NCJ Number
181819
Editor(s)
Graeme Newman
Date Published
1999
Length
20 pages
Annotation
In 1996, the United Nations International Study on Firearm Regulation was conducted in response to the request of the Economic and Social Council, a study that covered criminal cases, accidents, and suicides in which firearms were involved; the situation with regard to transnational illicit trafficking in firearms; national legislation and regulations on firearms; and initiatives to regulate firearms at regional and inter-regional levels.
Abstract
The study found countries that had higher firearm ownership rates also had higher firearm-related death rates, including homicide rates. Firearms were commonly used in domestic disputes where fatalities occurred. Some countries had strong regulations and high firearm-related homicides. Firearm-related death rates due to homicides, accidents, and suicides varied widely throughout the world. Firearms were hardly ever used in the commission of sexual assault. Most countries prohibited the ownership of firearms for civilians with a criminal record or a record of domestic violence. In addition, most countries used some form of registry to trace lost or stolen firearms and prohibited the import and export of some firearms. Prison, usually for a term of more than 5 years, was the most common punishment for firearm smuggling. Countries differed widely in how they translated concern about firearm ownership into public policy and legislation. Bilateral or international agreements concerning firearm regulation tended to be limited in scope. Countries in post-conflict situations often became the source of a large number of illicit weapons and became a center of illegal smuggling of weapons to criminals in neighboring countries. 3 tables and 11 figures