In 2015, the Transport Security Agency in Texas has intercepted 2,653 firearms in carry-on bags at airport security checkpoints, almost 20% more than last year. Of these, 2,198 (82.8%) were loaded. The confiscations occurred in 236 airports; 12 more than last year.]
En lo que va del año, siete personas han tratado de abordar aviones en el Aeropuerto Internacional de El Paso con armas de fuego en su persona o en su equipaje.
Esta situación... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Plans New National Gun Amnesty, Tougher Penalties
14 September 2016
Guardian
The Turnbull government will begin a national gun amnesty after a wave of gun-related crime across the country. It also plans to increase penalties for gun smuggling.
The justice minister, Michael Keenan, said the gun amnesty had the support of the Nationals and would allow Australians to hand in illegal guns without penalty. It would not be a buyback.
He said the details of the amnesty were yet to be worked out but had in-principle support from his state and... (GunPolicy.org)
Police in Australia Seize Guns Linked to US Crime Syndicate
2 September 2016
ABC News (Australia)
Police in Victoria and New South Wales have seized 300 weapons and gun parts in a haul they say has cracked down on a major crime syndicate importing weapons from the United States.
The international operation has led to firearms charges being laid against two men.
Police said there might be further arrests as their investigations continue.
The joint federal, state and international operation was sparked 15 months ago in Victoria when a military-style assault rifle... (GunPolicy.org)
7,000 Guns Registered During Campaign in Bolivia [ES]
31 August 2016
El País (Bolivia)
[Translated summary: During a program in Bolivia, civilians registered 7,000 firearms. Any owner with unregistered guns must surrender or register them and obtain a licence. Bolivia divides the registration into four categories: guns for self-defence, for hunting, for collectors and for other activities. Unlicensed citizens could face prison sentences.]
A nivel nacional fueron más de 7.000 armas de fuego registradas, de las cuales 495 corresponden a la ciudad de... (GunPolicy.org)
US Airport Security Seizes Record 81 Carry-on Guns in a Week
22 August 2016
The Trace (USA)
Usually, the loaded gun is stuffed in a carry-on bag or a purse. Almost always, the excuse is: "I forgot."
For the second consecutive week, the Transportation Security Administration confiscated a record number of firearms at security checkpoints at U.S. airports. Officers seized 81 guns between August 12th and 18th. Of the weapons, 70 were loaded, and 31 had a round chambered, meaning ready to fire at the squeeze of a trigger.
Last week's tally brings the agency's... (GunPolicy.org)
Ghana Launches 32-day Amnesty for Unregistered Guns
16 August 2016
Joy Online (Ghana)
In a bid to control arm possession by individuals as the country heads to the 2016 general election, the government has declared a 32- day amnesty to help retrieve all unlicensed guns in the country.
The intervention which spans from August 22 to September 23 would afford Ghanaians in possession of unregistered arms to either get them registered or turn them in to the police.
This decision was announced by the Interior Minister, Prosper Bani when he addressed a news... (GunPolicy.org)
Yet Again, China Aims to Control, Punish Online Gun Traders
12 August 2016
China.org.cn, Xinhua
Chinese police have launched a nationwide campaign against the selling of guns online, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced Friday.
The MPS said police will strengthen the scrutiny of logistics companies that might be involved in gun delivery and crack down on illegal Internet websites, forums, and instant messaging services that facilitate the online gun trade.
Police have also taken resolute action against criminal offences such as manufacturing, selling... (GunPolicy.org)
US Traffickers Export Illegal Guns via Global Web 'Darknet'
11 August 2016
CNN
One day, Michael Andrew Ryan sat down at a computer, hopped onto a hidden part of the Internet known as the dark Web, called himself "Gunrunner" and opened for business.
His international weapons operation offered anyone a virtual laundry list of weapons with brand names that have become disturbingly familiar:
- Glock
- Beretta
- Uzi
- Highpoint
- Walther
To make these guns hard to trace, Gunrunner took off their serial numbers and shipped them to countries where... (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)
Venezuela's Military Can Now Use Guns to Quell Protests [ES]
31 July 2016
El Tribuno (Argentina)
[Translated Summary: Due to the surge of protests in the current year (3,507 so far), Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice authorised Venezuela's National Armed Force to use guns to control public protests. According to the decree, "firearm use is only permitted in non-pacific public protests."]
La Justicia anuló una resolución en donde se regula el uso de armamento por parte de militares en marchas de orden público. El fallo se produce en medio de una escalada... (GunPolicy.org)
US Study Finds 79% of Crime Guns Are Not Legally Owned
28 July 2016
Guns (US)
A study published this month finds 4 out of 5 guns recovered in crime are not owned by the perpetrator, who often obtained them through theft or trafficking.
The peer-reviewed study, "Gaps continue in firearm surveillance: Evidence from a large U.S. City Bureau of Police," was complied by a team of researchers led by Dr. Anthony Fabio of the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health, and published in this month's Social Medicine.
Fabio worked with... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns, Airguns Subject to Stringent New Regulation in India
28 July 2016
Hindustan Times (Delhi)
In a country where gun ownership laws influenced by the British are considered extremely prohibitive and firearms legitimately owned by citizens and sportspersons are dangerously outnumbered by weapons in the hands of criminals and terrorists, the Centre has made gun laws all the more stringent.
On July 15, the Union home ministry brought into force Arms Rules 2016 through a gazette notification that not only make getting a firearm licence under the existing Indian... (GunPolicy.org)
Dominican Senate Passes New, Tougher Gun Law [ES]
19 July 2016
Al Momento (Dominican Republic)
[Translated summary: The Dominican Senate passed a new Firearm Law that imposes tough sanctions on citizens who own illegal guns, and punishes authorities who comply with this practice. The law bans the carry and use of weapons of war and commands police to resolve cases in which civilians don't surrender illegal guns voluntarily. Licensing will be more rigorous; it will request consent of partners and thorough medical evaluations, among other things.]
Santo Domingo... (GunPolicy.org)
Blank-Firing Guns to Be Covered by EU Gun Control Rules
13 July 2016
New Europe (Belgium)
EU countries will have to introduce stronger controls on "blank-firing" guns, to prevent them being converted to fire live ammunition, under Internal Market Committee amendments, voted on Wednesday, to a draft update of the EU firearms directive. The changes approved by MEPs ensure that any firearm which has been converted to firing blanks continues to be covered by EU gun control rules. This closes a legal loophole which became evident in the aftermath of last year's... (GunPolicy.org)
Ethiopia,Kenya,Burundi,Tanzania,Rwanda,Uganda
Kenya's Private Gun Ownership the Largest in East Africa
11 July 2016
East African (Nairobi)
Kenya has the largest number of guns in civilian hands in eastern Africa amid rising gun attacks while Rwanda has the least, a global survey shows.
Data from Sidney-based GunPolicy.org, a website backed by the United Nations, puts the estimated number of guns possessed by Kenyan civilians at about 680,000, comprising licit and illicit firearms.
Tanzania has 550,000 guns in private hands, Uganda (400,000), Ethiopia (320,000), Burundi (100,000) and 58,000 for... (GunPolicy.org)
Indonesian Presidential Guards Involved in Illegal US Gun Trade
10 July 2016
Jakarta Globe
JAKARTA -- A US court has found a soldier participated in a scheme to purchase guns and send them to members of the Indonesian presidential security detail, an explosive report reveals.
Indonesian descendent, Audi Sumilat, of El Paso, Texas, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday (06/07) to one count of conspiracy to make false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In his testimony, Audi said he... (GunPolicy.org)
No Penalty for Gun-Smuggling Presidential Guard in Indonesia
9 July 2016
Jakarta Post
The Indonesian Military (TNI) has confirmed that it will not impose any sanctions to eight members of the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) who have bought firearms illegally in the US.
TNI spokesperson Maj. Gen. Tatang Sulaiman said in contrast to a claim made by US authorities who said the gun purchase was illegal, the investigation findings by the military's internal affairs team found that no law was broken.
"The military police did the questioning and... (GunPolicy.org)
Boss of UK's Biggest Known Gun Smuggling Ring Gets 35 Years
3 June 2016
Guardian, Press Association (UK)
The ringleader of Britain's biggest known gun-smuggling operation has been sentenced to 35 years in jail for shipping £100,000 worth of weapons from the same source used in the Charlie Hebdo terror attack.
Harry Shilling bragged "we [are] now officially gangsters" after 22 assault rifles and nine Skorpion sub-machine guns from eastern Europe sailed up the river Medway from Boulogne in France.
The 26-year-old and Michael Defraine, 30, were found guilty of gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Paraguay Considers Strict Gun Control Law for Civilians [ES]
31 May 2016
ABC (Paraguay)
[Translated summary: A bill to control civilian gun use is under review in Deputies, putting seven million Paraguayans on edge. It authorizes police to carry out checks, compels the firearm owner to communicate a change of residence, imposes fines that exceed 5 million Paraguayan Guaranies, and even 10-years in prison.]
En Diputados se encuentra en estudio un proyecto de ley de armas de uso civil, que pondrá en vilo a siete millones de paraguayos. Faculta a la... (GunPolicy.org)
Ecuador Law Brings 42% Decrease in Crime Gun Use [ES]
26 May 2016
Ecuador Inmediato
[Translated summary: 2016 is the first year in Ecuador in which most of the violent deaths weren't committed with a firearm, due to the ban on the carry and the restricted ownership, as well as the police controls. 1,279 firearms were seized in the first trimester of 2016.]
En el primer trimestre del 2016 se decomisaron 1.279 objetos de este tipo 2016 es el primer año en el que la mayoría de muertes violentas no han sido perpetradas con armas de fuego. José Serrano,... (GunPolicy.org)
Brazil: Firearm Use to Aggravate Penalty in Violent Crime [PT]
16 May 2016
Agência Senado (Brazil)
[Translated summary: The use of firearms in crimes committed with violence or serious threat to the person may soon attract stiffer penalties. The harmful potential of the firearm will be considered in two ways: if the weapon is of permitted use, the penalty shall be increased in half and it will be doubled if the device used in the crime is of limited use.]
