Gun Control (Law)

This article covers gun control of firearms. The control of armaments can be found under arms control .

The gun control ( English gun control, arms control, gun politics ) determines the legal requirements of a state with regard to manufacture, trade and access to weapons. The consensus between a total ban and free, uncontrolled access to weapons is typically dependent on the history and ideology of a nation. International treaties are also incorporated into national weapons laws.

Arms sales can strengthen the buyer's power to attack or protect, hinder local handicrafts through imports or enable illegal possession, generate a lot of profit for manufacturers, endanger the rulers of a state, gun owners or public safety. The control laws therefore vary in their purpose.

Export control

Firearms exports in 2006 in USD millions

National and international legal systems overlap in arms trade controls. For every nation, high arms exports make economic sense. However, the export to crisis areas, especially of war weapons, violates international rights, such as human rights and international humanitarian law . Since the nations are in competition with one another, they would also allow questionable exports if these were not controlled and published. Only binding UN treaties and confidence-building measures, such as B. the transparency register can provide a solution to this dilemma. In 2011, the Small Arms Survey reported that only 50 to 60 countries were failing to comply with international obligations. This report certifies that, according to the current edition of the Transparency Barometer, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Germany are the main exporters with the greatest transparency.

Nowadays the resolutions of international organizations ( UN , EU , OSCE ) are implemented with national arms embargoes . These organizations issue embargoes under certain conditions as a means of pressure against countries that violate international law. Sometimes, however, embargoes are also used by economically powerful countries against generally weaker countries. The US imposed an almost total embargo on Cuba. In addition, there are embargoes against persons and organizations that are included in the terrorist environment.

So far there has been no differentiation between firearms for civilian use and weapons of war in the small arms agreements of the United Nations, the Council of the European Union and the national foreign trade ministries.

Hunting, sporting and handguns are for the most part exported directly from manufacturers or dealers in rich western countries to end users or national wholesalers in rich western countries . The Small Arms Survey testified in its 2009 report that exports from EU countries are almost 100% authorized. The situation is different with war firearms, one third of which, according to this report , were illegally exported. The largest share is said to come from China.

International

In 1995, UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali campaigned for the control of small arms for the first time as part of his Agenda for Peace . He called on the international community to find effective solutions to prevent proliferation and the misuse of small arms . In the same year, UN resolution 50 / 70B was passed. It required the Secretary General to prepare a report on Small Arms and Light Weapons ( SALW ) for the 1st Small Arms Conference in 2001. Then the small arms action program came into being . The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) was founded in 1998 to promote the disarmament of nuclear missiles and weapons of mass destruction. The disarmament of conventional small arms and landmines is also one of the goals, as these weapons are mainly used in crisis areas.

There is now a UN firearms protocol, a UN transparency register , international marking regulations and much more. Currently (2010) an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is being prepared to prevent the illegal trade in small arms.

Support for these contracts is provided by organizations for human rights and humanitarian aid, which see a direct connection between the proliferation of small arms, even in private hands, to violent crimes and the death of civilians. First and foremost is IANSA (International Action Network on Small Arms), which was founded in 1999 after the rampage in Dunblane (Great Britain). In 2003 IANSA started the Control Arms campaign together with Oxfam and Amnesty International . The aim of this campaign is the total ban on handguns.

Rejection for these contracts comes from the Organization of American States and the World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities , which demand the exclusion of civilian weapons from the contracts.

United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Firearms Protocol is the ultimate guideline for preventing, combating and eliminating the illicit manufacture and illicit trade in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition . The United Nations Small Arms Action Program was established in 2001 to implement it .

The firearms protocol calls for the manufacture of weapons to be marked with serial numbers and production books to be kept. National laws are supposed to monitor trade in their own country and urge them to be recorded in trading books. Common export criteria and procedures are to regulate export , import and transit. Transparency measures should enable tracking. Border controls and surveillance of sea and air routes are intended to prevent smuggling.

The Firearms Protocol was signed by 51 states and the European Union.

Within the European Union

Before the abolition of borders and customs formalities, the European Union was forced to harmonize the various national weapons laws. This was implemented with Council Directive 91/477 / EEC of June 18, 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons. In this guideline, the weapon categories were initially determined (Annex I) and category A was determined as prohibited.

Prohibited firearms include military weapons and launchers with explosive effects, fully automatic firearms, firearms disguised as a different object, armor-piercing ammunition, ammunition with explosive and incendiary devices and projectiles for this ammunition, pistol and revolver ammunition with expansive projectiles and projectiles for this ammunition with the exception of those for Hunting and sporting weapons from persons who are authorized to use these weapons. These banned weapons are mainly requested from crisis areas.

In addition, all purchases, shipments and transports within the European Union were regulated, as well as increased controls at the external borders with third countries. All rules should be implemented in national regulations by 1993 and reported to the European Union. The responsible Commission should then immediately inform the other Member States of the measures taken. (Articles 15.4 and 18).

