Gun Policy News
Firearm violence, gun control and small arms
Philippines: License fo Carry Extended to 10 Years
18 May 2022
CNN
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a new law extending the validity of firearm registration and licenses to carry them up to ten years.
Under Republic Act 11766, these can be renewed every five years or ten years "at the option of the licensee, which shall be reckoned from the birthdate of the said licensee, unless sooner revoked or suspended."
Failure to renew the license on or before the date of expiration will cause its revocation and of the firearm's... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Law Extends Validity of Firearm Licenses
17 May 2022
Philippines News Agency
President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed a law extending the validity of the license to possess firearms and ammunition.
Republic Act (RA) No. 11766, signed by Duterte on May 6, extends the validity of the license to possess firearms and ammunition from two years to five or 10 years, amending RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
"All licenses to possess a firearm, regardless of type or classification, shall be renewed every five years... (GunPolicy.org)
314 Loose Firearms Surrendered in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines
24 August 2021
SunStar (Philippines)
The number of loose firearms the government has recovered through the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) program has increased to 314, as the implementation of the program was expanded to the province of Tawi-Tawi.
About 70 loose firearms were surrendered in two Tawi-Tawi towns, as the government launched Sunday, August 22, the SALW program in the province, said Police Colone Bonard Briton, Tawi-Tawi provincial police director.
The remaining 244 loose firearms were... (GunPolicy.org)
Hunting Permits for 3,500 Firearms Revoked
19 August 2020
MalayMail (Malaysia)
Hunting permits for 3,500 firearm licensees have been revoked, said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador.
He said the revocation of the licences was made to stop illegal poaching activities which appeared to be rampant in the country.
"We have issued about 8,500 firearm licences and out of that number, 3,500 holders have been disqualified for hunting while the rest will be withdrawn in stages.
"However, we will allow it (firearm licences) with... (GunPolicy.org)
The Gun Culture Underlying Thailand's First Mass Shooting
19 February 2020
Reuters
Normally serene Thailand has been on edge since a rogue soldier went on the rampage in a northeastern city this month, killing 29 people in a shooting spree that ended in a standoff with police at a shopping mall.
Ten days later, a man walked into a clinic in a busy Bangkok shopping mall and gunned down his ex-wife before fleeing the scene. He was later arrested.
The killings, along with several other high-profile gun crimes, have called attention to the high rate of... (GunPolicy.org)
Aftermath of Thailand's Worst Mass Shooting
17 February 2020
al Jazeera
Korat, Thailand - The day of horror started like any other Saturday for Tanatit, "Tok", 43, a moto-taxi driver who works in front of Nakhon Ratchasima's Terminal 21 shopping centre.
He was sitting with a group of other riders - making light of another busy day - chatting, laughing between rides. The men could not have known they were about to witness a massacre.
"He just walked up and started shooting. He killed two people right here," Tok told Al Jazeera, pointing to... (GunPolicy.org)
The Underlying Trends of the Korat Mall Massacre
17 February 2020
Channel News Asia
BANGKOK: The mass shooting at the Terminal 21 mall in Thailand's Nakhon Ratchasima (or Korat) over the weekend is unprecedented in Thailand.
It raises serious questions about the security of arms in the Royal Thai Armed Forces. It also sheds light on corruption in the armed forces and on Thailand's gun culture in general.
The assailant killed at least 29, including civilians, soldiers and police responders and wounded scores more with a staggering amount of firepower... (GunPolicy.org)
Business Spat Behind Mass Shooting
10 February 2020
New York Times
BANGKOK — Thailand's army commander said Tuesday the soldier who killed 29 people in a shooting rampage had not been treated fairly in a land deal involving his commander and such arrangements would have to be halted.
The gunman killed his superior officer and the officer's mother-in-law, stole weapons and a vehicle and headed to a popular shopping mall in a northeastern city where he holed up for hours before security officers killed him.
Gen. Apirat Kongsompong... (GunPolicy.org)
Stockpile Security Lapses in Thai Mass Shooting
10 February 2020
Voice of America
NAKHON RATCHASIMA, THAILAND - It's still unclear how a Thai soldier managed to steal heavy weapons from an army base which he then used to kill 29 people and hold off security forces for almost 16 hours while he was holed up in a popular shopping mall.
That he could is less surprising, say experts in military matters.
The question has a special sting because the country's tough-talking army commander just a few weeks ago gave a high-profile interview in which he said... (GunPolicy.org)
Thai Soldier Kills 29 in Mall Mass Shooting
9 February 2020
New York Times
KORAT, Thailand — The authorities killed the gunman near the cold storage refrigerators of the Foodland supermarket in the mall he terrorized during Thailand's deadliest mass shooting.
It was just before 9 local time on Sunday morning — 18 hours after he fired the first shots in a relentless spree that left at least 29 people dead and 58 injured in the city of Korat, northeast of Bangkok.
Thailand's prime minister said the rampage started with a real estate... (GunPolicy.org)
At least 20 Dead in Thai Mall Mass Shooting
8 February 2020
Washington Post
BANGKOK — A Thai soldier rampaged through a bustling shopping mall and a nearby army camp on Saturday afternoon, killing at least 20 people, authorities said, in a shooting he partly live-streamed on Facebook.
The chaotic violence triggered a tense standoff with the gunman, who was holed up in the mall into the early morning darkness. The alleged shooter, toting an assault rifle and clad in camouflage and a helmet, was identified by authorities as 32-year-old... (GunPolicy.org)
Chinese Arms Smuggled to Myanmar Armed Groups Via Laos
28 January 2020
Asia Times
In recent months, Asian intelligence officials and well-placed ethnic sources have confirmed to Asia Times that much of the Chinese weaponry purchased by the UWSA [United Wa State Army] since 2011 has been channeled through neighboring Laos.
Official end-user certificates (EUCs) issued to cover exports by state-run manufacturers such as North China Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO) and China National Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (responsible for... (GunPolicy.org)
9 June 2019
Bangkok Post
"If you have a gun, shoot me," shouted Preecha Kunthong before he was hit with several bullets between the eyes and killed on May 19 in Saraburi's Muang district while buying a packet of instant coffee.
The 59-year-old man, who had that morning gone to breakfast with a friend at the local market, allegedly fell into an argument with the shooter as he stood in line at a convenience store opposite Saraburi Hospital.
This story isn't an unusual one in the country with... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Culture and Data in Thailand
12 March 2019
Channel News Asia (Singapore)
Gun homicides in Thailand are striking. To prevent them we should look beyond the numbers and headlines at what is fuelling these incidents, says research director for the University of Sydney's Gunpolicy.org, Michael Picard.
BANGKOK: Thailand arguably has a gun problem, but sensational headlines about the country being a regional, even global, leader of gun violence are misleading and dubious.
Though it's difficult to know the extent of the issue for sure, both... (GunPolicy.org)
Thousands of Homemade Guns Collected by Vietnamese Authorities
5 July 2018
Thanh Nien
In recent years, Quang Nam has had many traumatic accidents, affecting the lives and health of its citizens due to homemade guns.
4 July 2018 - the Police Department of Public Administration (PC64) in Quang Nam province handed over a large amount of weapons and dangerous objects to the Department of Police - Technical Security of the province for destruction.
Included are: 1,139 alcohol/air guns, 272 homemade guns, 54 military guns, 63 knives, 289 parts and... (GunPolicy.org)
Smuggled Military Weapons Seized Near Thai-Cambodian Border
18 April 2018
Nation (Bangkok)
Thai authorities have arrested a man suspected of smuggling illegal weapons from Cambodia to Thailand, according to Cambodian National Police.
On Tuesday night, Thai authorities intercepted a vehicle at a checkpoint in Klaing Yai district, in Thailand's Trat province, about 50 kilometres from Cambodia's Cham Yeam checkpoint, a Cambodian National Police website announcement reads.
The weapons seized included two that appear to be Chinese-made Type-95 assault rifles,... (GunPolicy.org)
ISIS Links to Gun Smuggling in Malaysia
20 November 2017
Straits Times (Singapore)
With the rise of extremists in Malaysia, a new insidious form of smuggling has emerged - sneaking in guns for militants.
Malaysian police have increased raids against local terror cells in recent years, but the inflow of arms has not been eradicated due to the many Malaysia-Thai cross-border smuggling routes, officials say.
Asked whether firearms were among the smuggled goods commonly seized, Malaysian Border Security Agency director-general Mohamad Ismail told The... (GunPolicy.org)
Interview on Illicit Firearms in Myanmar
21 October 2017
The Irrawaddy
Ye Ni: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy. This week, we'll discuss the current talk of the town—the arrest of U Phyo Ko Ko Tint San who was found with firearms and illegal drugs at Naypyitaw Airport. Lawyer U Than Zaw Aung (TZA) and The Irrawaddy Burmese editor U Yan Paing join me to discuss this. I'm Irrawaddy Burmese editor Ye Ni…
TZA: There were gun licenses issued under the BSPP government starting from 1977 but only to those who were fully-fledged party members... (GunPolicy.org)
Cambodians Nabbed for Weapons Smuggling
24 July 2017
Cambodia Daily
Cambodian police on Saturday arrested three nationals in connection with an alleged weapons smuggling attempt that netted five Thai nationals across the border last week, officials said on Sunday.
"Three were arrested yesterday in Banteay Meanchey province in connection with weapons smuggling," National Police spokesman Kirth Chantharith said on Sunday before declining to answer any more questions.
However, Ben Sam Ath, police chief of Banteay Meanchey's Malai... (GunPolicy.org)
Cambodia, Thailand Investigate Arms Smuggling
23 June 2017
Khmer Times
Cambodia and Thailand are now working together to investigate weapons being smuggled from Cambodia to Myanmar via Thailand after a cache was recently confiscated by the Thai military in Thailand's Trat province.
Speaking at the inauguration for the new provincial governor in border province Koh Kong on Friday, Interior Minister Sar Kheng said National Police Commissioner General Neth Savoeun was working with Thailand's Police Commissioner General to investigate the... (GunPolicy.org)
Firearm Smuggling on the Thai-Cambodian Border
20 June 2017
ASEAN Today
Cambodia's Defense Ministry may have blood on their hands. The Thai media have claimed they are directly involved in arms smuggling. The Thai media made the claims after Thai authorities found a weapons cache in a vehicle in the Trat province of Thailand. They assert that the weapons may be linked to Cambodian Defense Minister, Tea Banh.
The Cambodian Defense Ministry are investigating the issue. However, the recent spate of arrests suggests that the problem is not... (GunPolicy.org)
Cambodian Authorities Destroy Homemade Guns from Amnesty
14 June 2017
Khmer Times
Police in Preah Vihear province have collected 378 homemade rifles since launching a gun amnesty at the start of the year.
Deputy provincial police chief Colonel Sam Sameoun said officers had spoken to people in the area to educate them about illegal weapon possession, warning that homemade guns often malfunction, injuring or killing their owners.