O uso de arma de fogo em crimes praticados com violência ou grave ameaça à pessoa poderá ter pena mais... (GunPolicy.org)
Vietnam Would Welcome U.S. Lifting Its Gun Sales Embargo
12 May 2016
Daily Mail (UK), Reuters
HANOI -- Vietnam would welcome the United States "accelerating" the lifting of a lethal arms embargo, which would reflect trust between the two countries and recognition of its needs to defend itself, its foreign ministry said on Thursday.
Vietnam's comments on a topic that has long been a source of friction with the United States comes just over a week ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama, and amid debate in Washington over whether to remove the ban, which was... (GunPolicy.org)
UK War Veteran Jailed Over Huge Stash of Illegal Weapons
30 April 2016
Daily Mail (UK)
A pensioner has been jailed for possessing a 'terrifying arsenal' of illegal weapons at his home in Greater Manchester - including guns, shells and a missile.
RAF veteran Harry Jones was secretary of the Tameside Gun Club for nearly 40 years and was a trusted authority on weaponry.
But his obsession with firearms led to him amassing the huge stash of weapons, including nine handguns and an Al Capone-style Tommy gun kept in a violin case - all in full working... (GunPolicy.org)
UK War Veteran Jailed for Illegal Possession of Guns
19 April 2016
Daily Caller (USA)
Next time someone tells you how "great" the gun control laws are in the United Kingdom and that "we should look at them," you might want to bring up Albert Patterson. Albert Patterson spent 22 years wearing the uniform of a British soldier. This included service with the Parachute Regiment and with the elite Special Air Service Regiment.
The 67-year-old veteran fought in the 1982 Falklands War, and a Browning High Power pistol surrendered to him by an Argentine officer... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda Govt Swoop: Gun Owners Must Register All Firearms
15 April 2016
Observer (Kampala)
By April 30, all firearms in civilians possession must have been registered, the ministry of Internal Affairs said in its latest attempt to crack down on illegal small arms.
Unregistered firearms will be declared illegal, the minister of state for Internal Affairs James Baba said on Monday.
Firearm registration, the minister said, is meant to control small arms and light weapons owned by civilians and maintain proper national control over government stockpiles of all... (GunPolicy.org)
El Salvador Still Has No Penalty for Gun Trafficking [ES]
7 April 2016
La Prensa Gráfica (El Salvador)
[Translated summary: In El Salvador, there is no penalty for arms trafficking. District attorney Douglas Meléndez is proposing a reform to include arms trafficking and other felonies in the Salvadoran legislation. Meléndez explained that 90% of crimes involve trafficked firearms.]
Fiscal dijo que también busca se castigue con prisión a los que impidan la libre circulación a las personas. Propone reformar Ley contra Terrorismo porque no está apegada a realidad... (GunPolicy.org)
Florida Officials Want to Charge Mother Shot by Her Toddler
25 March 2016
San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press
PALATKA, Florida -- The mother of a 4-year-old boy who shot her as they were riding in a pickup truck should face a misdemeanour charge, authorities said Tuesday as they released details of the shooting for the first time.
The mother, 31-year-old Jamie Gilt, put a loaded .45-caliber handgun underneath the front seat of her pickup on March 8 and the weapon slid into the back seat where her son Lane was riding in a child booster seat, Putnam County Sheriff's Capt. Gator... (GunPolicy.org)
Police, UK City Ban 18 Men for Links to 'Gun or Gang Crime'
23 March 2016
BBC News
The names of 18 men banned from parts of Birmingham for what police say are their links to "gun or gang crime" can be revealed by the BBC.
Interim injunctions were obtained by West Midlands Police, but the force had declined to reveal the men's identities until permanent orders were granted.
However, details were revealed in County Court documents seen by the BBC.
Labour MP Khalid Mahmood criticised police using civil action to tackle gun crime rather than criminal... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,United Kingdom,Japan,Australia
So, America, This Is How Other Countries Do Gun Control
14 March 2016
Guardian
Thirty people will be shot dead in America today. On average. It could be more. If it's less, then more will die tomorrow. Or the next day.
The United States's gun homicide rate is 25 times higher than other high-income countries, according to a recent study.
Americans are divided on whether the country's gun deaths could be reduced through tougher laws on gun ownership. Liberals argue that legal restrictions on gun ownership could save lives. Conservatives say that... (GunPolicy.org)
Firearm Industry Wants Looser Rules on Gun Silencers
8 March 2016
Reuters
The U.S. gun industry is trying to shake off the Hollywood hitman image of the gun silencer and rebrand it as a hearing-protection device in a campaign to roll back regulations that date to the 1930s.
Industry lobbying has led to more than a dozen states legalizing silencers for hunting since 2011. Now gun advocates are pressing Congress to repeal a Depression-era law that requires a months-long screening process for silencer buyers - far more scrutiny than gun buyers... (GunPolicy.org)
What's the Solution to Gun Violence in America?
8 March 2016
Atlantic (USA)
Any American with even a glancing familiarity with the news can rattle off the progression, a litany of place names transformed from cities and towns into metonyms for gun violence: San Bernardino, Colorado Springs, Umpqua, Charleston, Fort Hood, Navy Yard, Sandy Hook, Aurora …. That doesn't even take into account the thousands Americans killed by guns in single-death murders, or the roughly 21,000 who take their own lives with firearms annually.
The many shootings... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Australia,Brazil,South Africa
Gun Control: What Works and What Doesn't
7 March 2016
Washington Post, Blog
Gun control works, but you have to be smart about it.
That's the takeaway from a major new analysis out this month in the journal Epidemiologic Reviews. Columbia University's Julian Santaella-Tenorio and a team of researchers pored over the results of 130 studies on gun control legislation passed in 10 different countries to find out which policy interventions worked, which ones didn't and on what issues the jury was still out.
Big caveat up front: Sussing out cause... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Gun Regulations Eased by Politicians in France [FR]
3 March 2016
Le Point (France), Agence France Presse
[Translated summary: Following terrorist attacks in France, the National Assembly voted in favour of easing regulations on the use of firearms by law enforcement, .]
Empêtré dans la loi travail, le gouvernement a un motif de satisfaction : l'Assemblée nationale a voté mercredi soir l'assouplissement des règles d'usage des armes par les forces de l'ordre, dans le cadre du projet post-attentats de réforme pénale examiné en première lecture.
À côté des cas de... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Facts, Figures and Firearm Law in Burkina Faso [FR]
26 February 2016
Le Pays (Burkina Faso), Transcript
[Translated summary: Gun facts and figures in Burkina Faso: the 2009 Firearms Decree; Consequences of the August 1983 Revolution; Arms trafficking in the region; Importance of the illegal manufacture of home-made guns; In Ouagadougou alone: 1,246 permits to carry firearms were issued in 2015, 1,270 in 2014, and 1,190 in 2013]
INTERVIEW
Propos recueillis par Michel NANA en collaboration avec Afronline (Italie)
Le Colonel Christophe Raoul Tapsoba est le secrétaire... (GunPolicy.org)
Buying Illicit Firearms in Vietnam
24 August 2015
Tuoi Tre News
Although civilians are banned from owning guns in Vietnam, anyone can buy the weapons via contacts with friends, as well as on social networks, and have them delivered at home.
It is not difficult to buy a gun in Vietnam, even though civilians are totally banned from owning them.
Prices range widely, from VND400,000 (US$18) to tens of millions of dong (VND10 million equals $455).
They are mainly air guns illegally imported through the land borders with China, Laos... (GunPolicy.org)
Chile's New Firearms Act Increases Penalties Related to Gun Possession
16 May 2015
La Tercera (Santiago de Chile)
[Translated summary: Chile's new Firearms Act increases penalties and requirements on firearm possession. In 2014 there were 763,070 registered firearms, including 397,438 for personal defence. In 2015, 3,618 weapons were surrendered, compared to 2,771 in 2014 and 2,507 in 2013.]
Durante el año pasado, 623 personas realizaron trámites y rindieron los exámenes para comprar e inscribir un arma de fuego en el Gran Santiago. Sin embargo, a 84 de éstas se les negó la... (GunPolicy.org)
Two Men Admit to Gun Trade Between Australia and US
28 April 2015
Australian (Sydney)
Two Sydney men behind a conspiracy that shipped handguns and cocaine to Australia in hollowed-out car engines have pleaded guilty to a string of charges in a US court.
Mohamed Metleg, 33, and Nawak Chaouk, 47, will next month face sentencing in Nashville, Tennessee, after they exploited weak local gun laws to procure weapons later seized from criminals in NSW.
The US District Court was told that on successive trips to Nashville in 2011 and 2012, the men bribed... (GunPolicy.org)
Toxic, Contaminated US Gun Ranges Win Federal Contracts
13 April 2015
Seattle Times
In early November 2008, state workplace-safety inspectors slammed a contaminated commercial gun range in Kent with 15 violations, including failure to fix previous lead hazards, and fined it $42,400.
The very next day, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) awarded Champion Arms in Kent a five-year contract worth $205,200 for the Federal Air Marshal Service to use the indoor gun range for training.
Federal law requires agencies to follow health and safety... (GunPolicy.org)
Lao Authorities Require Gun Re-registrations
3 March 2015
Radio Free Asia
Lao authorities have put in place a new rule that requires the re-registration of firearms—including those owned by police officers, soldiers and village security officials—in an effort to eradicate illegal firearm possession, an Internal Security Ministry official said.
"All guns will be re-inspected, [including] guns already dispensed internally and guns belonging to society at large," the official, who is based in the capital Vientiane, but declined to be... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Police Warn Against 'Firearm Selfies'
8 December 2014
Shanghai Daily (China), Xinhua
MELBOURNE - Australian gun owners who post "selfies" on social media displaying their guns and ammunition could make themselves targets for thieves, police warned on Monday.
