NCJ Number
177329
Date Published
1998
Length
188 pages
Annotation
This United Nations report presents findings from a survey of member countries regarding firearm regulation, including issues of ownership, possession and use; manufacturing and trade; firearms smuggling and other illegal firearms dealings; demographic and crime statistics; policy and public education initiatives; and the identification of key contact persons within countries.
Abstract
As of December 31, 1997, completed survey questionnaires had been received from 69 countries. Although it should not be assumed that the results of the research study are globally representative, the study sample is a reasonable, international cross-section of countries. The estimated total population of responding countries for the year 1995 was almost 4.2 billion which represents 74 percent of the estimated world population of 5.7 billion. Of these countries, 38 were classified as "developing" and 31 as "developed." The topics covered in the survey were criminal cases, accidents, and suicides in which firearms were involved, including the number of such cases and the number of victims involved, as well as the status of firearm regulation by the law enforcement authorities; the situation regarding transnational illicit trafficking in firearms; national legislation and regulations relevant to firearm regulation; and relevant initiatives for firearm regulation at the regional and interregional levels. The majority of responding countries reported that they regulate firearms to some extent; they prohibit the ownership of certain types of long guns and handguns, and they further restrict the ownership of all long guns and handguns. The majority of responding countries restricted in some manner the import, export, and manufacture of all long guns and handguns. The majority of countries also prohibited certain long guns and handguns from being imported, exported, and manufactured. Very few countries reported no restrictions or prohibitions of any kind. Most responding countries allowed the ownership of handguns for the purposes of hunting, target-shooting, collection, and protection of persons or property. Most responding countries reported some type of licensing requirement for the purchase of all firearms; some others reported a licensing requirement for only certain firearms. Extensive tables and figures