In 2008 the guideline was tightened. Arms trade books must now be kept for 20 years instead of 10 years, convertible parts have to be reported, labeling has been introduced, brokerage regulations have been introduced, a computer-based arms register has been made mandatory until 2014 and much more. Many of the tightening are based on the requirements of the UN (labeling, tracking, broker or intermediate trade).

Further tightening is due for 2011. In order to implement Article 10 of the UN Firearms Protocol, the European Union has devised new guidelines for transport and export to third countries and passed them on to the countries of the European Union for consultation.

Regulations for Germany

In Germany, the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) regulates export controls for dual-use goods , which include armaments and weapons. Part I, Section A of the export list lists the weapons, ammunition and armaments to be checked, as well as their exceptions. The office controls the classification of the exported goods, the importing country and the recipient. The approval of the Federal Foreign Office is required under certain conditions .

→ Main article : Arms export

Import control

Countries determine the imports of firearms through national gun laws and customs regulations . Either weapons cannot be imported because private ownership is prohibited or because the domestic economy is to be protected.

Example: Between 1987 and 1994, 15% of the firearms imports in the USA came from China and threatened the domestic industry due to the low prices. In 1994, Bill Clinton introduced a ban on Chinese arms imports. Since then, domestic sales have increased again, so that in 1998 only 6% of domestic production was exported, although 75% of global firearms production was made in the USA. This economic ban was also the reason that three European arms dealers who imported Chinese magazines with a forged Bulgarian declaration of origin into the USA were arrested in the USA in January 2011. You face twenty years imprisonment for arms smuggling.

Manufacturing control

Production control is concerned on the one hand with technical safety and on the other hand with the control of production and the distribution of the manufactured goods.

The safety of firearms and ammunition is controlled by the gunfire system.

For production control in many constitutional states, manufacturers have to acquire manufacturing licenses and keep manufacturing books in which the weapons are listed with serial numbers, as well as their customers. In some cases, however, the state itself is involved in illegal production and illegal trade .

In times of war, in particular, you can make a lot of money selling weapons. In the Middle Ages of the city of Nuremberg, for example, the share of arms sales was 10% in peacetime and rose to 100% in wartime. According to Arno Schütze, “ the only consistent motive in Nuremberg's arms trade was one's own advantage. A look at the customer base shows that the city supplied all warring parties. Even your own enemies . ”This liberal arms policy was not without consequences. In 1632 the Swedish and Imperial armies camped at the gates of Nuremberg. Due to large looting, a plague epidemic, the costs of the fortifications and unpaid deliveries to various warring parties, Nuremberg plunged into a deep financial crisis. The Suhl gunsmith had a similar experience. The people of Suhl, who until then had provided both friends and enemies with war equipment and made good profits from it, were defenselessly plundered by the attack by the Croats in 1634. The weapons factory could only recover with difficulty.

During the Cold War , the production of firearms in many countries was mainly in government hands. Currently, China, Russia, many countries in Central America, South America (except Argentina and Brazil), Africa (except South Africa) and Asia are still in this state. All states in which private manufacturing is permitted belong to the free states .

Control of civilian gun possession

In 2011, the government's Small Arms Survey carried out an analysis of civil arms control legislation and the use of firearms in 42 legal districts (28 countries and 14 sub-national units). The diversity of the existing laws, their similarities and principles were presented.

In its introduction and the German summary, the institute came to the following statements:

• In all countries except Brunei , Cambodia , Taiwan , Eritrea , Liberia and the Solomon Islands (the latter with the exception of members of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands), citizens are allowed to buy and possess firearms - subject to certain restrictions. Civilian uses include sport shooting, hunting, self-defense, gathering, and professional activities.
• Government approaches to regulating civilian possession of weapons depend on the question of whether civilian possession is viewed as a basic right or a privilege . Where gun ownership is a fundamental right (in the United States and Yemen), regulations tend to be more generous; where gun ownership is seen as a privilege (all other countries examined), the restrictions on the part of the state are stronger.
• All states recognize the need for action to promote the safe use of firearms and to prevent misuse and threats to public safety, as well as promoting the safety of gun owners.
• As with other forms of social regulation, the laws governing civilian gun ownership change over time. Revisions are not only stimulated by incidents of weapon misuse in the media, but also by shifts in public opinion towards armed violence - and towards regulation itself.
• Almost all of the countries examined control the private possession of firearms simultaneously using three pillars:
  • Control of the firearm
  • Control of the acquirer
  • Control of the purpose of possession

International regulations

The need for regional gun controls has been raised many times over the past twenty years. However, the focus has shifted to combating the illicit trade in small arms , particularly since the Small Arms Action Program was established in 2001. The last international agreement dates from July 1997: The ECOSOC resolution underlined the importance of state responsibility for effective regulation of civilian possession of small arms and encouraged member states to create regulations for the civil use of firearms, which should include the following elements:

• Firearms Safety and Custody Regulations
• Appropriate sanctions and / or administrative sanctions for offenses related to the misuse or illicit possession of firearms
• Reduction or exemption from criminal liability through amnesty or similar programs to encourage citizens to hand in illegal, unsafe and unwanted weapons.
• Establishment of a licensing system to ensure that firearms are not handed over to persons who have committed violent crimes and to other persons who are denied access to weapons under national law.
• Registration of all firearms

Although no international arms control agreements were adopted after 1997, 110 states have agreed elements of national arms control in at least eight regional agreements. Four of these agreements are legally binding.