Following the outreach work, he said officers managed to convince many residents to hand in their homemade rifles,... (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)
Prominent Assassination with Military Firearm in Myanmar
2 February 2017
New York Times
YANGON, Myanmar — The soft-spoken rights lawyer had devised a plan to replace Myanmar's Constitution with one that would strip the military of its extraordinary political powers.
The lawyer, U Ko Ni, a top adviser to the governing National League for Democracy, had recently been working on a new draft, a colleague said, and he hoped to promote his project at a conference this month.
But when he returned to the Yangon airport on Sunday from a trip to Indonesia,... (GunPolicy.org)
Malaysia Reports 445 Gun Homicides Since 2008 - Minister
14 November 2016
Free Malaysia Today (Malaysia)
There have been 445 murders using firearms over the last eight years, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
In a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat today, he said the highest number of murders took place in 2013 with 95 cases, while the lowest numbers were recorded in 2011 with 36 cases.
He was asked by Sim Chee Keong (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) on the number of firearm-linked murders.
Zahid said there were 38 firearm-linked murders in 2008, 45 in 2009, 53 in 2010, 68 in... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines,United States,Russia
Philippines Will Buy Guns from Russia if US Won't Oblige [FR]
3 November 2016
TRT (Turkey)
[Translated summary: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he'll turn to Russia if the United States refuses to sell M-16s to his country. The declaration was made after the US cancelled an order of assault rifles intended for Philippine Police, citing concern about violations of human rights.]
Le président philippin Rodrigo Duterte a déclaré, mercredi, qu'il solliciterait la Russie si les Etats-Unis refusent de vendre des armes à son pays.
La déclaration de... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines,United States,Russia
Philippines Will Turn to Russia if the US Won't Sell Them Guns
2 November 2016
CNN
Outspoken Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte had a blunt message for the United States after reports emerged of a potentially blocked arms sale.
"They're blackmailing me that they won't sell weapons? We have lots of explosives here," Duterte said, according to CNN Philippines.
And suggested, the country would turn to Russia for its weapons.
"[I] remember what the Russian diplomat said: Come to Russia, we all have here anything you need."
The comments were in... (GunPolicy.org)
US Senator to Halt Sale of 26,000 Assault Rifles to Philippines
1 November 2016
Guardian
The US state department halted the planned sale of 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippines' national police amid concerns about human rights violations there, Senate aides told Reuters on Monday.
Aides said Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate foreign relations committee, said he would oppose the transaction with the long-time ally of the US.
The relationship between the two countries has been complicated lately by President Rodrigo Duterte's angry... (GunPolicy.org)
Cambodian Authorities Collect Illicit Craft Weapons
31 October 2016
Khmer Times
In an effort to improve security and public order in Prey Veng province, police on Saturday managed to convince many local residents to hand in their homemade guns, according to the National Police website.
Lieutenant Colonel Soun Sam Oeun, the Kampong Trabek district police chief, told Khmer Times that police spoke with residents throughout the district about illegal gun possession, saying the guns often malfunctioned and injured or killed their owners. Those who... (GunPolicy.org)
Assault Weapons Seized from Trafficking Group in Philippines
15 October 2016
The Standard (Philippines)
A shipment of about 6,700 rounds of ammunition for high-caliber arms and assault rifles from Metro Manila to Mindanao was intercepted by police and military agents at a port in Cagayan de Oro Thursday, law enforcement officials said Friday.
Two handlers of the cargo and a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were arrested after the shipment—thousands of M60 caliber bullets and four rounds for the M203 grenade launchers—was seized.
This was the second... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Dismantle Massive Online Gun Market in Thailand
18 September 2016
Bangkok Post
Police have cracked a massive online market in firearms, including high-powered war weapons and assault equipment, in a series of lightning raids across the country.
In early morning action on Saturday on 76 locations in many provinces, a combined taskforce of officers from three police divisions detained 20 suspects and seized 141 firearms.
The raids were launched after it emerged that teenage students were buying firearms through social media and then committing... (GunPolicy.org)
Deadly Shootings in Vietnam Expose Gun Control Loopholes
30 August 2016
Voice of America
The recent shooting deaths of two Vietnamese officials, allegedly committed by a lone forest ranger in the remote northern province of Yen Bai, have drawn public attention to rising cases of gun violence in the Southeast Asian nation.
One high-ranking lawmaker was quoted by local media as saying during a meeting convened by the parliamentarian Committee on Defense and Security following the deadly shootings that, "there seems to be loopholes in gun control in... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,China,Germany,United Kingdom,France,Russia,Spain,Italy,Israel,India,Saudi Arabia,United Arab Emirates,Pakistan,Australia,Turkey,Singapore,South Korea,South Sudan,Ukraine
Killer Facts: The Scale of the Global Arms Trade, Gun Totals
22 August 2016
Amnesty International (London)
Transfers of heavy conventional weapons
The top 10 exporters of conventional arms (excluding small arms/ light weapons – SALW) 2010-15
USA: US$55.006 billion
Russia: US$42.404 billion
China: US$9.943 billion
Germany: US$ 9.467 billion
France: US$ 8.932 billion
UK: US$ 7.627 billion
Spain: US$ 5.310 billion
Italy: US$ 4.360 billion
Ukraine: US$ 4.156 billion
Israel: US$ 3.280 billion
The top 10 importers of conventional arms (excluding SALWs) 2010-15
India:... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Maker Gains Recognition for Indonesian Assault Rifle
8 August 2016
Jakarta Post
The Pindad SS1-V1 left not only a definite hole in the US Marine Corps' body armor, but also a big impression on participants of the recent Rim of Pacific joint military training in the Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base, Hawaii.
Admiration for the Indonesian-made assault rifle was sparked during a zeroing test on July 10. A zeroing test, conducted at a range of 25 meters, measures the power of each participating corps before the joint training begins.
Major Indra Fauzi... (GunPolicy.org)
Permits for Guns Made Easier, Quicker in the Philippines
15 July 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Getting a gun permit just became easier, with the Philippine National Police reducing the number of requirements needed and streamlining the application process to shorten the wait for its release.
PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said the 10 requirements for a license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF) have been reduced to just four: the neuro-psychiatric screening, drug test, police clearance and the RTC/MTC or NBI clearance.
"As we are streamlining the... (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)
California Lawmakers Pass Raft of Gun Control Bills
30 June 2016
Los Angeles Times
Spurred by outrage over recent mass shootings, California lawmakers on Thursday sent Gov. Jerry Brown a sweeping package of gun control bills, including a ban on the sale of semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines, background checks for those buying ammunition and new restrictions on homemade firearms.
The flood of bills was introduced in response to the December terrorist attack in San Bernardino that killed 14 people at a holiday party, but momentum for... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippine Gun Ban: 4,661 Arrested, 3,828 Firearms Seized
10 June 2016
CNN Philippines
The five-month long election gun ban has drawn to a close Wednesday midnight with 4,661 individuals arrested for violation.
According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday, most of those arrested had been civilians, numbering 4,460.
However, topping the list were uniformed personnel like security guards (58), followed by government/elected officials (37) and members of the PNP (36) and the military (21).
The ban, which began on January 10, netted a... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Ownership Among Myanmar's Chin Minority
31 May 2016
Frontier Myanmar
…Most people in Myanmar are forbidden to own guns, but the former military regime made an exception for Chin, where periods of food scarcity remain a common threat and hunting has offered a safety net.
But guns have become increasingly useless for those trying to feed their families. Outside of the state's protected areas, wild game was a rare sight, said U Ngwe Lwin, a conservationist with environmental group Fauna and Flora International.
"Hunters' lives are... (GunPolicy.org)
New Law and Order President Bans Assault Rifles in Philippines
16 May 2016
GMA News Online
Presumptive president Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said that civilians would no longer be allowed to get licenses for high-powered guns.
"I will not allow the licensing of heavy firearms. It is just a shotgun, a .22 rifle, and a short -- any caliber would do as long as it is short, shotgun, or .22," he said.
Duterte said that those who already have licenses for heavy firearms could keep them but would have to secure permits to carry for the high-powered... (GunPolicy.org)
Renew Your Firearm Licence, Urges Gun Lobby in Philippines
15 May 2016
Manila Bulletin
Owners of guns with expired licenses have been urged to renew their licenses at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Firearms and Explosive Office (FEO) in Camp Crame which has been on-going despite the current gun ban.
The call was issued by the Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines, Inc. (AFAD) in a bid to encourage delinquent gun owners to renew their licenses.
In a statement sent to Quezon City reporters, Hector Rodriguez, AFAD... (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)
Police Seize 348 Illegal Guns in Philippines Election Run-Up
4 May 2016
Sun Star Zamboanga
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-Zamboanga Peninsula has confiscated 348 illegal firearms, 21 grenades and 2,286 rounds of ammunitions in the past three months.
PRO-Zamboanga Peninsula director Miguel Antonio Jr. said they confiscated the said items because of their strict implementation of the election gun ban and "One Time Big Time" operations from January 10 until April 30, this year.
"One Time Big Time" is Philippine National Police's anti-criminality campaign... (GunPolicy.org)
Scandal Over Gun Making Daughter of Malaysian Police Chief
4 May 2016
Free Malaysia Today
PETALING JAYA -- Any denial about a possible conflict of interest regarding the firearms business licence of the daughter of the Inspector-General of Police must be looked into, says Steven Thiru.
Suggesting that the matter be investigated by the proposed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), the president of the Malaysian Bar added, "The licence to operate (a firearms business) is issued by the state police chief, who is subordinate to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Company to Launch Local Semi-auto Pistol in #Malaysia
25 April 2016
Malaysia Chronicle
"Malaysia has the best gun control laws in the world", 80-year-old golf legend Gary Player said loudly at a press conference in Miami. That was after I identified myself as a Malaysian journalist before posing my questions.
The South African went on: "Malaysia has got it right on gun control. You don't simply issue gun licences to people. Don't tell me guns don't kill people and it is people who kill people…"
That was more than six year ago. We will soon manufacture... (GunPolicy.org)
Cambodia Destroys 200 Homemade Guns
8 April 2016
Phnom Penh Post
More than 200 homemade rifles were destroyed by Pursat provincial police on Wednesday, the DIY firearms having been seized as part of a campaign spanning the past five years, provincial police chief of staff Hieng Sitha explained.
"These were a kind of homemade air gun," he said, but noted that some "use bullets, such as those fired by AK-47s, or other improvised ammunition".
He said the rifles had been used by local people for hunting and home protection.
"We... (GunPolicy.org)
More Than 200 Homemade Guns Burned in Cambodia
8 April 2016
Phnom Penh Post (Cambodia)
More than 200 homemade rifles were destroyed by Pursat provincial police on Wednesday, the DIY firearms having been seized as part of a campaign spanning the past five years, provincial police chief of staff Hieng Sitha explained.
"These were a kind of homemade air gun," he said, but noted that some "use bullets, such as those fired by AK-47s, or other improvised ammunition".
He said the rifles had been used by local people for hunting and home protection.
"We... (GunPolicy.org)
90,000 Registered Private Firearms in Malaysia
28 March 2016
Star (Malaysia)
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 89,771 Malaysians have been issued licences to bear arms ranging from rifles to stun guns.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the licences were issued as of Dec 31 last year.