Police detectives in the state of Victoria have said there has been an influx of social media "firearm selfies" -- people taking pictures of themselves with guns -- which inadvertently advertises gun ownership and can lead to targeted thefts.
Senior Sergeant Andrew Armstrong warned that criminals... (GunPolicy.org)
Australia Toughens Firearm Trafficking Sentences
25 November 2014
Herald Sun (Melbourne)
Gun traffickers will face a minimum of five years in jail after tough new laws were introduced by the Federal Government.
At present criminals caught dealing firearms face no minimum sentence.
The new laws, passed on Monday night, also establish new international trafficking offences and will make dealing in individual gun parts an offence.
Michael Keenan, the Minister for Justice, said the new laws would "better reflect the gravity of firearms trafficking".
Mr... (GunPolicy.org)
6,000 Illegal Gunmakers in the Philippines
14 November 2014
Bloomberg (USA)
Hidden beneath tarpaulins in the backyard of a house in the central Philippine city of Danao, Lito puts the finishing touches on a replica .45-caliber Colt Officer's Model pistol. It will join the more than 600,000 illegal guns in circulation in a country where the homicide rate outstrips the U.S.
The money he makes from guns supplements his income as a farmer and helped Lito, 52, send two children to college. Still, he thinks often of the suffering that may come from... (GunPolicy.org)
Estonia Student Shoots, Kills School Teacher With Father's Legal Revolver
27 October 2014
Associated Press / Yahoo! News
TALLINN — A 15-year-old student shot and killed his teacher during class Monday in a town in southern Estonia — the first known school shooting in the Baltic nation.
Four other students were in the classroom at Paalalinna School in the town of Viljandi, police spokeswoman Tuuli Harson said. She said the shooter was apprehended and no one else was injured in the early-afternoon attack at the school of 450 students.
Government officials said the victim was a... (GunPolicy.org)
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)
Duo Jailed for Plotting Shooting Spree at University of Helsinki
29 June 2014
Helsinki Times
The District Court of Helsinki on Thursday sentenced a 24-year-old man and woman to prison terms for a conspiracy to carry out a killing spree at the University of Helsinki.
The male defendant was sentenced to a prison term of three years and one month for the preparation of an aggravated offence against the health and life of others, and the possession of sexually obscene pictures depicting children following the discovery of 28 videos on his computer of minors... (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)
Brothers in US Court Over Assault Weapons Smuggling to Philippines
12 June 2014
New York Times
It was an unusual example of family pressure, exerted by federal prosecutors against two brothers.
The brothers — one a former New York City police officer, another a former Customs and Border Protection officer — worked with another brother to ship and sell military-grade guns to customers in the Philippines.
On Thursday, as Rex and Wilfredo Maralit pleaded guilty to weapons trafficking, they were told by prosecutors that they would be eligible for reduced... (GunPolicy.org)
Malaysian Regional Police Reprimanded Over Missing Firearms
4 June 2014
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
GEORGE TOWN - The Penang police logistics and management division has been directed to buck up.
State police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the division should do more to check on asset management following the discovery of missing firearms and other items between 2010 and last year.
He said several firearms and gun magazines have been found missing during the period.
Also found missing, he said were handcuffs, motorcycles, holsters and gun pouches.
Abdul... (GunPolicy.org)
Rebel Dealer Jailed, Lost Licence, Guns: Agrees Fight Was 'Foolhardy'
3 June 2014
Toronto Sun (Ontario)
Bruce Montague was a northern Ontario firearms dealer so opposed to Canada's licensing laws that he stopped registering his guns in protest and dared the government to come after him.
Be careful what you wish for. Ten years later, the 54-year-old's act of what he saw as "civil disobedience" has resulted in an 18-month jail sentence, a lifetime ban from operating his trade and now he's just been ordered to hand over his $100,000 gun collection — his life savings —... (GunPolicy.org)
American Sentenced in Fiji Over Bribery, Gun Charges
31 May 2014
Fiji Times
An American national who attempted to bring in guns and ammunition into the country had his sentence changed after the High Court reviewed it.
Sonny Blake was convicted of bribing a Customs officer and possession of firearms without a license by the Magistrates Court.
He was given a 12-month jail term suspended for five years, fined $1000 and conviction not recorded.
In his judgment Justice Paul Madigan said in this age where commercial intercourse was paramount and... (GunPolicy.org)
Austrian Poacher's Assault Rifle Found, Months After Shooting Police
26 May 2014
Local (Austria)
Eight months after poacher Alois Huber's deadly shooting spree in the Lower Austrian town of Annaberg, a semi-automatic assault rifle has been discovered in nearby Lassingbach stream.
Regional police spokesman, Johann Baumschlager, confirmed to Kronen Zeitung that police "are almost absolutely certain" the weapon found was that used by Huber, who shot and killed two policemen, a paramedic, and a member of Austria's counter terrorism special operations unit, known as... (GunPolicy.org)
Bill to Regulate 3D Guns Introduced to Queensland Govt
23 May 2014
Yahoo! 7 News (Australia)
The Palmer United Party (PUP) has introduced legislation to Queensland Parliament proposing to regulate the creation and possession of 3D printed firearms.
If passed, the laws would be an Australian first, making it a punishable offence to make, buy or possess 3D firearms.
PUP MP Carl Judge told State Parliament last night he was concerned the new printing method could be used by criminals.
Mr Judge said the private member's bill included a licensing scheme, as well... (GunPolicy.org)
Georgia's Lax, Lax Gun Laws Feed New York Crime Gun Market
22 May 2014
New York Daily News
When Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson put out a 558-count indictment against six firearms traffickers who conspired to sell illegal guns here, all 155 of the weapons recovered by the NYPD came from one place: Georgia.
If you think you've heard this story before, you have. Last September, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. indicted an individual who had illegally trafficked a huge stockpile of guns — via the post office — here from Georgia.
As... (GunPolicy.org)
Belize Opposition Party Wants Gun Laws Relaxed
21 May 2014
Breaking Belize News
Earlier this year the Government of Belize indicated interest in revising the gun laws after a series of controversies, including the release of public officer Reynaldo Verde from a mooted firearm charge and the release of Police Corporal Gino Peck after a little-used section of the law was implemented.
But planned consultations have not taken place and the People's United Party (PUP) proposed amendments have not been responded to.
Today the party said it would... (GunPolicy.org)
Ghana Considers Gun Law Reform, Harsher Penalties
20 May 2014
Peace FM Online (Ghana)
Suspects found guilty of owning an unregistered gun or a light weapon could soon be handed life sentences.
That's according to the National Commission on small arms and light weapons.
The commission is currently undertaking consultations to review the existing 1962 legislation to respond to current challenges.
For instance, proposals made for consideration includes one can apply to own a weapon at age 21 up from the current age of 18.
There is also a proposal to... (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)
Georgia Law Allows Guns in Many Public Places, Despite Opposition
23 April 2014
CNN
ELLIJAY, GA - Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed a wide-ranging gun bill into law Wednesday that has critics howling and proponents applauding.
House Bill 60, or the Safe Carry Protection Act of 2014 - which opponents have nicknamed the "guns everywhere bill" - specifies where Georgia residents can carry weapons. Included are provisions that allow residents who have concealed carry permits to take guns into some bars, churches, school zones, government buildings and... (GunPolicy.org)
Lawsuit Against US Gun Dealer Settled After Straw Purchase Results in Death
22 April 2014
Republic (Indiana)
CHICAGO — The parents of a slain Chicago police officer and a Mississippi gun shop they sued for selling the gun used to kill their son to a straw buyer said Tuesday that they reached a settlement.
Carolyn and Thomas Wortham III and Ed's Pawn Shop & Salvage Yard in Byhalia, Mississippi, said in a joint statement that they resolved the dispute "to the satisfaction of all parties."
The pawn shop agreed to increased vigilance on gun sales.
"The agreed policies will... (GunPolicy.org)
Pakistan Acts Against Continuing Availability of Illegal Weapons
15 April 2014
Central Asia Online
ISLAMABAD – Gul Sher, 31, is busy cleaning his unlicenced AK-47 rifle. He is at his home in the outskirts of Mianwali, Punjab Province.
"Keeping rifles or other small weapons is part of our culture here," Gul said. "Our elders say, 'Weapons are men's jewellry'. Without them we feel alone and insecure."
Keeping unlicenced weapons is illegal, but Gul isn't alone. Many in his small town do so as well.
Illegal trade, but law goes unenforced
Keeping prohibited or... (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)
Kenya Authorities Issue Gun Amnesty Ultimatum to Criminals
27 March 2014
Capital FM
NAIROBI — Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa has issued a one week amnesty to criminal gangs to surrender or face the full force of the law.
Marwa stated that those in possession of illegal firearms should surrender them before the expiry of the amnesty.
Speaking after a meeting with Muslim leaders, Marwa said the recent incidents of security are scaring away potential investors.
"All criminals in this county who are harbouring illegal weapons should... (GunPolicy.org)
Editorial: Guns are a Health-Care Issue, Despite US Gun Lobby's Opposition
23 March 2014
Washington Post, Editorial
Every year guns are used to kill thousands of people, and not always the bad guys. For decades, doctors and other public health experts have argued that preventing gun deaths, particularly from accidents and suicides, should be a priority — like curtailing car fatalities or tobacco use. For their sense, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and others on the pro-gun side have pilloried them, ruining careers and stopping needed research with the help of a cowed... (GunPolicy.org)
US National Guardsmen Sentenced for Stealing Machine Guns From Armory
21 March 2014
Lodi News-Sentinel (California)
Stockton resident Stephen Gooden, 40, was sentenced on Thursday by United States District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine for possessing a machine gun, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to court documents, Gooden and Sacramento resident Luis Castro, 28, were members of the California National Guard and stole two M-4 machine guns from the National Guard's armory in Lodi.
