IANSA Regions: North America


North America

Canada
This nation of 31 million has an estimated 6.2 million firearms in circulation, of which about five million are rifles and shotguns. About one in four Canadians owns a gun, though it varies significantly by region. Long guns are responsible for the majority of gun crime in Canada, though handguns and other restricted firearms smuggled in from the United States are prevalent in crime. Public advocacy to reform Canada’s domestic firearms laws grew in 1989 after a mass shooting in Montreal in which one individual shot 28 people, killing 14 of them. All of those killed were women. As of 2001, all Canadian firearm owners are required to be licensed. Following the passage of the national Firearms Act, all firearms are now subject to registration, as well. Canada is not a significant manufacturer or exporter of firearms. IANSA participants in Canada are working to: defend the new gun registration law from attempts to overturn it educate the public and policymakers on further measures to reduce gun violence engage in international efforts to achieve stronger regulations of the arms trade
The United States
From 1993-2000, the U.S. was the leading supplier of conventional arms to the developing world, with sales of USD 61.5 billion. In 1999, the U.S. manufactured over four million firearms for domestic sale or export. More than 300 U.S. companies produce arms and/or ammunition, and the country is estimated to have one of the world’s largest domestic markets for small arms. An estimated 34% of the nation’s 280 million citizens own personal firearms, and there are thought to be over 200 million firearms in private hands. Private gun ownership is generally not subject to either licensing or registration. The private resale of guns is largely unregulated in the United States, making it difficult to prevent their acquisition by youth, criminals, and other prohibited individuals. Guns are a significant cause of death among U.S. citizens, especially urban minorities and youth. Firearm homicide and suicide rates are the highest in the developed world. The majority of domestic gun violence is attributable to handguns. IANSA participants in the United States are working to: research the health and social impact of guns educate the public on the risks of firearm ownership promote policies to prevent criminal and youth access to guns apply consumer product regulations to the gun industry support international efforts to curb the proliferation of small arms
Links
Small Arms Survey: Americas Gun Control: The ACLU position American Civil Liberties Union OAS Firearms Convention (CIFTA)
Canada
Coalition for Gun Control Project Ploughshares South Asia Partnership

United States
Brady Center for Gun Violence Prevention British American Security Information Council Center for Defense Information Coalition To Stop Gun Violence Economists Allied for Arms Reduction Eminent Persons Group Firearm Injury Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin Human Rights Watch Arms Division International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy at the Bloomberg School of Public Health Join Together at the Boston University School of Public Health Million Mom March Monterey Institute of International Studies Program on Global Security and Disarmament at the University of Maryland Quaker United Nations Office Trauma Foundation Woman's International League for Peace and Freedom World Policy Institute Worldwatch Institute