National gun laws

The majority of small arms are in the hands of private individuals - worldwide, around 60% of guns are possessed by civilians. There is a strong correlation between firearms ownership and gun death rates, especially for handgun ownership, as handguns are concealable and so commonly used in crime.

In 2006, the UN sub-commission on human rights endorsed principles to prevent human rights abuses by civilians with guns. Many countries regulate:

- types of weapons permitted. For example, prohibiting fully automatic weapons, or semiautomatic rifles. Given their use in crime, some countries also prohibit civilian possession of handguns.

- users of guns. Licensing the users of guns might involve requiring users to prove they have a genuine need of a firearm, also background checks to investigate whether the user is likely to be a risk to themselves or others.

- uses of guns. For example, prohibiting carrying or firing guns in a  public place.

Essential to enforcing the above regulations is firearm registration, linking every weapon to its last legal user and so identifying any point of diversion. This is part of a marking and tracing requirement.

Latest news

UNPoA Second Review Conference

The Second Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action (PoA) to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, is due to run from 27th August to 7th September at UN Headquarters in New York.

More than a decade has passed since the adoption of the PoA in 2001, which has laid the foundation for action at the national, regional and global levels.

Second Review Conference of the UNPoA

The Second Review Conference for the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNPoA), is about to commence at the UN Headquarters in New York, 27th - 7th August, 2012.

Rwanda: Students discuss gun violence

Bethesaida, IANSA member in Rwanda, led a training workshop to discuss the means to reduce the misuse of SALW and organised debates with women in the area of Kigali. They are also working with pupils from the schools of the district to think about SALW and issues related to gun violence.

DR-Congo: Students discuss Kinshasa Convention at the University of Goma

M. Mwenebatende Dufina Tabu, president of the Association des Volontaires du Congo (ASVCO) gave a presentation to students of the University of Goma, following by a Q&A session on the week of action campaign, gun violence and the Kinshasa Convention. The students all expressed the wish to participate in a conference on small arms control and to encourage others to sign a petition calling on the central government of the DRC to ratify the Kinshasa Convention. Following the discussions, students decided to collect signatures on Friday at the university.

DR-Congo: IANSA Women call for stronger gun laws and ratification of the Kinshasa Convention

Femmes des Médias pour la Justice au Congo (FMJC), IANSA Women in the DR-Congo, organised a Week of Action launch event. 49 people attended, including journalists and activists. In his opening speech, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that the misuse of guns is not only the basis for violations of human rights and humanitarian law, but also discourages investments and prevents economic growth. Ms.

Latest resources

Most homicides in El Salvador committed with guns

Guns were used in nearly 75% of the 18.929 homicides committed in El Salvador in the period 2007-2011, according to new research by Centro de la Sociedad Civil para el Monitoreo y Evaluación de la Violencia and Fundación para la Democracia, Seguridad y Paz. In a study on public safety in the country, they found that violence was the leading cause of death, with 12 homicides per day.87.3% of homicide victims were men.

Parliamentary Forum statement on civilian possession of automatic and semi-automatic rifles

The Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons has issued a policy statement on civilian possession of automatic and semi-automatic rifles, adopted during their board meeting in New York on 23 October this year. It states that, “ Such kinds of weapons – which do not only relate to illegal trafficking, conflict zones or high levels of gun violence but have also been used to perpetrate massacres in countries including New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia, United States and recently in Norway - should be banned from civilian possession”.

Newsletter from the Coalition Against Gun Violence - Summer 2011

This newsletter from the Coalition Against Gun Violence in the US includes a message of solidarity to the people of Norway after the shooting that left 69 people dead on 22 July 2011.

Report on small arms and insecurity in DR Congo

A new report on the connection between small arms and perceptions of insecurity among the population in Eastern DR Congo was launched in Kinshasa on 22 June.

UNODC model law on firearms now online

The model law on firearms created by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime is now available online.

Article on the risks of keeping a gun in the home

Focusing on the US, this article, written by David Hemenway and published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, summarises and compares scientific literature on the health risks and benefits of having a gun in the home for the gun owner and his/her family.

Policy brief on US background checks to prevent gun violence

This policy brief was produced by Garen Wintemute of the Violence Prevention Research Program (VPRP) at the University of California,Davis, in response to a policy proposal put forward by Mayors Against Illegal Guns

Gun Policy

A website with information relevant to national gun laws across the world, including country and regional laws, news and data.

Handgun laws in 16 countries

Handguns are concealable, a strong advantage for use in criminal acts. They are also specifically designed to kill people. This table lists strengths and weaknesses of national gun laws in 16 countries.

DAKS newsletter

The latest DAKS newsletter is now available.

West African Network websites

IANSA members in West Africa are keeping track of states’ implementation of the ECOWAS convention on their websites.

Guns are the weapons most widely used to kill women

Firearms were the weapons most widely used to kill women in 44 countries around the world, said the Third International Report on Partner Violence against Women.

Colombia's national gun laws

A new report analyses Colombia's national laws in the light of international instruments on small arms control.

Report on firearms control

A new report “Stopping the Destructive Spread of Small Arms” discusses the challenges that gun proliferation poses for sustainable security and development.

Small arms and human rights: Resolution of UN sub-commission

This resolution endorses 15 principles for preventing human rights abuses with guns, including abuses committed by state actors (eg law enforcement) and private citizens.