Gooden then sold the machine... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun-Happy Georgia State Lawmakers Put Public Safety at Risk
18 March 2014
Washington Post, Editorial
The National Rifle Association calls it "the most comprehensive pro-gun reform legislation in recent state history." That's true, sad to say.
After the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, gun-control advocates thought reasonable firearm restrictions might have a chance at enactment. They scored a notable victory in Colorado but mostly failed elsewhere and on the national level. Now the old political calculus seems to be back at work: The momentum... (GunPolicy.org)
Oscar Pistorius Knew Gun-Safety Laws, Says South African Gun Dealer
17 March 2014
Wall Street Journal
PRETORIA, South Africa — A gun dealer told the South African court trying Oscar Pistorius on murder charges that the sports star knew the country's gun-safety laws and what is permissible in dealing with intruders, as prosecutors attempted to show that he was a trigger-happy man with an overzealous interest in firearms.
Before the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, the model and aspiring television star Reeva Steenkamp, Mr. Pistorius bought an LM6 semiautomatic rifle,... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Teen Jailed After Ordering Assault Weapon Online, Delivered to Home
14 March 2014
Telegraph (UK)
A teenager who bought a machine gun online and had it delivered to his family home, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition and nunchucks, has been jailed for six years.
Reza Khalilzada, 18, was caught hiding an assault rifle under his bed which he had ordered from a US website.
Police were alerted after suspicious customs officials in the US examined a heavy box destined for Khalilzada's address in Pinner, Middlesex, in August last year.
Instead of the ceramic... (GunPolicy.org)
755 Guns Handed to Authorities in India
14 March 2014
Times of India
CHANDIGARH - The armoury of police at police lines, Sector 26, has turned into a gallery of weapons surrendered by city residents despite the passage of the last date for depositing them on Wednesday.
As many as 755 firearms of different brands, mostly foreign-made, were surrendered in the armoury since March 8. Nonetheless, the officials are accepting more weapons. The majority of surrendered weapons belong to Smith and Wesson, Winchester, Ruger, Heckler & Koch, and... (GunPolicy.org)
18 People Shot Daily in South Africa, Violent Crime Rate Remains High
12 March 2014
Deutsche Welle, Video
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is on trial, charged with the pre-meditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who died after being shot four times on Valentine's Day in 2013. The paralympic gold medalist is also charged with three firearms offenses.
While Pistorius has admitted to killing Steenkamp in his Pretoria home on February 14, he has pleaded not guilty and claims he fired through the bathroom door after mistaking her for an intruder.
The rate of... (GunPolicy.org)
Absentee Australian Landholders Warned About Securing Guns Against Theft
12 March 2014
ABC News (Australia)
People who have to leave rural properties for extended periods of time are being warned they could face prosecution for not taking reasonable precautions to secure guns.
It comes as police in the Walgett area investigate the theft of guns from a property at Burren Junction, that could have been stolen any time between late 2012 and when the owner returned last week.
The seven stolen firearms included Remington, Winchester, Erma, Eddystone and Swedish Mauser rifles and... (GunPolicy.org)
Dominican Police Uses New Method to Find Illegal Guns After Amnesty Failure
12 March 2014
Bernama (Malaysia) / NAM News Network
ROSEAU - Law enforcement officials here have admitted that a gun amnesty launched in Dominica a few years ago has failed.
The gun amnesty, which was spearheaded by the Government of Dominica, was geared towards persons with illegal firearms.
They were asked to bring these firearms to the police and would not face any charges; however, according to reports, only two persons took advantage of that.
Speaking on the heels of several gun related incidents over the past... (GunPolicy.org)
One in Six Uruguayans Own a Gun, NGOs Say Real Number Higher [ES]
11 March 2014
Diario UNO de Entre Rios (Argentina)
[Translated summary: One in six people in Uruguay has a gun according to recent figures. There are officially 580,000 registered firearms in Uruguay but there are concerns about an increase in gun sales on the black market amid insecurity in the Latin American region. Citizens must pass a mental health exam and firearms training to own a weapon, while carrying a weapon requires further checks. There is a strong cultural acceptance of the defensive use of a firearm,... (GunPolicy.org)
Outlaw California Gun Shop Made, Sold Unmarked Machine-Guns
28 February 2014
Reuters
Two Mexican nationals were indicted on Thursday on charges of running an outlaw weapons-supply shop in northern California that assembled and sold unmarked, illegal firearms and accessories, including machine-guns and silencers.
A federal grand jury in Sacramento indicted brothers Luis Cortez-Garcia, 44, and Emiliano Cortez-Garcia, 37, on one count each of unlawful manufacturing and sales of firearms, conspiracy to unlawfully manufacture and sell firearms and multiple... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian MP Under Pressure Over Unregistered Gun Charges
24 February 2014
Guardian (UK)
Pressure is building on the Victorian premier, Denis Napthine, to reveal when he knew a member of his government, Mildura MP Peter Crisp, was facing firearms charges.
Crisp confirmed on Saturday he had been charged with keeping unregistered guns at his farm in NSW but said he would be "strongly defending" himself.
"I reject charges relating to unlicenced possession of a prohibited firearm on my primary production land," he said. "All reasonable precaution was taken to... (GunPolicy.org)
Mistrial in Fatal US Loud Music Shooting Case, Stand Your Ground Law Tested
16 February 2014
Guardian (UK)
A jury has declared that it could not reach a decision on whether a Florida man, who shot dead a teenager in a dispute over loud music, was guilty of murder or had acted in self defence.
The judge in Jacksonville declared a mistrial on the first-degree murder charge on Saturday, although the jury convicted Michael Dunn on three lesser counts of attempted second-degree murder, and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Dunn could face a sentence of between 20 and 60 years.... (GunPolicy.org)
Turks and Caicos Police Begin Check on Expired Firearms Licences
10 February 2014
TCI News Now (Turks & Caicos Islands)
A review and an inventory is currently being conducted by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) firearms department on the status of all persons who are in possession of a firearms licence.
Strict measures will be imposed on those persons with expired licences. These measures may result in the suspension, revocation and/or the possibility of being charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Residents are reminded that firearms... (GunPolicy.org)
Puerto Rico Man Jailed for 109 Years After Fatal Shooting of Wife
8 February 2014
Latin American Herald Tribune (Venezuela)
SAN JUAN - Pablo Casellas Toro, the son of a former Puerto Rico treasury secretary now on the U.S. federal bench, was sentenced here Thursday to 109 years in prison for the murder of his wife.
Casellas was convicted Jan. 22 of killing wife Carmen Paredes on July 14, 2012, at the couple's home in the affluent San Juan suburb of Guaynabo.
"I want to make it clear that this conviction and this sentence that you are ready to impose are an injustice, because I did not kill... (GunPolicy.org)
Arrest of Gun-Toting American at Canadian Border Enrages US Gun Community
5 February 2014
National Post (Toronto)
"Screw Canada."
"Another reason not to venture to the dark north."
Gun-related message boards lit up this week over news of the arrest of an American man at the Canadian border.
Retired U.S. Army sergeant major Louis DiNatale and his wife were on a romantic getaway from Kentucky to Vermont when they say their GPS led them astray to the border.
When DiNatale failed to declare a loaded handgun in the centre console — he says he simply forgot it was there — he was... (GunPolicy.org)
China,Bangladesh,South Asia,India,Nepal,Myanmar,Thailand
Smuggling of China-Made Weapons Highlights Bangladesh as Transit Point
4 February 2014
al Jazeera
A recent court verdict in Bangladesh in a case almost 10 years old has brought into focus the continuing scourge of weapons-smuggling from China into South Asia.
A judge in the Bangladesh port city of Chittagong last week sentenced 14 men to death for their role in what was an aborted bid to smuggle in 1,500 boxes of weapons that needed ten trucks to carry.
Among those sentenced were a prominent Bangladesh opposition leader, Motiur Rahman Nizami, several top... (GunPolicy.org)
Is School Shooting A Wake-Up Call For Russia?
4 February 2014
Bloomberg (USA)
Russians had considered their country immune to the kind of school violence that the U.S. has suffered in incidents such as the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings and the Columbine High School massacre. Now, 15-year-old Sergei Gordeyev has disabused them of that notion, killing a teacher and a cop at his school in northern Moscow.
News of the shooting, which occurred around midday Monday, immediately prompted comparisons to the U.S. "Have we caught the American disease?"... (GunPolicy.org)
Case Against US Man Illustrates Canada's Zero-Tolerance Gun Policy
3 February 2014
Los Angeles Times
Louis DiNatale didn't intend to enter Canada when he and his wife wound up on a bridge from New York state to Ontario province one day in September, misdirected by an unreliable GPS. What began as an American couple's getaway to Vermont quickly turned into a lesson on the stark difference between the U.S. and Canada when it comes to gun laws.
DiNatale, whose request to turn around and cross back into the U.S. was denied, then made another mistake. When a border... (GunPolicy.org)
Bangladesh,India,Hong Kong,Singapore
14 Sentenced to Death in Bangladesh Arms Smuggling Case
30 January 2014
Washington Post
DHAKA, Bangladesh — The head of the main Bangladeshi Islamist opposition party was among 14 people sentenced to death on Thursday on charges of smuggling weapons to a rebel group in neighboring India.
Security officials had seized more than 4,000 firearms and 1 million bullets and other military equipment in April 2004 when they were being unloaded from fishing boats. According to case documents, the weapons and ammunition were destined for a former Indian insurgency... (GunPolicy.org)
Guyana Introduces New Law Criminalising Possession of Gun Parts
17 January 2014
Kaieteur News (Guyana)
The National Assembly yesterday met for the first time in 2014 and unanimously voted to create a new criminal offence, revamp the admissibility of various types of evidence in criminal and civil trials as well as allow for persons who received tickets for traffic offences to be allowed to make payments in any magisterial district.
For several hours at yesterday's sitting, the House voted on and unanimously for the Firearms (Amendment) Bill, the Evidence (Amendment)... (GunPolicy.org)
Accountants, Priests, Reporters Can Carry Guns Under New Law in Philippines
15 January 2014
CNN
Filipino doctors, priests, journalists and accountants will be allowed to arm themselves while at work under a controversial new gun law that takes effect in their country this month.