"Of the number, 12,917 licences were for pistols, 1,789 for revolvers and 2,243 for rifles," he said when submitting a written reply to Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Taiping) in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.
He said licences for shotguns were the most to be issued... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Mexico,Honduras,Finland,Philippines,Thailand,United Kingdom
US Gun Smugglers Illegally Sent Firearms to 46 Countries
16 March 2016
Washington Post
Arms trafficking from within the United States, long thought to be relegated to gun-running for Mexican drug cartels, is far more extensive than previously thought, according to a new report by a weapons research group released Wednesday.
The report, published by the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, examines more than 150 court cases involving arms trafficking from within the United States from 2010-2015. Spanning 46 countries and six continents, the report details... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippine Police Firearms Chief, 14 Others Sacked Over Gun Licenses
24 February 2016
Philippine Star
MANILA – The chief of the police Firearms and Explosives Office and 14 others have been relieved and are under investigation after being implicated in the issuance of License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) for P15,000 even without the required documents.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ricardo Marquez yesterday approved the relief of FEO head Chief Supt. Elmo Francis Sarona and 14 other policemen and civilian employees linked to the... (GunPolicy.org)
A Look at Thailand's Fervent Gun Culture
19 February 2016
Deutsche Welle
Widely known as a welcoming tourist destination, Thailand is also a country awash with easily obtainable firearms, featuring one of the highest gun homicide rates in Asia. DW examines why gun ownership remains so high.
Thailand has the highest reported rate of gun-related deaths in Southeast Asia - almost 50 percent more gun homicides than the Philippines. And with 7.48 registered violent gun deaths per 100,000 people, the figure is also twice as high as that of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Vietnam Seizes 41,300 Firearms
7 January 2016
People's Army Newspaper
Representatives of the Ministries of Public Security and National Defence met in Hanoi on January 7 to review their coordination in national defence and security, and ensuring social order and safety over the past five years.
The conference was co-chaired by Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army General Do Ba Ty and Permanent Deputy Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. Dang Van Hieu.
Under the Government's Decree... (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)
Homemade Air Rifles in Vietnam
6 May 2015
Tuoi Tre News
In spite of being totally banned in Vietnam, air guns can be found and bought in Ho Chi Minh City at prices ranging from VND200,000 (US$9) to VND1 million ($46) each
Air guns have been offered for sale in Ho Chi Minh City and other localities despite the fact that purchasing and owning the items are banned in Vietnam.
The guns are manually made by individuals, mainly for hunting, and cost an average of VND200,000 (US$9) to VND1 million ($46) each, depending on the... (GunPolicy.org)
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)
Cambodia Destroys Homemade Guns
7 January 2015
Phnom Penh Post
Police in Banteay Meanchey province yesterday torched 400 homemade guns, 24 crossbows and 360 "electro-fishing" kits, with most of the haul voluntarily surrendered by villagers.
Banteay Meanchey provincial police chief Art Khem said the bonfire at Banteay Meanchey town's provincial police station followed a recent police blitz encouraging people to turnover illegal arms and hunting equipment.
"This is part of our efforts to reduce crimes such as robbery, illegal... (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)
More Than 1,600 Guns Seized by Police in Thailand
30 July 2014
Bangkok Post
Two of four men suspected of being involved in violent attacks against anti-government protesters have been arrested on firearms-related charges, police said.
Nattapan Bangla, 40, and Charoen Promchart, 38, were caught on Monday, four days after the military court issued a warrant for their arrest.
Krissada Chaikahe and Phasanai Panat, the two others named in the same warrant, are still on the loose. Mr Krissada is also wanted on a warrant approved by the Criminal... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Report 18,000 Gun Licences Left Untransferred in Metro Manila
21 July 2014
Journal (Manila), Opinion
Philippine National Police operatives implementing the Oplan Katok ordered by Director General Alan LM Purisima have made another startling discovery: more than 18,000 firearms' licenses have not been transferred in the names of their present owners since December 2012.
Records from the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office headed by Chief Superintendent Moro Virgilio M. Lazo showed that a total of 18,659 firearms' licenses have not been transferred from December 31,... (GunPolicy.org)
34,350 Seized Guns Destroyed by Royal Thai Police
15 July 2014
National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT)
BANGKOK - The Royal Thai Police destroyed 34,000 guns today under the exacting watch of an Inspector General who gave assurances that none of the confiscated weapons will again be used to commit any crimes.
Pol Lt Gen Chaiya Siriamphankul, Deputy Chief of the Inspector General's Office, oversaw the inspection and destruction of the weapons in a process that was finalized today.
Over 34,350 guns that were seized in cases judged by the courts from year 2000 to 2013,... (GunPolicy.org)
30 June 2014
Voice of America, Reuters
BANGKOK — Thailand's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on June 29 displayed tons of illegal ammunition and weapons, mainly confiscated by military task forces across Thailand between May 22 and June 25.
The NCPO said both the military and police task forces took part in raids to seize the weapons.
"Jakrapob Penkair was one of the many people who are found to have been behind the [underground] movement and are involved with these weapons," said Police... (GunPolicy.org)
Thai, Malay Authorities Combine to Combat Gun Smuggling, Cross-Border Crime
26 June 2014
Borneo Post
BUKIT KAYU HITAM - The Border Intelligence Unit (BIU) at the Malaysian-Thai border, set up by the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman last year, has seen a string of successes against cross-border crime.
Since the BIU, under Bukit Aman's Criminal Investigation Department was set up, its intelligence network has been intensified at areas suspected to the haunts of cross-border criminals.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the BIU's... (GunPolicy.org)
27,662 Guns Collected in Vietnam
20 June 2014
Thanh Nien
[Editor's note: article translated from Vietnamese into English by GunPolicy.org]
On 19 June, the Ministry of Public Security held an online conference to summarize the two-year implementation of the Law on the Management of Weapons, Explosives and Combat Gear; The Ministry of Public Security reviewed it's efforts to encourage the public to surrender illicit weapons, explosives and support instruments.
…the public voluntarily surrendered 27,662 guns of all kinds,... (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)
Top Ranking Filipino Policemen Accused of Selling High-Powered Firearms
6 June 2014
Gulf News (Dubai)
Manila - Nineteen top ranking policemen and 10 private businessmen have been accused of facilitating the sale of 1,000 high-powered firearms stolen from the Philippine National Police (PNP) to communist rebels.
An investigation is also ongoing for the alleged sale of government-issued firearms and ammunition to a separatist Filipino-Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines, sources told Gulf News.
Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, regional director of the Philippine... (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)
Hundreds of Guns Missing from Official Storage in Philippines
16 May 2014
ABS-CBN News (Manila)
MANILA, Philippines - At least 63 short firearms imported by a private gun dealer and kept in the storage facilities of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) at Camp Crame in Quezon City have been confirmed to be missing, an official said yesterday.
FEO chief Senior Superintendent Roberto Po said at least 10 FEO personnel were placed under investigation after the loss was discovered on Wednesday.
An employee of Juavi Gun Store, who... (GunPolicy.org)
Arms Smuggling and Armed Conflict in Myanmar
4 May 2014
Mizzima
The prices of weapons were cheap in the early 1990s for rebels in Myanmar and for various other groups fighting against their respective governments within the region. The cheap prices were mainly because of the end of years of conflict in Cambodia, which released to the regional market a huge amount of surplus and illegal weapons made in the United States, China and Russia.
But are they cheap now – 20 years later? How much did it cost to arm a fighter in Myanmar in... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Russia,Germany,Thailand,Kazakhstan,Italy,United States,Canada,Norway
Kalashnikov Small Arms Production in Russia More Than Doubles in 2014
28 April 2014
RIA Novosti (Russia)
MOSCOW – The Kalashnikov Concern produced 230 percent more small arms weapons in the first quarter of this year than in the year-ago period, the company's press service told RIA Novosti Monday.
"In the first three months of the year we had a record-high volume production of small arms in the amount of 31,000 items, which makes 41 percent of the total output of similar products for 2013," the company said.
"The current results are 230 percent higher than those in the... (GunPolicy.org)
1.5 Million Licensed Gun Owners in the Philippines
9 April 2014
Philippine Star
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Police were stopped yesterday from enforcing a new firearms licensing system provided under Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2013.
Issuing the temporary restraining order (TRO) in Baguio City, the Supreme Court (SC) stopped all centralized gun regulatory processes, including requirements, testing and licensing in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
SC spokesman Theodore Te said the TRO is effective... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Borrowed from Indonesian Soldier Used in Shooting
5 April 2014
Jakarta Post
Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Moeldoko on Friday offered an apology in light of the shooting of a Nasdem Party campaign post in North Aceh regency on Feb. 16, which involved the use of a TNI-issued weapon.
The two local political party supporters suspected of the crime have since been apprehended, but the results of a ballistics examination revealed that the weapon used belonged to a soldier.
"I would like to be honest about it and apologize for the... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Gun Lobby Challenges Gun Law as 'Unconstitutional'
27 March 2014
Manila Standard Today
The Supreme Court has been asked to nullify certain provisions in the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2013 for alleged violation of constitutional rights.
In separate petitions, Gun Owners in Action (GO Act) and Peaceful Respondent Owners of Guns Inc. (PRO Gun) said obtaining firearm licenses have become more difficult.
GO Act board members and licensed gun owners Eric Acosta and Nathaniel Dela Paz assailed at least five sections of the law... (GunPolicy.org)
Thai Teen Shoots, Kills Family Over Sibling Rivalry
12 March 2014
Nation (Bangkok)
A 19-year-old boy has allegedly confessed to shooting dead his parents and younger brother after he tried and failed to pass the blame on to the dead sibling, according to police.
Pol Colonel Sunthorn Himarat, a superintendent at Pathum Thani Police Headquarters, yesterday said the suspect made the confession in the face of solid evidence.
"Recordings from a closed-circuit TV system show the suspect turned off all eight security cameras at home where three... (GunPolicy.org)
60% of Licensed Guns in Philippines Have Fictitious Data
9 March 2014
Manila Times
At least 60 percent of the 1.7 million registered firearms in the country have been found using fictitious or questionable data, a dangerous situation that could lead to a proliferation of loose guns.
Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said records provided by Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed that "there are names [of firearms owners] that don't match the address, there are cases when the name and address match but... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,United States,Cambodia,Liberia,Mexico,Mozambique
Melding Guns Into Weapons of Mass Attraction – Global Picture Gallery
6 March 2014
Guardian (UK)
Art of War - Picture gallery captions:
Non-Violence, or the Knotted Gun, by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd. The bronze replica of a 45-calibre revolver, a gift from Luxembourg to the United Nations, was sculpted in memory of the Swedish artist's longtime friend John Lennon. Though not created from recycled munitions, the sculpture has been cited as one of the inspirations behind the arms-to-art movement.
Sculptor Gonçalo Mabunda recycles weapons recovered from... (GunPolicy.org)
Where Did 900 High-Powered Guns Go, Philippines Police Ask
4 March 2014
ABS-CBN News (Manila)
MANILA - The police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it is more than halfway done in its investigation on the 900 firearms that were registered with the Philippine National Police (PNP) that later went missing.
