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WFSA News and Information



October 2006

October 21, 2006

UK pushes for international arms treaty

The United Kingdom, with the support of a number of other countries including Argentina, Australia, Kenya and Ukraine, is likely to press for a legally binding international arms trade treaty in the United Nations. It is believed that there are now enough votes in hand for the resolution to be passed. The treaty itself would not be voted on until 2008.

In accordance with the policy of the governing Labour Party, and despite its own refusal to vote in the UN for a ban on cluster bombs, the British Government has continued to press for what it calls "common international standards on the import, export and transfer of conventional arms". Those campaigning for the treaty continue to argue that it is legally-manufactured firearms that are likely to end up in countries which are under arms embargoes.

Guardian article



October 20, 2006

Costa Rica bans arms manufacture

According to an article from the Xinhua News Agency, Costa Rica on October 17 formally banned the manufacture of all arms and munitions within its borders.

President Arias, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been heavily involved in the disarmament movement, and has pushed for arms control treaties for all countries. In an increasingly common scenario, the pressure to reduce trafficking in military arms has once again brought further restriction on the civilian ownership of guns. The legislation places a ceiling on the number of guns any private individual may own.

Story link



October 10, 2006

British police change emphasis in handling gun crime

After nearly ten years since the latest round of severe restrictions on lawful gun owners, the United Kingdom, with one of the western world's most prohibitive regimes, is being forced to admit that the measures revolving round the total banning of handguns have been a marked failure in reducing crime. A new approach is being contemplated.

The Sunday Telegraph (link) has published an article by Tom Harper quoting senior police sources as having no idea how many illegal guns are entering the country. At the same time, only a half of those illegal guns taken from criminal hands are ballistically analysed to check whether they have been involved in crimes previously.

This fact notwithstanding, the same report describes how it is well known that illegal guns are circulated within the criminal community, and may be used in numerous crimes at different ends of the country.

The report goes on to foreshadow the founding of a new police unit in the three problem cities of London, Manchester and Birmingham, where gun crime is rife. Its brief will be to accumulate data regarding individual firearms that have been seized by the police. This unit is expected to come into operation during 2008.

Of particular interest is the announcement that the Association of Chief Police Officers is forming a special group to pay particular attention to the most dangerous and prominent 200 gun criminals.

Considering no advantage in lowering crime has ever been noted following the introduction of universal registration and gun bans, this move could prove a welcome change of direction.


October 6, 2006

Proposed changes to gun laws in Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has recommended that young people throughout the United Kingdom should have a common age of access to the process of learning to shoot. The UK Home Office is now reviewing the firearm legislation, and the opportunity exists for Ireland to fall into line.

Shooting associations worldwide almost universally adopt the position that the younger the age at which children are taught to have competence with handling firearms, the better the outcome in terms of safety.

A consultation paper now brought forward by the government suggests three options: access to shooting of air rifles and shotguns to be allowed at twelve years, at sixteen years (which is the present minimum age in Ireland), or to have no minimum age limit, as is the case in Great Britain when the shooter is under supervision.

Security Minister Paul Goggins has launched wide-ranging consultation, and called for submissions from all interested parties.


October 3, 2006

Call for global arms trade treaty

A report calling for an international arms treaty has been released by a number of international groups including Oxfam and Amnesty International in conjunction with the International Action Network on Small Arms.

The Arms Without Borders report was released on October 2, in order to coincide with a UN General Assembly meeting in New York. After the failure to reach consensus of the Small Arms and Light Weapons meeting in June-July this year, there is increasing pressure for an international structure ostensibly designed to regulate the passage of arms between nations.

The report says that unscrupulous dealers in arms, particularly among emerging-nation manufacturers, can circumvent existing requirements. Countries may have their own export regulations which "do not always include explicit criteria... for authorising arms transfers". This allows a range of arms-related items to be produced and circulated without trace. Munitions can be assembled elsewhere under licence after being exported from the country of manufacture.

The report says that arms so produced have been used against civilians in countries under official arms embargoes.

BBC News


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