Under the Philippines' Republic Act 10591, people working in these sectors - along with nurses, engineers, bank tellers, and lawyers - are considered "in imminent danger due to their profession" and will be allowed to carry small guns when outside their homes.
To qualify for a special... (GunPolicy.org)
Over 19,000 Colombians Arrested for Illegally Carrying Weapons
13 January 2014
Prensa Latina (Havana)
BOGOTA - More than 19,000 Colombians were recently arrested for illegal carrying of weapons, which was described by the national police chief, Rodolfo Palomino, as a blow against illegal gangs involved in murders and theft.
Palomino said they seized 34,155 guns without licenses and 18 percent of the detainees claimed that the seized weapon was not theirs.
Palomino explained that early this year, 17 minors and 15 women were arrested for that offense (in 2013 the figure... (GunPolicy.org)
Opinion: Zimbabwe Could Benefit From Stricter Firearm Regulation
10 January 2014
Herald (Zimbabwe), Opinion
You definitely know something is wrong when a woman is robbed of a mango she is eating at gunpoint.
This is the ridiculous incident that occurred recently along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway.
It could be normal though, but only in a society where everyone owns a gun. But Zimbabwe has one of the most functional firearms regulation policies in the world.
The regulation of guns in the country is typically categorised as "restrictive". It is a policy which many... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Officials Admit Civilians 'Not Vetted Before Getting Guns'
9 January 2014
Standard (Nairobi)
The Chief Firearms Licensing Officer in the police force, Francis Mwangi Wanjohi has revealed there is no thorough vetting done before guns are issued to civilians.
Wanjohi blamed the situation on the coming in of the new Constitution and admitted a number of applicants had been given licences to own guns before being vetted as required by law. He said unlike in the past when applicants used to be vetted through a rigorous process, the situation changed with the... (GunPolicy.org)
Number of Guns Confiscated at US Airports Jumped by 20 Percent in 2013
8 January 2014
Huffington Post (USA)
From Jan. 1st to Dec. 26th in 2013, the TSA saw a 20 percent increase from the previous year in the amount of guns it confiscated in the U.S. from passengers trying to smuggle them into their carry-ons.
In 2013, a total of 1,828 guns - the highest amount recorded since the TSA began tracking smuggled firearms - were confiscated across the nation's airports, according to a recently released analysis of TSA data by the Medill National Security Journalism Initiative.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Honduras Police Seized Over 2,000 Firearms in 2013 [ES]
5 January 2014
La Tribuna (Honduras)
[Translated summary: Honduras Police seized over 2,000 last year according to authorities. Firearms offences are subject to penalties of between 6-60,000 lempiras.]
JUTICALPA, Olancho - Por diversas causas, los agentes de la Policía Nacional Preventiva decomisaron más de 2,000 armas de fuego el año pasado, confirmó el subcomisionado Gustavo Sánchez, comandante de la Jefatura Departamental Número 115, con asiento en esta ciudad.
Agregó que el proceso a seguir... (GunPolicy.org)
Bahamas Govt Considers Removing Bail for Gun Crimes
31 December 2013
Jamaica Observer
NASSAU, Bahamas – The Bahamas government says it is considering legislation that would impose additional restrictions on the ability of judges to grant bail in offences involving crimes of violence and the use of firearms.
Prime Minister Perry Christie said Cabinet had discussed the crime situation in the country, particularly in light of the weekend drive-by killings of four people in the Fox Hill area.
Christie said the police would escalation "saturation patrols"... (GunPolicy.org)
Russian Wedding Motorcade Stopped After Report of Shooting
22 December 2013
RIA Novosti (Russia)
MOSCOW – Moscow police on Sunday stopped a 12-car wedding motorcade in the south of the Russian capital after receiving a complaint that shots were being fired from the cars, a police spokesman said.
Thirty-five people from the procession were checked and taken to a police station. One of them, a 29-year-old resident of the Moscow Region, handed police a rubber-bullet pistol. All but the man with the handgun, who police said had fired a few shots into the air, were... (GunPolicy.org)
Chinese Politician Jailed for Illegal Gun Possession, Bribery
20 December 2013
Xinhua
GUANGZHOU - A former political advisor of Shenzhen City was sentenced to 14 years behind bars for bribery and holding illegal weapons by a court in south China's Guangdong Province on Friday.
Huang Zhiguang, former vice chairman of the Shenzhen Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, took bribes in exchange for promotions, Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court ruled.
He also helped Zhan, president of a local company, with his business,... (GunPolicy.org)
Libya Criminalises Gun Ownership But Critics Question Enforcement
19 December 2013
Magharebia (USA)
TRIPOLI — Libya's General National Congress (GNC) on Sunday (December 15th) passed a law criminalising possession of all kinds of weapons, light and heavy, as well as explosives.
The new legislation states that if weapons are not handed over within 90 days, the person will be liable to a prison sentence between three to 10 years and a fine of up to 20,000 Libyan dinars. A financial incentive to be assessed by the defence ministry will also be granted to those who... (GunPolicy.org)
Trinidad Man Sentenced Over $10 Shooting
18 December 2013
Trinidad and Tobago Express
Jason Braithwaithe who shot a man in his both legs over $10 is expected to be sentenced today for the crime.
Braithwaithe, 35, who had been found guilty of shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Leslie Williams and possession of a gun and ammunition, will face Justice Geoffrey Henderson in the San Fernando First Court.
Williams testified that he was liming with friends at the corner of Phyllis and Stella Streets, La Romaine when Braithwaithe arrived in a... (GunPolicy.org)
Luck, Police Collaboration Nail Long-time US-Canada Gun Runners
17 December 2013
Windsor Star (Ontario), Blog
The biggest Windsor-Detroit gun-smuggling ring ever busted came crashing down because of a seatbelt.
One unbuckled belt. One routine traffic stop. A bunch of odd answers. And 16 illegal firearms hidden in a trunk.
Special Agent Brian Beardsley with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, knew he had something big the night he took a call in March 2005 from the Monroe County Sheriff's Department saying officers found 16 handguns with serial... (GunPolicy.org)
Stiffer Penalties for Firearms Smuggling Sought in Philippines
13 December 2013
Philippine Star
MANILA - A lawmaker has filed a measure that would impose stiffer penalties for firearms smuggling.
Under House Bill 2696 or the proposed "Anti-Firearms Smuggling Act of 2013," smugglers of firearms will face 12 to 20 years or even life imprisonment and fines of one to five million pesos.
"Smuggling of firearms is a dangerous but profitable criminal enterprise. It not only threatens public safety and national security but also endangers and oftentimes, results in loss... (GunPolicy.org)
Gambian Man Convicted for Illegal Gun Possession
11 December 2013
Point (Gambia)
One Gibril Bojang, a prescription for the cattle at Kanilai Family Farm, was Monday convicted by the Brikama Magistrates' Court, presided over by Magistrate S.K. Jorbateh.
Bojang was convicted on a charge of being in possession of firearm without authority.
Delivering her judgement, the trial magistrate said she understood the convict was a first-time offender, a family man and a sole breadwinner.
She said the convict was remorseful throughout the trial and if given... (GunPolicy.org)
American Fined in Fiji for Unlicensed Gun Possession, Bribery
9 December 2013
Fiji Sun
An American national has been fined $1000 after pleading guilty to one count of bribery and one count of being in possession of firearms without a licence.
Sonny David Bernard Blake appeared at the Nadi Magistrates Court yesterday and was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment suspended for five years.
He was charged with one count of bribery of public official contrary to Section 134 (1)(a)(i) of Crimes Decree No.44 of 2009.
Blake was also charged with one count of... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Updated Law Banning 3D Guns, Now Requires Licence
5 December 2013
Reuters
Unlicensed 3D printing of guns is illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison, the government said on Thursday, as it moved to address growing public concern about plastic guns.
Weapons made by printing their components are already banned under the 1968 Firearms Act, but the Home Office has updated its rules to prohibit the manufacture, sale, purchase and possession of them unless properly licensed.
The regulations also apply to individual gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Malay Police Call for Surrender of Homemade Shotguns
5 December 2013
Borneo Post
KAPIT - Police here are calling on the public to immediately surrender their homemade shotguns or bekakok.
Kapit police chief DSP Entusa Imam warned that anyone found illegally in possession of bekakok would be charged under the Firearms Act 1960.
"Once you surrender the homemade gun to the police, I can assure you that the police would not take any action against you, but once you are caught having in your possession the homemade gun, then you will be in big trouble... (GunPolicy.org)
Behind the Bloodshed - The Untold Story of America's Mass Killings
4 December 2013
USA Today, Web page
Since 2006, there have been more than 200 mass killings in the United States.
Well-known images from Newtown, Aurora and Virginia Tech capture the nation's attention, but similar bloody scenes happen with alarming frequency and much less scrutiny.
USA TODAY examined FBI data - which defines a mass killing as four or more victims - as well as local police records and media reports to understand mass killings in America.
They happen far more often than the government... (GunPolicy.org)
Irish Man Jailed After Killing Friend in Shotgun Dare After Gun Safety Fails
3 December 2013
Irish Times (Dublin)
A man who shot and killed his friend after the victim had dared him to pull the trigger of a gun has been jailed for four years.
Craig Mullarney (22) told gardaí that Kris Emmet (21), had assured him that the double-barrelled shotgun's safety catch was on. Ballistics tests on the legally held firearm over a year later found that the weapon would go off even when the safety catch was on.
Mullarney of Sheepmoor Avenue, Clonsilla, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit... (GunPolicy.org)
Puerto Rico Toughens Penalties for Celebratory Shootings
3 December 2013
Latin American Herald Tribune (Venezuela)
SAN JUAN – Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla on Monday signed two amendments to the island's gun law toughening the penalties for illegal weapons possession and for firing shots into the air, a common cause of accidents especially during the Christmas season.