Police Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo explained that they first encountered the problem when the PNP leadership launched "Oplan Katok," a campaign focused on the accounting of licensed firearms.
"Nung hinanap namin, nawawala yung... (GunPolicy.org)
Three Home-Made Guns Found in Boat by Malaysian Authorities
5 February 2014
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
SANDAKAN - The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Sandakan district (DM17), found three home-made guns together with 23 bullets left in a boat in the Beluran waters, yesterday.
DM17 enforcement head, Kapt Maritim A.Razak Abdul Rahman said the APMM DM17 speed boat had come across a suspicious-looking boat left in the Sungai Nyamuk area without the engine and crew.
The home-made rifles or 'bakakuk' and the bullets were hidden in a compartment in the boat, he... (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)
China,Congo (DRC),Germany,United Kingdom,Myanmar,Israel,European Union,Italy,Spain,Egypt,France,Libya,Saudi Arabia
European Arms Sales to Middle East Reach Record Level, NGOs Concerned
1 February 2014
Ekklesia (UK)
European Union countries licensed arms exports in 2012 valued at €39.9 billion, according to newly released figures. This included a record €9.7 billion in sales to the Middle East – a 22 percent increase on sales in the previous year.
The statistics are revealed in the Fifteenth Annual Report on Control of Exports of Military Technology and Equipment.
The European Network Against the Arms Trade (ENAA) says that the figures show little change in arms export... (GunPolicy.org)
Myanmar's Border Police Seek Weapons Upgrade
30 January 2014
Eleven (Myanmar)
Myanmar's police on duty in conflict-prone border areas across the country have asked to be equipped with modern weaponry, citing a number of attacks on police in Maungdaw, Rakhine State.
Since 2001, police say, they have been attacked at least seven times by Muslims in Maungdaw.
A police sergeant was killed on July 11, 2001 in an attack in Thugyi Village, Maungdaw Township. The same year on November 23, an attack on Laungdon Police Station in northern Maungdaw killed... (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)
Philippines Cops Investigated Over Guns 'Released' to Civilian Groups
26 January 2014
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III has ordered an investigation into the reported release of up to 900 high-powered firearms to various groups by a unit of the Philippine National Police.
In a recent informal dinner, the President did not name the unit being investigated in Camp Crame. He only said the reported release of the firearms to police auxiliaries and private security companies seemed "excessive" so he wanted it looked into.
"A PNP unit in... (GunPolicy.org)
Malaysian Enforcement Officer Shoots at Wife After Supermarket Fight
26 January 2014
Malaysian Chronicle
KLANG - In what was believed to be a marriage-related dispute, a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency officer fired several shots at his wife after a heated argument at the Giant supermarket here today.
The 45-year-old MMEA officer then went to the Port Klang police station and surrendered his Glock pistol with a bullet magazine, said Klang Selatan police chief Assistant Commissioner Kamarul Zaman Mamat.
"It was learnt that he and his wife were at the ground floor of... (GunPolicy.org)
New Gun Law, 1,739,000 Registered Firearms in the Philippines
25 January 2014
Philippine Star
Sometime last year, when Republic Act 10591 or the New Gun law was approved, we ran a short series on it based on our interview with Major Ricardo Zapata in the interest of promoting responsible gun ownership. As the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) had not yet been published then, Major Zapata, chief of the Inspection & Enforcement Section of the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) of the PNP spoke on general terms, outlining the salient points of the... (GunPolicy.org)
US Pot Calls the Kettle Black - Criminologists Mount Spirited Defence of Cambodia
22 January 2014
Phnom Penh Post, Letter
We started our study of crime and violence in Cambodia in 1998, and after 15 years of research have completed a manuscript titled 'Violence and the civilising process in Cambodia', which should be published at the end of the year.
The book documents and discusses the types, patterns and trends of crime and violence in Cambodia since the mid-19th century. Based on official police statistics, media reports and crime victims surveys, our findings show a dramatic and... (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)
Malaysian Police Under Fire Over Missing Guns, Some Used in Crimes
14 January 2014
Malaysian Insider
Police are to review their standard operating procedure (SOP) on the issuance of firearms to off-duty personnel following two recent incidents in which drunk policemen had their weapons taken from them.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said a new SOP was needed to address this problem.
"It (SOP) should be reviewed so that what happened two days ago will not occur again," he told reporters after attending a Malidur Rasul gathering at SK Mati... (GunPolicy.org)
Cache of Guns Seized From Malay Man with Criminal Record, No Licence
7 January 2014
Star (Malaysia)
GEORGE TOWN - An ex-serviceman, said to be savvy in handling firearms, has been nabbed for possessing an arsenal of weapons without licence.
Acting on a tip-off, a police team stormed the house of the 53-year-old man in Permatang Buloh, Kepala Batas.
They seized a Beretta pistol with a magazine containing 11 bullets, a fake pistol and its magazine, three homemade airguns and a homemade shotgun during the 3pm raid on Saturday.
Also seized was a bag containing a... (GunPolicy.org)
Fatal Shooting May Be Linked to Gun Thefts From Indonesia Police Station
7 January 2014
Jakarta Globe
JAYAPURA - An unidentified armed group fatally gunned down an ojek driver in the Wuyuneri hamlet, located in the Puncak Jaya district of Papua, on Tuesday morning.
Abdul Halil, a 43-year-old motorcycle taxi driver, originated from Makassar, South Sulawesi. He was taking a customer from Mulia to Wuyuneri. As they arrived at state high school SMU 1, someone shot him in the face.
It's not yet clear how many people were involved in the shooting.
Sr. Comr. Pujo Sulistyo,... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Police Say 60-70% of Gun Licences Based on Fake Documents
3 January 2014
GMA TV News (Manila)
Of the 1.7 million licensed firearms in the country, 60 to 70 percent were issued based on fake documents, the Philippine National Police said Friday.
Citing figures from the PNP Firearms Explosives Office, Police Chief Superintendent Louie Oppus said in a report on "24 Oras" aired Friday evening that he has ordered the investigation into the use of fake names and addresses as well as fake neuro-psychiatric results by applicants.
"I have now caused an investigation... (GunPolicy.org)
Man Shoots and Kills Four, Self After Family Row in Philippines
1 January 2014
Arab News (Jeddah) / Agence France Presse
MANILA: A gun enthusiast held hostage three members of his family and their maid for 10 hours before killing them and committing suicide in the eastern Philippines, police said Wednesday.
Witnesses said Anthony Zepeda had argued with family members in their home in the town of Pili in Camarines Sur province on Tuesday, police said.
The confrontation later culminated in Zepeda taking hostage his father, brother, sister-in-law and the maid, provincial police chief... (GunPolicy.org)
Firecracker, Stray Bullet Injuries Continue to Rise in Philippines
27 December 2013
Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - Five days ahead of the New Year, the number of firecracker injuries recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) has increased to 72, with piccolo as the leading cause of injury.
Health Secretary Enrique Ona said 37 of the 72 cases reported were caused by piccolo, an imported firecracker.
Ona has given parents the task of ensuring that their children will not use any type of firecracker.
"It has always been the responsibility of the police to be... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Political Party Calls for Tougher Gun Laws
27 December 2013
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — A political party on Thursday called on media companies, organizations and practitioners to join the campaign for stricter gun control laws, saying the growing number of killings of journalists and politicians, as well as stray-bullet incidents, are all symptoms of uncontrolled gun proliferation in Philippine society.
Ang Kapatiran Party said media men, instead of arming themselves, should push for amendments of the gun control law limiting the... (GunPolicy.org)
Two Arrested with Homemade Guns in Malaysia
22 December 2013
Borneo Post
MIRI - Two men were arrested in a police raid late Friday evening for illegal possession of firearms.
Miri Police chief ACP Mun Kok Keong said the operation was conducted by Miri CID and Criminal Prevention Unit team.
In the raid held around 4pm to 6pm on Friday in Lambir, a homemade air gun and a homemade shotgun were seized from a hut where the two suspects were staying at.
During the raid, police also confiscated several items believed to be stolen, such as a... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Mayor Among 4 Killed in Shooting at Manila Airport
20 December 2013
CNN
A gunman opened fire outside a terminal at Manila's international airport on Friday, killing the mayor of a southern Philippines town, two members of his family and a young child, authorities said.
The attack wounded five people and caused panic among travelers caught up in the chaos.
Gun crime and political violence occur with grim frequency in the Philippines. But the shooting Friday at Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport appeared particularly... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Arabia,Libya,India,Georgia,Egypt,Yemen,Vietnam,Turkey,Syria,Germany,Bahamas
Questions Asked Over Germany's Arms Exports
16 December 2013
Deutsche Welle
For a long time, arms exports to regions in conflict were taboo for the German government. However, the growing number of arms deals with Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia or Qatar, or with Asian countries like India and Indonesia suggests that these could soon become a pillar of German foreign and security policy.
This, at least, is the warning expressed in this year's weapons exports report published in Berlin on Monday (16.12.2013) by the Joint Church and... (GunPolicy.org)
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)
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)
Imitation Guns Illegal in Malaysia, Police Give Public One Month to Surrender
26 November 2013
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
KUALA LUMPUR - All imitation firearms, including those used for sports activities and without licences, must be surrendered to police within a month.
Federal police Logistics Department director Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said all imitation firearms, which resembled genuine ones, must be turned in.
He said the public was given until Dec 25 to do so at any district police headquarters.
Following their surrender, he said owners could apply for a "use and carry" licence... (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)
Filipinos Count the Cost of Gun Culture
14 November 2013
DNA India
Filipinos count the cost of a high murder rate and the world's longest-running insurgency.
The Philippines has the geographical misfortune to be affected by 20 or so tropical cyclones a year, but what distinguishes the country as a disaster zone, apart from the resilience of its people, is the prevalence of guns and its long-running insurgencies. The attacks on aid convoys and the threat of violence hampering the humanitarian effort following Typhoon Haiyan amplify... (GunPolicy.org)
Solomon Islands,Australia,Papua New Guinea,Timor-Leste
Spread of Guns a 'Disease at the Heart of Society,' says Australia
12 November 2013
ABC Radio Australia (Shortwave)
Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the international humanitarian system must improve its efficiency, quality and reach.
Ms Bishop told delegates at the International Red Cross and Red Crescent societies conference in Sydney that the system is being increasingly stretched by conflicts and crises.
The new types of conflict are leading to more attacks targeting aid workers.
Ms Bishop says the independent non-combatant status of the Red Cross and Red... (GunPolicy.org)
Mother-in-Law Admits Hiring Gunman to Kill Thai Olympic Shooter
11 November 2013
Global Times (China)
Mother-in-law of Thailand's former national sports shooter Jakkrit Panitpatikam confessed on Monday to being the mastermind behind his assassination.
Surang Duangjinda told police that she hired a gunman to kill Jakkrit last month because she could not tolerate seeing her daughter abused by the sharp shooter for six years.
She insisted that her daughter was unaware of the plan.
Jakkrit and his wife had reportedly lived apart since July after the shooter was arrested... (GunPolicy.org)
Malay Gunmaker Arrested with Homemade Guns, Ammo
2 November 2013
Borneo Post
SIBU - A professional gun-maker was arrested by the police on Tuesday along with an air rifle, a shot gun and bullets he purportedly made for sale seized.
"The suspect is an expert in making guns as the weapons seized were properly made," Sibu police chief ACP Shafie Ismail said in a press conference at Sibu Central police station here yesterday.
He said the 40-year-old suspect completed the work on two guns within two months after learning the know-how for two... (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)
Gun Ban Arrests and Shooting Deaths Mar Philippines Elections
28 October 2013
Japan Times
MANILA – At least 22 candidates and supporters have been killed in election-related violence over the past month ahead of this week's village polls across the Philippines, underscoring the violent downside of one of Asia's most rambunctious democracies.
Twenty-seven other people have been wounded in violence linked to election rivalries, mostly in shootouts, national police spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said. At least 588 people have been... (GunPolicy.org)
Brunei Siblings Arrested Over Crime Guns
24 October 2013
Brunei Times
KUCHING, Sarawak - Three siblings detained by police in Serian, about 60km from here on Monday, are now being investigated for their involvement in crimes using firearms, Serian District police chief DSP MohdJamali Umi said on Tuesday.
He said four guns and nine rounds of ammunition were found in the possession of the suspects, aged between 22 and 43, when a police team raided a house at Jalan Kuching-Serian on Monday.
Speaking to the media at the Se-rian District... (GunPolicy.org)
Malay Police Seize 1,000 Guns in Five Years, Gun Smuggling Continues
23 October 2013
Sun Daily (Malaysia)
KUALA LUMPUR - The Home Ministry (KDN) has established a new standard operating procedure (SOP) to address the problem of lost firearms, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the SOP would also ensure stern action would be taken against police personnel who were negligent in leaving their firearms in their cars.
"The SOP is different from the past. It will address the problem in accordance with the current... (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)
Philippines Election Ban Continues, Nearly 3,000 Guns, Ammo Seized
17 October 2013
Sun Star (Philippines)
Almost 3,000 firearms and ammunition were confiscated by authorities nationwide in the on-going implementation of the gun ban for the October 28 baranagay elections.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson Sixto Brillantes said that based on the latest assessment from the Philippine National Police (PNP), a total of 2,983 firearms, ammunition and other explosives were seized in various operations and checkpoints placed across the archipelago.
Included in these... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Authorities Arrest 50 for Gun Ban Violations, 46 Guns Seized
2 October 2013
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Over 50 persons were arrested for violating the gun ban which took effect last Friday, police said Wednesday.
Police Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesman, said that as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, 58 persons, mostly civilians, were apprehended for carrying firearms.
Of the total number of arrested persons, 54 were civilians, while two others were police officers, one government official and a security guard, Mayor said.
With these... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns Easily Available From Thailand for Malaysians Wanting Them
23 September 2013
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
DANOK - The sudden wave of gun crimes in the past few months has shocked Malaysians and rocked the country's reputation as a laidback and safe destination.
The spate of killings has led to questions being raised as to where criminals and gang members are acquiring weapons.
The New Straits Times discovered that it is not difficult to get hold of firearms. All it takes is a short drive across the border and minimum effort to find outlets that sell everything from... (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)
India,Myanmar,North Korea,Bangladesh,Nepal,China,Thailand
Arrest May Prove 'China Link' in Supply of Arms to India Insurgents
3 September 2013
Nagaland Post (India)
NEW DELHI - In a significant breakthrough that could provide the first evidence of alleged Chinese involvement in supply of arms to Indian insurgent outfits, Thailand on Saturday picked up a key middleman whose identity had been disclosed by arrested NSCN (I-M) operative Anthony Shimray.
Indian Express report stated that Willy Naruenartwanicha, referred to as Willy Narue by Shimray, is a Thai national and was picked up at India's request. According to Shimray, Willy... (GunPolicy.org)
Indonesia Police Urged to Take Stern Action Against Illegal Gun Owners
1 September 2013
ANTARA News
PALU, C Sulawesi - Chairman of the Indonesia Police Watch Presidium (IPW) Neta S Pane urged police and the government to take stern actions against illegal weapon owners following the recent spate of shooting cases.
In his written statement received here on Sunday, Pane said that police could not prevent and catch the mysterious gunmen.
Of the 20 mysterious shooting cases which occurred over the past 45 days, police were only able to arrest one perpetrator namely in... (GunPolicy.org)
Indonesia Police Arrest Suspected Kingpin in Homemade Firearms Ring
30 August 2013
Jakarta Globe
Jakarta Police have arrested a man believed to be the alleged kingpin behind the manufacture and sale of illegal weapons in Central Jakarta on Wednesday.
This follows the arrest of another suspect by the name of Ramli, also known as Iqbal Hussaini, in Cipayung, East Jakarta on Tuesday night .
Ramli is believed to be a gun supplier for terrorists and has served prison terms for plotting to kill cleric and Liberal Islamic Network official Ulil Abshar Abdalla.
"The... (GunPolicy.org)
Bangladesh Civilian Gun Imports Dodging Taxes
26 August 2013
New Nation (Dhaka)
Some individuals are importing light guns, particularly pistol, revolver, shotgun and rifle, in the country in under invoiced price depriving the government a huge amount of revenues taking the advantage of relaxed mood of the National Board of Revenue [NBR], sources said.
The non-prohibited bore of arms mainly permitted for the civilians - point 22, point 25, point 357 and point 32 caliber - are being imported from Singapore under the baggage rule. As per the rule,... (GunPolicy.org)
Indonesian Rights Groups Call For Total Ban On Civilian Gun Ownership
16 August 2013
Jakarta Post
Human rights activists have called for a total ban on handgun possession for civilians and a review on the use of guns by the police and the military amid concerns of rising gun violence.
The activists said that allowing civilians to own firearms for safety reasons, particularly among businessmen, could create fear among the general public, especially in resource-rich areas such as the country's easternmost province of Papua.
"There is no need for civilians to... (GunPolicy.org)
Indonesia Police Launch Crack Down on Illegal, Unlicensed Guns
14 August 2013
Jakarta Post
The National Police will crack down on illegal possession of firearms following a series of shootings against police officers and prison guards.
National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Oegroseno said on Tuesday that strict law enforcement would be imposed on those possessing illegal firearms. "We will intensify our precautionary measures. Those who are fooling around with firearms will face legal proceedings," Oegroseno told reporters at National Police headquarters on... (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 Thailand: Gun Laws Strict But Ownership High
8 August 2013
Straits Times (Singapore)
"Call me Dev," he said.
He looked straight out of a Bollywood film - stocky, confident, with a shaven head and a pink open-necked shirt. Dev is a salesman at a shop on Thailand's gun row, Wang Burapha road, which features a string of shops selling a range of guns and accessories.
The guns are two to three times more expensive than those in the United States. "Only rich people buy guns here," said Dev.
Rich people, and The Royal Thai Police. In what has long been a... (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)
Guns for Hire and Bullets for Cheap, Says Malaysian Crime Watchdog
5 August 2013
Yahoo News (Singapore) / Malay Mail
PETALING JAYA — Guns are rented out for less than a night's stay at a local five-star hotel while bullets are sold cheaper than a bottle of water, crime watchdog MyWatch co-founder S. Gobi Krishnan alleged yesterday as the nation continues to be stunned by the proliferation of shootings.
Yesterday, a 44-year-old businessman was shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Kota Kinabalu, bringing the number of gun-related incidents to eight in as many days — including a... (GunPolicy.org)
Malay Police Using New Ballistics System to Trace Crime Guns
2 August 2013
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
KUALA LUMPUR - Police are conducting a massive ballistics and gun-matching exercise to narrow down the leads in shooting cases that have seen a surge in recent months.
The force recently acquired the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) to analyse bullets and guns and is rapidly building up a comprehensive database.
This means that investigators will be able to compare ballistics evidence gathered at crime scenes and from criminals against the central... (GunPolicy.org)
New Philippines Gun Control Law to Licence Gunsmiths, Regulate Guns
27 July 2013
ABS-CBN News (Manila) / Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - A new law on gun control requires gunsmiths to have licenses for them to repair registered firearms.
This is one of the salient points in the newly approved Republic Act 10591, also known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, which will take effect in September, four months after President Aquino signed it on May 29.
Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, chief of the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) said his unit has... (GunPolicy.org)
2 People Killed in Philippines Shootings, Communities 'Awash' With Guns
22 July 2013
Global News (China)
Two people died when armed tribesmen attacked a village in southern Philippines over the weekend, the military said Monday.
The latest killing that occurred in Mindanao's Davao del Sur province was blamed on clan revenge, after 10 other people were killed in a separate spate of clan war in the country's southern region late last week.
The latest attack happened in Kimlawis village, Kiblawan town as about a dozen gunmen belonging to the B'laan tribe shot and killed two... (GunPolicy.org)
15-Year Old Suspected Gun Runners Detained in Malaysia, 2 Guns Seized
21 July 2013
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
KOTA BARU - Police today seized two pistols and detained three people including a 15-year-old boy and a woman in a raid at a house in Kampung Bunut Susu, Pasir Mas near here.
Besides the American-made Colt Super Automatic .22 calibre Magnum and a French-made Modele Mikros, the team also found a fake pistol Baby 111-CAPA 3.8 model, a plastic packet containing three pyschotropic pills, a taser gun, two empty magazines and a magazine with four bullets in it.
Kelantan... (GunPolicy.org)
Malay School Teacher Shot Dead at Traffic Lights
18 July 2013
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
KULIM - A secondary school teacher was killed after being shot nine times at point blank range by an unidentified gunman in Kulim here today.
The victim, K. Shanmugam, 45, from Taman Bidara was travelling in his silver Toyota Wish when he stopped at a red light near Simpang Empat Keladi here.
A witness who wanted to be known as Mat Lin said in the 12.20pm incident, two men on a black Yamaha LC motorcycle approached the left side of the vehicle before one of them... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Smuggling from Myanmar to India, Bangladesh Worries Authorities
13 July 2013
Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI - Smuggling of sophisticated weapons from Myanmar to India has become a matter of serious concern and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating one such case of arms smuggling with an effort to go to the root of the problem.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that recently personnel of the Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police arrested four Bangladeshi nationals with sophisticated weapons, which proved the smuggling of weapons from... (GunPolicy.org)
Singapore,Estonia,Brazil,Italy,United States,Germany,Malaysia
Brazil Named Fourth Top Arms Exporter in the World [PT]
8 July 2013
Tribuna Hoje (Brazil)
[Translated summary - A new Small Arms Survey report shows Brazil is ranked the fourth biggest arms exporter in the world. In 2010, Brazil exported $326 million (£736 million) in arms and ammunition, behind the United States of America, Germany, and Italy. Most of the exported weapons go to the United States, Malaysia, Germany, Estonia and Singapore.]