"Whoever fires a weapon into the air, possesses or carries an illegal weapon, will have to serve jail time without the right to probation or to diversion programs," said Garcia Padilla upon signing the... (GunPolicy.org)
'Stand Your Ground' May Apply in Shooting Death of US Man With Alzheimer's
1 December 2013
Eurasia Review
Mistaken for a prowler, an elderly man with Alzheimer's was shot early Wednesday in rural Walker County, Georgia after approaching a house miles from his own. Authorities says the state's "stand your ground" law may apply.
An investigation continues into the death of Ronald Westbrook, 72, who was shot in rural, northern Georgia's Lookout Mountain region by Joe Hendrix, 34, around 4 am (EST) Wednesday. Westbrook was likely lost and confused when he rang Hendrix's... (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)
Philippines Introduces Tough New Law to Penalise Unlicensed Gun Owners
26 November 2013
Philippine Daily Inquirer / Cebu Daily News
Erring gun owners and holders of unlicensed firearms, beware.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) signed on Monday, the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of a new measure, which imposes stiffer penalties for illegal possession of firearms.
PNP Director General Alan Purisima approved the IRR of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and Providing Penalties for Violations.
"This is not just to standardize the regulation of... (GunPolicy.org)
Greek Army Major Sentenced Over Unlicensed Guns at Home
25 November 2013
Ekathimerini (Greece)
A Greek army major was given a suspended 20-month jail sentence after weapons and Golden Dawn-related material was found at his home.
A military tribunal in Larissa, central Greece, gave the 51-year-old a term that is suspended for three years after several unlicensed guns were found at his home.
A number of Nazi-themed books and items bearing the emblem of the 1967-74 military dictatorship were also discovered at the property.
The major also had a Golden Dawn... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Crack Down on China's Online Gun Sales
25 November 2013
Global Times (China)
Peng Di (pseudonym), an engineer from Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, did not expect to spend the rest of his life in prison or face the death penalty, for a hobby.
Despite the fact that China has many gun enthusiasts, the hobby has its risks. Peng went further than simply studying guns and decided to buy 1,300 air gun pellets online from a US vendor in 2011.
Peng was charged with smuggling ammunition after he bought over 1,000 non-military bullets from... (GunPolicy.org)
Deadly Weapons Arsenal Seized From UK Soldier Turned Drug Lord
20 November 2013
Express (UK)
This is the terrifying arsenal of weapons seized from a former army drill instructor who switched his military career for life as the boss of a multi-million pound drug cartel.
Weapons including a MAC 10 machine gun, sawn-off pump action shotgun, a Glock pistol, a Luger handgun, two revolvers plus machetes, samurai swords, stun guns and batons were found in a lock-up garage by police investigating a turf war.
The gang, led by former King's Regiment corporal Peter... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Used in Winnipeg Murder Last Registered to NYPD
19 November 2013
CP24 (Toronto)
WINNIPEG - A life sentence has been handed down to a man in Winnipeg who was convicted of shooting two men with a pistol that was last registered to the New York Police Department.
A courtroom heard Monday that a Glock nine-millimetre gun was used by Randy Murray Williams to kill Darren Joey Swampy and Lee Brady Spence in February 2011.
But the gun was not registered in Canada and the Crown admits no one knows how it got across the border.
Williams, who is 29,... (GunPolicy.org)
Canadian Court Rules Stiffer Gun Sentences Unconstitutional, Govt to Appeal
12 November 2013
Toronto Star (Ontario)
The mandatory minimum sentences for possession of firearms brought in by the Conservative government in 2008 are unconstitutional, ruled the Ontario Court of Appeal in decisions released Tuesday morning.
They are "cruel and unusual punishment" and "grossly disproportionate," found the five-judge panel unanimously.
The sentencing laws struck down are part of Section 95, covering possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm or unloaded with ammunition easily... (GunPolicy.org)
Canadian Gets 20 Months For Gun Smuggling
4 November 2013
Grand Forks Herald (Canada)
Two men who pleaded guilty to smuggling guns to Canada after being arrested in Grand Forks were sentenced last month to federal prison.
But his stepmother said undercover Mounties posing as Hell's Angels intimidated Shawn Hartnell for months to do a gun deal.
Hartnell, 30, was sentenced Oct. 17 to 20 months in federal prison, followed by two years of probation, with credit for the nine months he's served since his Feb. 5 arrest in Grand Forks.
His associate, Dylan... (GunPolicy.org)
New Gun, Security Guard Laws in Thailand Aim to Boost Tourist Safety
1 November 2013
Phuket News / Phuket Gazette
PHUKET - Gun owners with permission to carry their weapons in public may no longer do so in tourist areas, it was announced on Tuesday.
The order issued by the Royal Thai Police applies nationwide and is part of an ongoing effort to improve tourist safety.
Carrying guns in tourist areas or in areas where crowds gather is no longer allowed, Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Akanit Danpitaksat said, adding that plain clothes officers would be looking for firearms... (GunPolicy.org)
More Gun Charges Added to Indictment Against South African Star Athlete
30 October 2013
Washington Post / Associated Press
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Prosecutors accusing Oscar Pistorius of premeditated murder will add two more charges believed to relate to firing guns in public to the indictment against him, apparently to show another side to the inspiring double-amputee Olympian: Reckless and trigger-happy.
Pistorius now faces charges of murder, illegal possession of ammunition and two other counts of breaking South Africa's firearms laws in his trial in March.
Pistorius' lawyers... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Firearms Destined for Australian Crime Gangs Slip Past Customs
26 October 2013
Herald Sun (Melbourne)
Police suspect 25 major shipments of illegal firearms destined for outlaw bikie gangs and Middle Eastern organised crime groups slipped past customs checks in the past two years.
An 88kg shipment of ice, heroin and opium is also believed to have been missed by Melbourne customs officers despite the pallet they were hidden on being X-rayed, a Herald Sun investigation has discovered.
The shipments by air and sea are revealed in "missed detection" reports obtained from... (GunPolicy.org)
Malay Police Face Penalties Over Lost Guns
23 October 2013
Malay Mail (Kuala Lumpur)
KUALA LUMPUR — Putrajaya revealed today that it has taken action against 24 police officers for losing their guns over the last three years, according to deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Wan Jaafar.
Wan Junaidi said that 13 officers were slapped with disciplinary action for the offence in 2010, followed by four others in 2011 and another seven the following year.
"We may call it disciplinary action, but it is more serious than it sounds. It is more like a... (GunPolicy.org)
EU Survey Reveals Irish Gun Escalation Fears, Law Reform Considered
21 October 2013
Independent (Dublin)
Almost three-quarters of Irish people think gun crime is going to escalate, a report has found.
As the European Commission called for tighter controls on firearms including stricter licensing, it released findings of a survey which showed 71% of Irish people expect an increase in gun violence in the next five years, compared to an average of 58% across the continent.
Brussels said it wants to use new laws, including possible minimum sentencing, to tackle the threats... (GunPolicy.org)
Russian Ex-Cops Face Prison for Stealing, Selling Firearms
19 October 2013
RIA Novosti (Russia)
CHITA – Three Russian former police officers stand accused of stealing firearms from their local police depot in eastern Siberia after investigators compiled a case against them and submitted it to a court on Saturday.
In 2011, two police captains – the head of the reserve arms depot and the head of a police weapons workshop – took two hunting rifles from the depot that had been handed in to the police by their owners for temporary safekeeping, investigators in... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Sweden,Germany,United States,Australia
US Man Charged Over Internet Gun Sales to Australians
18 October 2013
Australian (Sydney) / AAP
A Kentucky man accused of selling an assault rifle and a 9mm pistol to buyers in Australia via an encrypted "deep web" website has been indicted by a grand jury in the US.
Adam Joseph Bunger, 33, will be arraigned on October 30 in the District Court in Bowling Green, Kentucky, after the jury was presented with evidence collected by Australian Federal Police and US authorities.
Bunger is accused of using the German-based website Black Market Reloaded to find buyers in... (GunPolicy.org)
New Firearms Offences Planned in South Australia Gun Crime Crackdown
14 October 2013
ABC News (Australia)
The South Australian Government said it would take more steps to crack down on gun crime.
Premier Jay Weatherill said new offences would be created and police given wide-ranging additional powers.
Under planned changes to the Firearms Act, the trafficking of firearms will become an offence, with a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
People unlawfully in possession of a loaded firearm could face a fine of $75,000 or 15 years in jail.
Mr Weatherill said police would... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Police Sting Finds One in Five Owners Incorrectly Storing Guns
13 October 2013
Age (Melbourne)
Police have seized 14 firearms and a cross bow from people who have failed to uphold firearm storage requirements in Melbourne's inner north-west.
As part of an operation targeting breaches of firearm storage, police from the North West Metro region knocked on the doors of 62 houses in northern and western suburbs to check licensed owners were storing their guns correctly.
Detective Superintendent Alan Byrnes said that nearly one in five gun owners were found... (GunPolicy.org)
In Germany, Owning a Gun is a Privilege
9 October 2013
NPR Berlin, Series
Hardy Schober stops by the cemetery near his home in Winnenenden almost every day to visit the grave of his fifteen-year-old daughter. Jana was killed by a classmate four years ago in one of the most tragic school shootings in Germany's history.
"We don't live very far from the cemetery, and I stop there and talk with her," says Schober.
He visits Jana's grave to tell her about his day, or about what's going on with the rest of their family. When he talks about her,... (GunPolicy.org)
UK Gang Armourer Jailed Over Banned Handgun, Homemade Ammo
7 October 2013
Daily Mail (UK)
An illegal armourer has been jailed for a raft of firearms and drugs offences, including possessing two handguns and hundreds of bullets.
Today at Maidstone Crown Court, Thomas Keatley, 28, of Sussex, was sentenced to nine years and four months after he was found with two handguns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, gun-making equipment and a large quantity of cannabis.