O Brasil ocupa a 4ª posição no ranking de maiores exportadores de armamentos do mundo, segundo documento divulgado... (GunPolicy.org)
Only $4 to Buy a Gun in Malaysia, Cops Say Smuggling is 'Rampant'
7 July 2013
AsiaOne
MALAYSIA - The abolition of Malaysia's Emergency Ordinance in 2011 has put many former detainees on the streets, and some of them are selling guns to criminals.
A former gangster told The Star that it is easy for someone to buy a gun by working with former criminals who have links with illegal firearm suppliers in the Malaysian-Thai border town of Sungai Golok.
The 40-year-old from Seremban, who didn't want to be named, said these former detainees returned to their... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Police Warned Against Selling Service Weapons to Criminals
5 July 2013
Global Times (China)
The Philippines' poorly paid police have been warned they will be sacked if they sell their new semi-automatic pistols, a spokesman for the corruption-plagued force said Thursday.
The Glock pistols currently being distributed to tens of thousands of officers cost about twice as much as an entry-level salary in the force, and there are fears that the guns could end up on the black market.
"This is a very attractive gun, and many unscrupulous businessmen would be... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Police Get 22,600 New Guns as Crime Rate Falls
2 July 2013
Sun Star (Philippines)
Some 22,603 units of brand new pistols were distributed to members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in a ceremony led by President Benigno Aquino III at the national headquarters in Quezon City on Tuesday.
The number of firearms distributed by Aquino presents the initial batch of the 74,879 handguns purchased by the PNP through a P1.2 billion budget allocated through the PNP modernization program.
The first batch was delivered to the PNP in February and... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines MP Shot and Injured Himself with Unlicensed Gun
29 June 2013
Arab News (Jeddah) / Agence France Presse
MANILA - Police are investigating an outgoing Philippine politician after he shot himself in Parliament, a spokesman said yesterday, in a mystery that has puzzled the nation.
Benjo Benaldo is being probed after shooting himself in Congress, where firearms are banned, with a pistol whose permit had expired, said national police spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Sindac.
"He could face charges … but let us take it one step at a time," Sindac said, adding that the... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Police Require Gun Owners to Provide Fingerprints for Permit
27 June 2013
Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Thursday that it is now requiring all licensed gun owners to personally submit their biometric fingerprint specimen and photograph to get a permit to carry their firearms outside their residence.
The PNP said that these administrative requirements for the issuance of permit will be the basis in adjusting the records in the Firearms Information Management System database to improve the processes in... (GunPolicy.org)
Proactive Philippines Police Campaign Yields Thousands of Loose Guns
25 June 2013
Journal (Manila)
Police have knocked on the doors of more than 464,000 holders of expired firearms' licenses as part of "Oplan Katok" aimed at accounting for loose guns across the country since last December and have discovered that nearly 25,000 of them have already died but their weapons have not been transferred [to] their heirs, Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan LM Purisima said yesterday.
"Oplan Katok" is the police program to account for firearms and ensure... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada,Thailand,Scotland,South Korea
Drunk Thai Student Shoots, Injures Three at Restaurant After Rejection
23 June 2013
Bangkok Post
Three foreign tourists were injured by gunshots in Chiang Mai after a drunk university student opened fire at a restaurant because a waitress rejected him, police said.
Chiang Mai police on Saturday arrested Don Praweenmeth, a 27-year-old sixth year medical student at a university in Bangkok.
Police said Mr Don confessed that he fired five shots from a 9mm handgun in a busy restaurant on Nimmanahaemin Road at about midnight.
The suspect said he was flirting with the... (GunPolicy.org)
Malaysian Man Charged Over Unlicensed Gun, Ammunition
21 June 2013
Sun Daily (Malaysia)
KUALA LUMPUR - An unemployed man pleaded not guilty to two charges, one of possessing an unlicensed pistol and another for possessing live bullets at the sessions court here earlier today.
Ng Yim Kead, 52 claimed trial to a charge of possessing a black nine-millimetre calibre Beretta USA Corp 92PS pistol that was found in a Mercedes Benz he was driving at about 11.30pm on June 13.
He allegedly committed the offence under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties)... (GunPolicy.org)
Vietnam Police Seize Illegal Pen Guns from Gang
20 June 2013
Viet Nam News
HAI PHONG – Police from northern Hai Phong City busted a ring involved in producing and trading fire-arms yesterday.
The case was exposed when police searched a house in Le Chan District's Nghai Xa Ward on Tuesday. They arrested a husband and wife for illegally producing fire-arms in Le Chan.
The police seized five pen guns, two self-made guns, one grenade and materials for producing weapons at their workshop.
A day later, police raided the house of another member... (GunPolicy.org)
Officials Seize 8 Imitation Guns Illegally Imported to Malaysia
19 June 2013
Borneo Post
IPOH - Perak Customs seized eight imitation firearms which were imported without permit, at the General Post Office here on Saturday.
State Customs Department director Datuk Mohd Nasir Said said during an inspection carried out by a Customs team at about noon, they seized among others an imitation M16 gun, MP5, air rifle, Glock and automatic Colt 45 pistols.
"The five high quality imitation firearms were estimated to be worth RM2,043.90 and duties involved amounted to... (GunPolicy.org)
Malay Officials say Illegal Airsoft Guns Easily Available Online
19 June 2013
Star (Malaysia)
PETALING JAYA - Airsoft guns are fast gaining popularity in Malaysia, especially among those who enjoy tactical wargames.
Airsoft weapons are new generation BB (bird bullet) guns, a type of air-powered gun designed to shoot projectiles.
The AEG (airsoft electric gun) and accessories are sold together with other military-like gears and tactical equipment that come complete with holsters and military-like outfits including boots.
They can be easily bought online... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Electoral Gun Ban Ends, Over 3,000 Arrested for Violations
12 June 2013
Philippine Star / ABS-CBN News (Manila)
MANILA, Philippines - Gun holders with permit to carry firearms outside residence (PTCFOR) can bring their guns outside their homes tomorrow as the gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ends at midnight tonight.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the gun ban, which took effect last Jan. 13, will end at 11:59 p.m. tonight, as provided for under the Comelec Resolution No. 9561-A as part of the mid-term elections last May 13.
PNP spokesman Chief... (GunPolicy.org)
Priests in Philippines Against New Law Allowing Them to Carry Guns
6 June 2013
Gulf News (Dubai)
Manila - Catholic priests have voiced their reaction against a new law that has allowed them to arm themselves against attackers, adding it is contrary to their belief that peace not violence is needed in this world, a Catholic website said.
"Priests are supposed to be men of peace, not of war. Our Lord said: 'he who lives by the sword will die by the sword. We should not counter violence with violence." Bishop Jose Oliveros of suburban Malolos said in a statement... (GunPolicy.org)
Six Arrested in US for Illegally Exporting Guns to Thailand
5 June 2013
Nation (Bangkok)
US authorities have arrested and indicted a Thai woman residing residing in Berkeley, California, and five others for illegally exported restricted firearm parts from the US to Thailand, US federal prosecutors said Monday.
US media quoted US Attorney's Office as saying that Supanee Saenguthai, 35, a Thai citizen is one of six people who were arrested over the weekend for conspiring and then attempting to violate the Arms Control Export Act.
Five additional defendants... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Passes Tough New Gun Law
3 June 2013
Borneo Post
MANILA - Philippine President Benigno Aquino has signed a law making it harder for private individuals to own firearms following a series of high-profile deaths this year, a government spokeswoman said yesterday.
Under the law signed last week, those seeking to buy firearms will have to undergo drug and psychological tests and should not have a criminal record or pending court cases.
They will also have to show proof of income as well as a valid tax return and secure... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Police Continue Search for 400,000 Illegal Guns
19 May 2013
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — And the search goes on.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will continue to look for over 400,000 loose firearms all over the country even after the election gun ban ends on June 12.
PNP Director General Alan Purisima said the police had been able to account for more than 200,000 unlicensed guns since the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) launched a crackdown on loose firearms dubbed "Oplan Katok."
"The lifting of the gun ban… will... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Smuggling and Renting are Rising Problems in Malaysia say Police
15 May 2013
Asia One (Singapore)
KUALA LUMPUR - An influx of cheap weapons coming through our porous borders from neighbouring countries has led to a rise in gun-toting criminals and assassins for hire.
Police say there are more than 200 jalan tikus or hidden entry points along the border which syndicates use to smuggle in the guns.
The firearms are believed to be from the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia.
According to Federal CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin, who announced the... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Attack in Thailand's South Leaves Six Dead
2 May 2013
BBC News
Six people, including a young child, have been killed in southern Thailand after a gun attack at a village shop, police say.
At least four gunmen fired bullets at the shop in Pattani province before escaping on motorbikes.
The attack comes days after a second round of peace talks between Muslim separatists and the Thai government.
More than 5,000 people have been killed since a separatist insurgency reignited in the Muslim-majority region in 2004.
A toddler was... (GunPolicy.org)
80-Yr-Old Indian Engineer Arrested for Supplying Arms Parts to Gang
1 May 2013
DNA India (Mumbai)
An 80-year-old man from Dadar was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly supplying spare parts of imported weapons, arms and ammunition to a Uttar Pradesh-based gang. A joint team of the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad and Mumbai police also recovered spare parts of imported weapons and ammunition from his flat.
Senior inspector of Dadar police station Prakash Patil said that D'Souza was arrested from his fifth floor flat at Salvation Apartments in Agar Bazaar area.... (GunPolicy.org)
2 Injured After Thai School Shooting
29 April 2013
SINA (China)
BANGKOK - Two people was hurt in a gun attack on a school in the restive southern province of Narathiwat late Sunday night [sic].
Police said a number of assailants arrived at Buke Bakong School in Narathiwat's Yingo district on a pick-up truck when seven people, including assistant teachers and members of village defense unit, were on security duty in front of the school.
One of the men fired three shots at them with a war weapon. One bullet grazed the ear of Amran... (GunPolicy.org)
Support for Stricter Gun Control Falls Slightly in Philippines
23 April 2013
Sun Star (Philippines)
MANILA - Three out of four Filipinos back the implementation of strict gun licensing regulations to prevent or curb violence arising from the use of loose firearms, down seven points from 82 percent in October 2000.
In a survey conducted by Pulse Asia from March 16 to 20, levels of support for such policy range from 66 percent to 87 percent across geographic areas and from 72 percent to 81 percent across socio-economic classes.
Residents in Metro Manila, where a New... (GunPolicy.org)
India's Anti-Terrorist Squad Busts Gun Smuggling Gang
19 April 2013
Pioneer (India)
LUCKNOW - Sleuths of the Anti-Terrorists Squad (ATS) arrested four persons and claimed to have busted a gang which is smuggling parts of arms from overseas and assembling them here to dispose it off later to hardened criminals at higher rates. They said to have recovered arms in large quantity besides equipments and tools used for assembling.
Giving the details of the above development here on Thursday afternoon, ADG (law and order) Arun Kumar, said that the ATS is... (GunPolicy.org)
Indonesia Police Ask Citizens to Surrender Illegal Homemade Guns
18 April 2013
Borneo Post
MIRI - The people here who have in their homemade guns are urged to surrender them to the police station or risked legal action taken against them.