Keatley, arrested as part of an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service's anti-gun Trident... (GunPolicy.org)
South African Fined for Smuggling Firearm to Zimbabwe
7 October 2013
Herald (Zimbabwe)
A 29-year-old South African was last week fined US$400 for smuggling a CZ Pistol loaded with 15 rounds into the country through Beitbridge border post. Bucks Ridwan Anwar of 5 Middleburg, Bonker Street, South Africa, employed by FTS Logistics as a transport manager, was convicted on his own plea of guilty when he appeared before the border town's magistrate Mr Innocent Bepura charged with smuggling.
In the event that Anwar fails to pay the fine he risks imprisonment... (GunPolicy.org)
Mozambique Cops Jailed for Renting Out Guns to Criminals
2 October 2013
Agência de Informação de Moçambique
MAPUTO — The Sofala Provincial Court in central Mozambique on Monday sentenced two policemen to 12 year jail terms for hiring out police firearms to criminals.
The two policemen were Celestino Cacaue and Lazaro Saene. The latter will not be serving his jail sentence because he was shot dead last Thursday while trying to escape from Beira central prison.
According to a report in Wednesday's issue of the Maputo daily 'Noticias', the two police were in the dock... (GunPolicy.org)
Paraguay,Panama,United States,Costa Rica
Costa Rica Puts Gun Permit Applications Online
1 October 2013
Tico Times
Starting Tuesday, aspiring gun owners in Costa Rica can now obtain their permits online, part of a larger trend by the government to include more services on the web.
The head of the Public Security Ministry, Mario Zamora, made the announcement at a Tuesday press conference in the western San José neighborhood of La Sabana. Zamora noted that the system will make it easier for permit-holders and will be a law enforcement tool, tracking the country's firearms.
"The new... (GunPolicy.org)
Children and Guns: The Hidden Toll of Unintentional Shootings in the US
28 September 2013
New York Times
The .45-caliber pistol that killed Lucas Heagren, 3, on Memorial Day last year at his Ohio home had been temporarily hidden under the couch by his father. But Lucas found it and shot himself through the right eye. "It's bad," his mother told the 911 dispatcher. "It's really bad."
A few days later in Georgia, Cassie Culpepper, 11, was riding in the back of a pickup with her 12-year-old brother and two other children. Her brother started playing with a pistol his father... (GunPolicy.org)
Bolivia Enacts First Gun Control Law
19 September 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota) / El Diario
Bolivia has enacted its first firearms legislation, which may be unlikely to have a dramatic impact on the country's already low murder rate, but will at least provide the state with the tools to tackle arms trafficking.
Laying out strict limitations on who can own a weapon, the Firearms, Munitions, Explosives and Other Materials Control Law was passed on September 18 - four years after it was first proposed in 2009 - reported El Diario.
The legislation sets a six... (GunPolicy.org)
Guyana Politician Claims Crime Wave Due to Rejection of Gun Law
16 September 2013
Guyana Chronicle
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, yesterday observed that while the political opposition is busy voicing deep concern over the recent upsurge in gun-related crimes, they were the ones who recently teamed up against the Government to reject the Firearms Bill in the National Assembly.
Speaking at a People's Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C) press briefing at Freedom House in Georgetown, and in the presence of Home Affairs Minister, Clement... (GunPolicy.org)
Former Swiss Cop Convicted for Selling Illegal Machine Guns
16 September 2013
Local (Switzerland) / 20 Minutes (Geneva)
A former Basel police detective received a ten-month suspended jail sentence on Monday for using his position to acquire and re-sell illegal machine guns, firearms, hand grenades and other accessories.
The 51-year-old, who worked for the cantonal police force for 20 years, was authorized to order guns and other weapons, according to an online report from 20 Minutes newspaper.
However, he took advantage of his position to order firearms, which he paid for with his own... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexican Drug Cartel Leader's Assault Rifle Traced to US Felon Gun Seller
12 September 2013
San Antonio Express-News (Texas)
An assault rifle seized during the July arrest of one of Mexico's most violent drug lords — Miguel Angel "Z-40" Treviño Morales — has been traced to a shady gun seller whose Spring Branch home was searched last week and netted what authorities said was a "small arsenal."
More than 10,000 rounds of ammunition, 76 guns and $15,000 in cash were seized from Manuel "Manny" Rodriguez, 65, who was sentenced in 2002 to 47 months in the federal penitentiary after being... (GunPolicy.org)
US Cop Among Brothers Charged in Gun Trafficking Case
6 September 2013
New York Times
A New York City police officer and his two brothers, one of whom is also a law enforcement agent, smuggled military-grade firearms capable of piercing body armor and shooting down airplanes to the Philippines, prosecutors said on Friday.
Prosecutors said that the officer, Rex G. Maralit, joined his brothers, Wilfredo Maralit, a Customs and Border Protection officer at Los Angeles International Airport, and Ariel Maralit, who lives in the Philippines, in the smuggling... (GunPolicy.org)
NYPD Cop, Brothers Accused Of Gun-Trafficking to Philippines
6 September 2013
Newsday (New York)
An NYPD officer and two of his brothers were charged in federal court in Brooklyn on Friday with unlicensed international trafficking in high-powered weaponry including combat-style assault rifles and long-range sniper rifles.
Rex Maralit, 44, an officer in the Equal Employment Opportunity office at NYPD headquarters, was charged along with Wilfredo Maralit, 48, a Customs and Border Patrol officer at Los Angeles airport, and Ariel Maralit, 43, who lives in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Guatemala Introduces Pre-Trial Jail for All Accused of Gun Charges
4 September 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Anybody caught carrying a gun in Guatemala will go straight to jail following an amendment to the criminal code, though it is questionable to what extent this will positively impact citizen security.
Guatemala's Congress passed an amendment to Article 264 of the country's Code of Criminal Procedure so that anyone detained on suspicion of major crimes including murder, kidnapping and carrying unregistered guns will automatically go into pre-trial detention. Previously... (GunPolicy.org)
Bosnia & Herzegovina Holds Civilian Amnesty Ahead of New Gun Law
2 September 2013
Eurasia Review / Southeast European Times
The problem of illegal weapons remaining from 1990s conflict is still significant in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the entire region, while the countries of the western Balkans are trying to persuade citizens to surrender illegal weapons they possess.
A new law on amnesty for possession of illegal weapons that the Republika Sprksa assembly adopted will be in force starting Sunday (September 1st) and citizens will be able to pass their illegal weapons to authorities... (GunPolicy.org)
Top Botswana Cop in Gun Licence Scam
30 August 2013
Mmegi (Botswana)
A top ranking police officer (name known to this publication) has been implicated in a gun licencing scandal after he allegedly obtained firearm licence unprocedurally. A suspended officer at the Arms and Registry Department implicated the officer, alleging that he unofficially obtained the gun licence using his authority. The suspended sergeant, who is now facing charges of official corruption through abuse of office, had been at the time in charge of issuing approved... (GunPolicy.org)
Officials Foil Gun Smuggling Plan in Ireland
23 August 2013
Irish Examiner (Dublin)
Gardaí and customs in Cork have foiled a plan to smuggle guns to an organised crime gang after they seized two weapons and arrested a man for questioning about the arms find.
Gardaí together with customs officers raided a number of houses in the White's Cross area outside Cork city early yesterday morning and recovered two handguns and a small quantity of ammunition.
Gardaí believe the guns and ammunition had been delivered in recent days to the Cork addresses by... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Govt Collects Over 6,700 Illegal Arms
22 August 2013
Global Times (China)
The government of Nepal has collected over 6,700 illegal arms used by the citizens as well as criminals after issuing public notices to surrender the weapons, Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed on August 22.
"As of Thursday, the number of arms brought under the government's control has reached 6,745 units," Uddab Bhattarai, a Ministry spokesperson, told Xinhua.
The arms include rifle, homemade gun, pistol and revolver, said Bhattarai, adding that they were... (GunPolicy.org)
Uruguay Govt Passes Draft Law Banning Some Guns, Ammo [ES]
21 August 2013
La Red 21 (Uruguay)
[Translated summary: The Uruguay Government has passed a draft law which bans the possession and carrying of firearms and ammunition that have not been approved by the Ministries of Interior and Defence. Weapons and dealers must be registered with authorities, as unregistered weapons may be seized. The penalties for arms trafficking and altering either weapons or markings have been increased.]
El proyecto contó con los votos afirmativos de la bancada del Frente... (GunPolicy.org)
US Convicted Murderer's Case For Gun Control
21 August 2013
Atlantic (USA)
It was swift and cowardly.
Defenseless, distracted by music, Alex sat in the passenger seat of the rental as I made my way to the trunk. I remembered Frankie's words: "It's loaded, cocked, and the safety is off. All you have to do is pull the trigger."
At that point in our lives, Alex and I, both in our early twenties, were gun-toting thugs immersed in gangster culture. We were out on bail for separate gun charges. A few years before, Alex had been acquitted of murder... (GunPolicy.org)
Push to Rid Jamaica Police Stations of Illegal Guns Stalls
18 August 2013
Gleaner (Jamaica)
The national security minister's push to eliminate the potentially dangerous practice of stockpiling seized guns at police stations has jammed.
The Sunday Gleaner has learnt that an islandwide audit, which is the first phase of moving the guns out of the stations, has stalled, leaving dozens of weapons close to the hands of cops, who have long been accused of planting illegal weapons to make cases against suspects.
In 2012, National Security Minister Peter Bunting... (GunPolicy.org)
Tougher Gun Law Sparks Hope For Lower Violent Crime Rate in Albania
16 August 2013
Southeast European Times
Albanian officials hope that the new law on the illegal possession of weapons will lead to a lower violent crime rate.
The new penal code, which came into law in June, increases the sentence for people convicted of illegal possession of weapons from three years maximum to three to eight years in prison. The new law also mandates that a sentence of no less than 10 years in prison be given to those who use weapons illegally in public places.