District police chief ACP Mun Kock Keong told a press conference here yesterday that they would not compromise with any group of individuals found in possession of the guns.
"It is a serious offence to possess such gun [sic]. The offenders could be jailed up to 14 years if found guilty under Section 4 of the Firearms... (GunPolicy.org)
Indonesia Police Say Most Armed Robbers Use Homemade Guns
17 April 2013
Jakarta Post
JAKARTA - The police revealed on Tuesday that most guns used in armed robberies were homemade.
City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said that 98 percent of the guns confiscated from robbery suspects were homemade and that most of them were made by air rifle makers.
"We are now tracing the air rifle makers who produce the homemade guns used in crimes," he said.
He added that the police had confiscated evidence such as raw materials for guns from an air rifle... (GunPolicy.org)
600,000 Unlicensed Guns in Philippines as Black Market Thrives
11 April 2013
France 24
Bespectacled and clean shaven, 37-year-old Jomari Paraas could pass for a typical office employee in the Philippines, except he has six guns in his backpack that he will soon sell.
The father-of-two is a prolific player in the country's enormous and lucrative weapons black market, which has been under scrutiny following a spate of high-profile massacres and shoot-outs this year.
"Why do I trade guns? Because there is a demand for it. And it's extra income," said... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Military Loses 200 Guns in Fire
8 April 2013
Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) lost more than 200 assault rifles and machine guns in a fire that razed its firearms supply building in Zamboanga del Sur over the weekend.
Belated reports reaching the Armed Forces of the Philippines' main headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo said that the blaze that hit the 1st Infantry Division Training Unit (IDTU) Supply building at Upper Labangan, Pulacan in Pagadian City, started with an explosion.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Police Arrest Almost 2,000 for Breaches of Election Gun Ban
29 March 2013
Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - Authorities have apprehended almost 2,000 violators of the ongoing Commission on Elections gun ban, the Philippine National Police said on Friday.
In its latest count since the poll gun ban started last Jan. 13, the PNP has recorded 1,980 people arrested for illegally carrying firearms, bladed weapons and ammunitions [sic].
The PNP said that among those arrested were 13 soldiers, 23 policemen, 26 government officials, a fireman and 99 security... (GunPolicy.org)
Corrupt Glock Police Pistol Deals Feed Philippine Crime Gun Market
26 March 2013
Investvine (Hong Kong)
Austrian gun maker Glock has been accused of supplying the black market in the Philippines with firearms in deals that were originally sealed with the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Over the past years, Glock delivered several batches of its highly demanded 9mm pistols to the PNP. The most recent deal was 12,000 pistols worth around $30 million ordered by the country's police forces as a first shipment of the biggest firearms procurement of the PNP so far, delivered... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines,South East Asia,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa
Arms Trade Treaty or What? - Opinion
21 March 2013
Philippine Star, Opinion
In the next week or so, the members of the United Nations have an opportunity to agree an historic Treaty that would make a lasting difference to people across the world. It's not front-page news most of the time, but the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is within our grasp — and, with it, comes a chance to make a major contribution to the security of humankind. It will help to ensure that the uncontrolled movement of arms no longer threatens the security and prosperity of... (GunPolicy.org)
South America,Eastern Europe,Thailand,Italy,Canada,United States,Philippines
The Gunmakers of the Philippines
20 March 2013
BBC News
CEBU, Philippines - A shot rings out from a factory on the outskirts of the Philippines' second-biggest city, Cebu.
But this isn't an all-too-frequent drive-by killing or an argument that has become violent.
The sound is from a testing range at Shooters Arms, the country's second-largest gun factory.
Shooters Arms produces about 20,000 pistols and shotguns every year, 85% of which are sold abroad - mainly to the US, Canada, Italy and Thailand.
Operations manager... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun, Ammo and Drugs Seized in Malaysia
14 March 2013
Malay Mail (Kuala Lumpur)
GEORGE TOWN - A 61-year-old man and his son and daughter-in-law have been detained by police for suspected involvement in using their pre-war house as a drug processing laboratory and for possession of firearms.
A gun, handgrenade and several rounds of ammunition were seized together with drug processing apparatus and an assortment of drugs from the colonial shophouse in Jalan Patani.
The man and his son and daughter-in-law, both in their 30s, were said to have used... (GunPolicy.org)
More Than 1,500 People Violated Election Gun Ban Law in Philippines
12 March 2013
Manila Channel
MANILA, Philippines — As of Tuesday morning (March 12), at least 1, 551 violators of the election gun ban law were arrested since January 13, this year.
Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., spokesman for the Philippine National Police (PNP), said 1,582 firearms were also seized from those arrested suspects.
Cerbo said among the violators are 1,403 civilians, 93 security guards, 20 policemen, 11 AFP personnel, 20 government officials, two from CAFGU, and one each... (GunPolicy.org)
Customs Seize Four Guns Smuggled into Philippines with Rice, Sugar
7 March 2013
Sun Star (Philippines)
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu yesterday seized smuggled rice, sugar, guns, a motorcycle, bags and fashion accessories in the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu.
It said the confiscated goods were worth a total of P116 million.
Top BOC officials began by examining 10 20-foot cargo containers, which held allegedly smuggled rice valued at P10 million. They then proceeded to examine four other 20-foot containers containing P5 million worth of sugar, which they also... (GunPolicy.org)
European Union,Sweden,Myanmar,Syria
Stray Swedish Weapons Show Up in Syria, Myanmar Despite EU Ban
7 March 2013
Local (Sweden)
Syrian rebels appear to be using Swedish weapons, visible in a new video that has emerged from the civil war in which an anti-regime fighter cradles a well-known Swedish model of anti-tank rifle.
TV4 news found the video in which a rebel fighter emerges with a Carl Gustaf rocket launcher perched on his right shoulder.
The report dubs the weapon a "Swedish export success story".
It is the second time in the past few months that Swedish weapons have made their way to... (GunPolicy.org)
Arrest of Thai Craft Manufacturer and Online Dealer
27 February 2013
Bangkok Post
Withaya Chai-Auari, 32, and Suriya Khoksombat, 25, should not be too surprised that they are in a Bangkok jail today. Making illegal guns and selling them through Facebook is a risky business.
Making and selling illegal guns is a risky business, especially when your customers are largely vocational college students and other teenagers.
Trying to expand your market through Facebook only increases the risk since police regularly monitor the internet for illegal... (GunPolicy.org)
Thai Men Arrested for Allegedly Selling Homemade Guns on Facebook
27 February 2013
Bangkok Post
Police have arrested two men for allegedly selling homemade guns, many of them to technical college students and teenagers, on Facebook.
The two suspects, Withaya Chai-Auari, 32, and Suriya Khoksombat, 25, were arrested in Bangkok yesterday.
An undercover police officer posing as a customer contacted Mr Withaya on the internet to buy weapons. Mr Withaya turned up for the meeting with the guns in Phahon Yothin Soi 55 and was immediately arrested, police said.
Police... (GunPolicy.org)
Two Brunei Men Jailed After Being Caught with Illegal Homemade Guns
18 February 2013
Brunei Times
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - Two men have been jailed for five years by the Magistrates' Court after they were caught with homemade firearms at Labi Forest reserve in 2007.
Senior Magistrate Lailatul Zubaidah Hussain said yesterday that the sentence was a reflection of the law's stringent stand against illegal possession of firearms.
"In the era of shootings in the world where people die senselessly, the court takes breach of such laws very seriously."
Under the Arms and... (GunPolicy.org)
Indonesia Police Arrest Former Soldier for Selling Gun
13 February 2013
Jakarta Post
Police announced on Tuesday that they had arrested a former member of the Indonesian Military for selling a firearm he snatched from a police cadet in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
Police arrested TMT, 25, in South Jakarta on Jan. 7 after detectives posed as buyers. Police also seized a V2 firearm as evidence.
The suspect was about to sell the firearm for Rp 25 million (around US$2,500).
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said that the man robbed the cadet just... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Govt Passes New Gun, Ammo Law
5 February 2013
Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - The Senate has passed on third and final reading a measure that will provide a comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition as well as penalties for violating the law.
The proposed Act also amends Presidential Decree 1866 on laws on unlawful possession, manufacture and dealing in the acquisition or disposition of firearms and ammunition.
It also mandates that the use of loose firearms, when inherent to the commission of a crime punishable under... (GunPolicy.org)
Myanmar Police Seize Drugs, 96 Guns on Indian Border
4 February 2013
Irrawaddy (Burma)
Burmese police seized around US $140,000 worth of pseudo-ephedrine-based cold and flu tablets and a large cache of weapons in Tamu, Sagaing Division, on Sunday, according to local sources and state-media reports.
"A couple has been detained for questioning and anti-narcotics forces are preparing to charge them with illegal possession of weapons and drug trafficking," an officer from the Tamu Police Station told The Irrawaddy on Monday.
Initial reports suggested that... (GunPolicy.org)
Malaysian Journalist Dies in Lebanon Gun Accident
4 February 2013
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian journalist was killed in a firearm accident in Lebanon on Saturday.
Claudia Theophilus, 42, who worked as a web producer with Al-Jazeera English news agency, died after a rifle - which she was looking at, went off accidentally about 2.30am (8.30am Malaysian time).
The incident happened in Baakleen - 45km from Beirut.
Malaysian ambassador to Lebanon Ilango Karuppannan said Theophilus died shortly after she arrived at a general hospital in... (GunPolicy.org)
Malaysian 'Sect' Leader Charged Over Imitation Guns, Swords
29 January 2013
Star (Malaysia)
JASIN - A man believed to be the leader of an alleged deviant sect claimed trial at the Magistrate's court here Tuesday to two separate charges of possessing a cache of dangerous weapons and imitation firearms.
Mohd Jaffar Robani, 46, was alleged to have in his possession 29 swords, 11 machetes, three knives and a spear.
He faced charges under Section 7(1)(a) of the Corrosive, Explosive and Dangerous Weapons Act 1958, which carries a two-year jail sentence and fine of... (GunPolicy.org)
The Growing Gun Industry of the Philippines
27 January 2013
The Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Ella family never thought the fireworks display and merriment on New Year's Eve would bring them so much pain with the loss of their daughter, 7-year-old Stephanie Nicole.
On New Year's Eve, Stephanie Nicole was hit by a stray bullet while watching fireworks outside her home in Caloocan. She died two days after.
A few days later, on January 4, Ronald Bae alias "Bossing" went on a drug-induced shooting rampage with his semi-automatic pistol... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Police Bust Illegal Gun Manufacturers, Seize Parts
26 January 2013
Inquirer News (Philippines)
Eight were arrested and several firearms, gun parts and equipment valued at around P1 million were seized in two separate raids described by police as a big blow in the illegal production of firearms in Danao City, northern Cebu.
The operations were conducted by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) last Thursday afternoon in sitio Canbiohan, barangay Poblacion, Danao.
Those arrested were identified as Jaime... (GunPolicy.org)
Former Philippines Rebel Group Surrenders More Firearms
25 January 2013
Philippine Star
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - The now "decommissioned" paramilitary Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA), a splinter group from the New Peoples Army in 1986, surrendered at least 11 more assault rifles to the government.