Police say that more than... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Call For Tougher Penalties Under Ghana's Gun Law
16 August 2013
Spy Ghana (Ghana)
The police have called for sweeping changes to the country's laws on guns to adequately punish people who obtain them illegally.
DCOP Augustine Gyening, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, said the availability of drugs and weapons poses a major challenge to law enforcement agents in the country.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Police Visibility and Accessibility Department in Kumasi on Wednesday, the police chief noted that "this is what is fueling the commission... (GunPolicy.org)
Tougher Gun Laws for Australian State Three Years in the Making
14 August 2013
ABC News (Australia)
Tougher security requirements for Tasmanians storing guns at home are expected to feature in a raft of amendments to the state's gun laws.
It follows revelations from police that 250 firearms have been stolen in Tasmania in the past year, one sixth of the national total, despite the state having only 2 per cent of the population.
Police have also revealed they are investigating the state's firearms database and licensing process after the spike in gun crime.
It comes... (GunPolicy.org)
Death of Child Puts Focus on Celebratory Gunfire in US
11 August 2013
Washington Post
MIDLOTHIAN, Virginia — When a stray bullet pierced the top of Brendon Mackey's head, the 7-year-old was on his way to a July Fourth fireworks celebration with his dad and other family members. He died the next day in a Richmond hospital, a bullet lodged at the base of his skull, sparking a methodical, door-to-door search for a most elusive killer: celebratory gunfire.
Police believe someone fired a shot into the air within a 5,200-foot radius of Brendon. Witnesses... (GunPolicy.org)
In Malaysia: Guns Tough to Get - But Not on Black Market
8 August 2013
Straits Times (Singapore)
It is not easy to buy firearms legally in Malaysia and some say it is easier to get one on the black market.
Someone who wants to buy a gun has to obtain a permit from a local police station, which can take up to two years.
Mr Kamis Yunos, a weapon sales executive in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, said the company has few walk-in customers given the strict requirements. Demand for weapons mainly comes from government or quasi-government agencies such as the Customs and... (GunPolicy.org)
In Indonesia: Challenge is to Keep Out Illegal Guns
8 August 2013
Straits Times (Singapore)
Money may be the only constraint when it comes to owning a gun in Indonesia - illegally.
To own it legally, strict prerequisites apply. One must be physically and mentally fit, not bad-tempered - based on a psychology test at the national police headquarters - and between age 21 and 65, with no criminal record.
Police will also evaluate the need for owning a gun before granting a permit. High-ranking civil servants and senior managers at private firms may be... (GunPolicy.org)
In the Philippines: Gun Culture is Deep-Rooted, More Gun Control Wanted
8 August 2013
Straits Times (Singapore)
Visitors to the Philippines often do a double take at the signs outside restaurants, shops and office buildings requesting that firearms be deposited before entering.
It is a vivid reflection of this country's deep-rooted gun culture. Although there is no constitutional right to bear arms, civilians may own firearms, and even assault rifles.
There are 1.2 million registered firearms in the Philippines and 600,000 more with expired licences, according to police... (GunPolicy.org)
In Singapore: Stiff Penalties For Unlawful Gun Possession
8 August 2013
Straits Times (Singapore)
Gun control laws in Singapore are among the strictest in the world.
The two main statutes governing firearms are the Arms Offences Act and the Arms and Explosives Act.
They spell out tough penalties for both illegal possession and unlawful use of guns.
For instance, anyone caught unlawfully possessing a gun or ammunition can be jailed for between five and 10 years, and given at least six strokes of the cane, according to the Arms Offences Act.
Anyone caught using an... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Law Reform in Venezuela - Part 1 of 2
7 August 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Last month President Nicolas Maduro signed into law a disarmament bill that has gone under various revisions within the National Assembly since 2010. The law signifies an important attempt by the Venezuelan government and legislature to control the flow of arms in the country. In this post we look at the evolution of the law, the conflicts that the law has produced (both between the opposition and the government and within Chavista ranks), and provide a summary of the... (GunPolicy.org)
'Pillar Of The Community' Lived Double Life as UK Gangland Gun Dealer
6 August 2013
Daily Mail (UK)
A Tory candidate has been jailed for 16 years for selling submachine guns he smuggled from Serbia to drugs gangs in Britain.
Marcus Simpson, who narrowly missed out on being elected to his local council, offered gangsters a 'menu' of weapons that included a Scorpion submachine gun, a laser-sighted assault rifle and Walther PPKs, plus silencers and ammunition.
Simpson, 42, was a Conservative candidate for Corby, Northamptonshire, in the 2011 local elections. He lost by... (GunPolicy.org)
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)
Angola Authorities Collect Over 4,000 Guns in Five Years [FR]
5 August 2013
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
[Translated summary: Authorities in the Bengo province of Angola have collected 4,944 firearms in the last five years as part of a civilian disarmament program.]
CAXITO, Angola - Quatre mille 944 armes à feu, dont 3.355 de marque AKM, ont été collectées au cours de cinq dernières années dans la province de Bengo, dans le cadre du processus de désarmement de citoyens en possession illégale de fusils.
Le bilan du rapport hebdomadaire du commandement provincial... (GunPolicy.org)
Amnesty Begins for Unlicensed Guns in West Australia
1 August 2013
WA Today (Australia)
Gun owners in Western Australia with unlicensed firearms have three months to hand them in without facing charges.
The state government launched a firearms amnesty on Thursday and will run the program until the end of October.
As long as the firearms have not been stolen or used in criminal activities, people will be immune from prosecution.
Police Minister Liza Harvey said it was the first amnesty in WA since 2006.
"This is the time to act because, outside the... (GunPolicy.org)
Indian Officials Identify Unlicensed Gun Owners in Campaign
29 July 2013
Times of India
KOCHI - The district administration has identified over 100 persons in the district who own guns without licences. As most of them have neither renewed their licence nor surrendered their guns for the past three years, the district administration has decided to take immediate action and resolve this issue.
First, a list of those who are yet to renew their applications will be prepared and sent to taluk offices concerned. According to rules, gun licences should be... (GunPolicy.org)
Thousands of Guatemalans Arrested Over Illegal Guns [ES]
25 July 2013
El Semanario (Mexico)
[Translated summary: Over 4,100 people have been arrested in Guatemala for illegal weapons possession since January 2012 as authorities consider law reform to increase penalties. Official data shows 14,090 people are licensed to carry guns while a new strategy to disarm criminal groups is under way. 90% of homicides are gun-related and 80% of victims are between 14 - 24 years old.]
Guatemala, Guatemala.- El ministro de Gobernación de Guatemala, Mauricio López... (GunPolicy.org)
Americans' Disregard for Foreign Gun Laws Often Ends Badly (2 of 2)
24 July 2013
KSL (Utah)
SALT LAKE CITY — A 19-year-old is now banned from Canada after she and a friend drove across the border by accident.
Tatiana McEwan and one of her girlfriends took their first road trip to Washington. For protection, her friend's boyfriend stashed a handgun in McEwan's car. When the teens unexpectedly found themselves at the Canadian border, their car was searched.
Finding the handgun, the patrolmen didn't believe the girls were merely lost.
"We're two 19-year-olds... (GunPolicy.org)
Americans' Disregard for Foreign Gun Laws Often Ends Badly (1 of 2)
23 July 2013
Winnipeg Free Press (Manitoba)
A major with the U.S. Air Force is expected to be released from custody later today or Wednesday after being arrested June 26 for smuggling guns into Canada.
Maj. Christopher Doyle Sanders, 46, is facing several charges of smuggling under the Customs Act and weapons charges after he was stopped at the Emerson border crossing June 26.
Provincial court Judge Dale Schille agreed earlier this afternoon to a joint recommendation from Crown and defence counsel for Sanders'... (GunPolicy.org)
Ghanaian Chief Arrested for Alleged Gun-Running After Robbery
17 July 2013
Ghanaian Chronicle
A middle aged man, who identified himself as the regent of Manso Asuboa, near Akim Oda in the Eastern Region, is in the grips of the Dansoman Police in Accra allegedly for gun-running.
Nana Kwesi Addo, alias Black Man, 55, was picked up together with George Doodo, 37, Joseph Ewudzie, 23, Dennis Nana Poku, 24, all said alleged to be armed robbers.
According to the Commander of the Dansoman Divisional Police, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Kwodwo Antwi Tabi, the... (GunPolicy.org)
Boy Guilty of Manslaughter in Fiji After Shooting 6-Year-Old
17 July 2013
Stuff (New Zealand)
A Fiji court has found a 10-year-old boy guilty of the manslaughter of a 6-year-old New Zealand child killed in a shooting last year.
The 10-year-old's father has been ordered to pay F$2500 (NZ$1680) court costs and to ensure the good behaviour of the child for seven years until he becomes an adult.
Mohammed Khubeb Khan, 6, of Auckland, and a 14-year-old cousin, Mohammed Nabil Khan, were hit by a bullet as they were playing at a new house on the outskirts of Lautoka... (GunPolicy.org)
Cops Arrested in South Africa Over Gun Licence Scam
15 July 2013
Independent/IOL Daily News (South Africa)
JOHANNESBURG - Two police brigadiers were suspended on Sunday for their alleged involvement in a gun scandal in which allegations of bribery, dealing in stolen military ammunition and forging export permits have emerged.
Brigadier Mathapelo Merriam Mangwane, section head of the Central Firearms Registry (CFR), and Brigadier Hlamane Elias Mahlabane, section head of firearm compliance, were suspended from duty without pay "for their involvement in corrupt... (GunPolicy.org)
South Africa Suspends Two Firearms Officials Over Registry Scandal
15 July 2013
SouthAfrica.info
Two senior police officers have been suspended following a wide-ranging investigation into corruption in South Africa's Central Firearm Registry, the police confirmed on Monday.
The suspensions follow recent media reports alleging corruption after an ex-employee at a gun shop said that he bribed officers at the registry in order to fast-track the issuing of gun licences.
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesman Solomon Makgale said that Mathapelo Mangwane, a... (GunPolicy.org)