The latest batch of surrendered firearms brought to 159 the total number of guns that the CPLA turned in since the start of the group's decommissioning last year when the CPLA forged a final pact with the government.
Army Col. Loreto Magundayao,... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Authorities Say 16 Guns Seized, 1 Dead Since Election Ban
15 January 2013
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — One person has been killed since the election gun ban started this year while at least 16 total firearms have been confiscated across the country, a police spokesman said Tuesday.
Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesman, said that Fernando Morales was killed after he fought back at police who were serving a warrant of arrest to him in San Juan, Batangas Monday around 1:30pm.
Morales was an alleged... (GunPolicy.org)
1,906,000 Illicit Guns in the Philippines
12 January 2013
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Opinion
The public agony that often accompanies random acts of violence has plunged policymakers into another orgy of blame, shame and posturing. The shock is magnified by State inaction following a heinous massacre in 2009 that failed to dent the laws and policies governing the ownership and trading of firearms. A powerful clan was accused in that massacre. The targets were other politicians, lawyers and media workers. Much of the violence was selective in nature.
Recent... (GunPolicy.org)
In Past 9 Years, Insurgents Mounted 171 Raids to Steal Guns in Thailand
4 January 2013
Nation (Bangkok)
A total of 3,380 people have been killed and 8,388 wounded in terror attacks since the resumption of insurgent violence in the deep South nine years ago today, according to figures released yesterday by the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre.
The attacks included 2,480 roadside and vehicular bombings, the centre said.
Of the 1,629 assault rifles and handguns seized by insurgents during their attacks - including 413 M16 rifles taken in the January 4, 2004,... (GunPolicy.org)
8 Dead in Philippines Shooting, Unlicensed Guns Rife Say Police
4 January 2013
CBC News (Canada) / Associated Press
A man with domestic problems fatally shot eight people, including a pregnant woman and two children, after taking alcohol and drugs in a rampage Friday near the Philippine capital that ended when he was shot dead by police, officials said.
At least eight other people were wounded in Kawit township, about 16 kilometres south of Manila, Cavite provincial Gov. Jonvic Remulla said.
The violence happened days after the death of a 7-year-old girl who was hit in the head by... (GunPolicy.org)
Killing of a Young British Tourist Generates Gun Crackdown in Thailand
4 January 2013
Travel Daily News
The killing of a young British tourist in Koh Phangan, near Koh Samui in Southern Thailand, forces authorities to finally act to better enforce controls of firearms in the province. Especially as Thailand remains one of the few countries in Southeast Asia with travel advisories from the Foreign Office.
BANGKOK- Petty crime and cheating in Thailand against tourists happens –especially in tourist areas. But violence and killing against foreign travellers remain... (GunPolicy.org)
Girl's Death Triggers Gun Debate in Philippines
4 January 2013
Bangkok Post / AFP
The death of a girl hit by celebratory gunfire on New Year's Eve sparked calls Thursday for stricter gun controls in the Philippines, where unlicensed weapons are widely blamed for rampant violence.
The girl, Stephanie Ella, aged seven, died Wednesday from a gunshot wound to the head, triggering outrage and condemnation of poor law enforcement that allows hundreds of thousands of unregistered firearms to be on the streets.
"This incident should not be allowed to... (GunPolicy.org)
Gunman Kills 7, Injures 6 in Philippines Town of Kawit
4 January 2013
BBC News / AP
A gunman has opened fire in a town near the Philippine capital, Manila, killing at least seven people and wounding six before being shot dead by police.
The gunman, reported to be a former local election candidate, ran through the streets of Kawit, 40km (25 miles) south of Manila, shooting at random.
A seven-year-old girl and a pregnant woman were among the dead, police said.
They are searching for an accomplice who reportedly helped the gunman load his... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines Police Campaign to Renew Gun Licences, Registration
26 December 2012
Journal (Manila)
Police commanders nationwide were ordered yesterday to press the campaign against loose firearms to prevent their use in the mid-term elections next year, Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan LM Purisima said.
Purisima said the PNP Task Force Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE) 2013 is currently conducting massive operations to account for a total of 552,338 firearms with expired licenses and some 25,000 others which have not been registered at all based... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippines: The 10th in Gun Homicide Rates Worldwide
19 December 2012
Sun Star (Philippines), Opinion
What has the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown Connecticut got to teach us about safety and protection of Filipinos?
Plenty, I daresay. Not that most Filipinos know any of the victims from Adam and Eve. Still, the massacre has touched the hearts of many Filipinos. Many of us see our kids among the victims, the wife or sister of the teachers killed.
We remember our horrendous massacres, notably the Maguindanao Massacre.
But then, Maguindanao and Newton... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,El Salvador,Brazil,Philippines,Jamaica,South Africa,Swaziland,Guatemala,Panama,Mexico,Colombia,Honduras
Top 12 Countries for Firearms Related Deaths
17 December 2012
Forbes (USA)
Few major nations have the right to bear arms configured in their Constitution. Even fewer (as in we are the only one) have gun control legislation as a hot button political issue. The U.S. is the most violent core economy in terms of gun related deaths. It is also the leader in gun violence at school campuses. Yet, the U.S. does not lead the world in firearms related deaths. Countries where gangs and drugs are a problem top the list, even where there is strict gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Dealer Controls and Registration Numbers in Thailand (in Thai)
8 December 2012
Isranews Agency (Thailand)
[Editor's note: original article translated by GunPolicy.org from Thai into English]
Selected statistics from Thai article:
1. How does the Ministry of Interior and related groups currently track gun sales? And from 2007 to 2011 how many guns were reported to be sold (for each category) by gun sellers?
From the information of the Ministry of Interior, there was a measure, 289/2552, on licensing gun shops, gun assembly and repair shops, along with a limit on the... (GunPolicy.org)
Malaysia Cop Acquitted of Fatal Youth Car-Chase Shooting in Appeal
5 December 2012
New Strait Times (Malaysia)
SHAH ALAM - Police corporal Jenain Subi was acting within the scope of his duties when he opened fire at the Proton Iswara driven by teenager Aminulrasyid Amzah two years ago.
The High Court found that Jenain had only answered was only doing his duty when he tried to stop a speeding vehicle.
Judge Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli said this yesterday before acquitting Jenain after allowing his appeal against his conviction and sentence of five years' jail for causing the... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Dealers Call for Amnesty for Owners With Lapsed Licenses
1 December 2012
Tempo (Manila)
Manila, Philippines – The Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines (AFAD) urged President Benigno S. Aquino III to consider approving another round of gun amnesty for delinquent gun owners who failed to renew the license of their guns.
Its suggestion came after the Philippine National Police (PNP) declared that it has no problem foregoing the penalties that delinquent gun owners have incurred for non-renewal of guns, according to AFAD... (GunPolicy.org)
SE Asian Soldiers Rent Army Machine Guns as Tourist Lure, Cash Cow
27 November 2012
New York Times
PHNOM PENH — Just after a Honda pickup truck screeched to a halt beyond the decommissioned Soviet-era Antonov aircraft, four resolute-looking Chinese men with a military escort climbed out, slammed the doors shut and neatly arranged a series of firearms they had been carrying on a nearby table.
Once the pistols' magazines were loaded with shiny golden bullets, they began emptying round after round into paper targets at a distance of 25 meters, or 82 feet.
Nearby,... (GunPolicy.org)
Indonesia Man Arrested for Illegal Gun Possession
24 November 2012
Jakarta Post
A gold miner identified as MA, 21, was arrested on a beach in Nabire, Papua, for possessing an illegal firearm, a magazine and 12 bullets during a raid conducted by Papua Police on Friday at around 9:30 a.m. local time.
"We are still investigating how he [MA] got the weapon and the reason why he had the gun," said Papua Police deputy chief Brig. Gen Paulus Waterpauw on Friday.
This is the second arrest after police nabbed two civilians, HE and AN, in Manokwari, West... (GunPolicy.org)
Proliferation of Illicit Firearms in Thailand
18 November 2012
Bangkok Post
With firearm crime on the rise and the amount of illegal locally produced and smuggled weapons growing, there are concerns that a programme giving officials discounts in the name of self-protection is worsening the situation.
In recent years Thailand has been flooded with illegal firearms and the misery they cause is plain for all to see. Every day there are media reports of shootouts and homicides that begin with domestic quarrels, school rivalries and traffic... (GunPolicy.org)
Czech Republic,Austria,Thailand,United States
Thai Authorities Concerned Over Easy Access to Guns
18 November 2012
Bangkok Post
In recent years Thailand has been flooded with illegal firearms and the misery they cause is plain for all to see. Every day there are media reports of shootouts and homicides that begin with domestic quarrels, school rivalries and traffic accidents, and quickly escalate. Law enforcement officials say the root cause is the easy availability of guns, and this is true for teenagers as well as adults. People prefer to buy weapons outside of legal channels because they are... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns, Sharp Weapons Seized in Indonesia School Raid
13 November 2012
Independent (South Africa) / Agence France Presse
JAKARTA - Indonesian police detained 48 students and a teacher from an Islamic boarding school and seized firearms and sharp weapons, a spokesman said on Tuesday, in the nation's latest terror raid.
Dozens of police stormed the Darul Akhfiya school in eastern Java's Nganjuk district on Monday and kept the students and teacher overnight for questioning.
"Police detained 48 students and a teacher on Monday after the community reported unusual activity at the school and... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Independent (South Africa) / Agence France Presse
Philippines Police Seize Almost 5,000 Illegal Guns Ahead of Elections
5 November 2012
Balita
MANILA — Laying the groundwork for secure and fair elections in May 2013, the Philippine National Police reported on Sunday the confiscation of nearly 5,000 illegal firearms in the country during the first 10 months of this year.
In spite of the significant increase in the seizure of illegal guns, PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome ordered police units to step up operations to account for more loose firearms proliferating in the country.
"By taking away these... (GunPolicy.org)
Homemade Guns Involved in Myanmar Conflict, Thousands Displaced
1 November 2012
Nation (Pakistan)
YANGON/DHAKA - Communal bloodshed in western Myanmar risks developing into "armed terrorist acts", the government said Wednesday, after homemade firearms were used in the latest deadly fighting.
The government said 180 guns were seized during the new wave of conflict between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine state, which has killed dozens and seen whole neighbourhoods razed. It said several people had been arrested on suspicion of making the weapons.
"The clashes... (GunPolicy.org)
Indonesian Men Arrested for Alleged Unlicenced Replica Gun Selling
22 October 2012
Jakarta Globe
Jakarta Police arrested two men accused of selling unlicensed airsoft guns on social networking sites last week.
The men, identified only as "D" and "A.G.," were stood next to a table of realistic-looking airsoft guns in a press conference on Monday.
Police seized 187 airsoft guns, including replicas of pistols and assault rifles, in the raid.
"They sold the guns at fairly low prices, from Rp 3 million ($312) to Rp 6 million for the [assault rifles]," Jakarta... (GunPolicy.org)