Africa

The Bamako Declaration on a common African position on the unauthorized proliferation, distribution and trade in small arms and light weapons recommended that member states, among other things, the illegal possession of small arms, light weapons, ammunition and the like. to be regarded as a criminal offense under national law.

In 2001, the SADC Firearms Protocol obliged the contracting states to integrate the following elements into national law: prohibition of unrestricted possession by civilians, prohibition of possession and use of light weapons by civilians, registration of all privately owned weapons, provisions on safe storage and use , Monitoring and reviewing gun licenses, limiting the number of firearms that may be owned, prohibiting the attachment and pledging of firearms, ammunition, etc. Ä., Prohibition of deception or withholding of information when submitting an application. It recommended a coordinated review of national procedures and criteria for licensing and the creation of a national electronic weapons register.

In 2004, the Nairobi Protocol for the prevention, control and reduction of SALW in the region of the African Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa contained almost identical provisions to the SADC Firearms Protocol. However, it also required the registration and effective control of weapons owned by private security companies and banned civilian possession of semi-automatic and automatic rifles, as well as machine guns and all light weapons.

In 2004, the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Ammunition and Related Material prohibited the possession, use and sale of light weapons by civilians; called for a licensing system, including the following criteria: minimum age, no criminal record or suspicion of a moral crime; Evidence of a legitimate reason to possess, carry, carry or use; Proof of specialist training; Evidence of the safe and separate storage of weapons and ammunition. Also called for: limitation of the number of weapons per license; Waiting time of at least 21 days; temporary licenses, regular reviews; Law on the seizure and revocation of permits for violations of legal possession, as well as appropriate sanctions and penalties for illegal possession and use.

America

The Organization of American States has insisted since 1997 that all international regulations must not affect legislation governing the possession and trade in civilian weapons.

The Andean plan of the Andean Community to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects encouraged 2003, the improvement and strengthening of regulations on civilian possession and recommended the illegal possession, carrying and use of small arms as a criminal offense under the national law set .

European Union

The first EU Weapons Directive 91/477 / EEC was adopted in 1991 in connection with the completion of the internal market. The free movement of firearms had to be accompanied by the precautionary measures set out in this directive and in accordance with the signed Firearms Protocol. Countries can have stricter national regulations, but should implement the minimum requirements. The minimum requirements at that time were as follows:

Trade and manufacture

• Arms dealers who deal in weapons of category A (prohibited) and B (subject to approval) require a state license
• For weapons in categories A, B and C (notifiable) , trading books must be kept. These must be kept for five years.

Acquisition

• Category A weapons are to be banned nationally
• Weapons of category B, C and D (other) should only be given to people who are of legal age (special permit for hunters and sport shooters possible)
• Category B weapons should only be given to people who have a need (justification, good cause, genuine reason) and who are unlikely to endanger themselves, public order and public safety.

2008 was improved with the EU Weapons Directive 2008/51 / EG , u. a. through the labeling requirement of the firearms protocol, but also for further restrictions of categories C and D, etc. a. full registration. The term broker has been added and further definitions have been specified. In addition, the four categories have been reduced to two (prohibited / permitted). This reduction is not seen as an oversimplification, especially by the states that manufacture weapons. The EU Commission report of July 2012 writes on this: "Based on the knowledge gained, the conclusion can be drawn that an EU-wide mandatory limitation of the firearm categories to two does not in itself have any obvious advantages; ..."

Trade and manufacture

• Every arms dealer (also for weapons of category C and D) needs a review of personal and professional reliability and skills.
• A computerized, centrally or decentrally set up arms register must be introduced for all categories by December 31, 2014, and the data must be kept for 20 years.
• Category D weapons must be registered from July 28, 2010.
• Every firearm and its essential parts must have a clear identification at the time of their manufacture, stating the manufacturer, the country or place of manufacture, the serial number and the year of manufacture; the importing country and date of import must be recorded.
• Every smallest packaging unit of ammunition is to be labeled in such a way that the name of the manufacturer, the identification number of the batch , the caliber and the ammunition type emerge from it

Acquisition

• All weapons (category A – D) are now subject to a need and the reservation that they are in all probability not endangering public order and public security. The conviction of a willful violent crime excludes the acquisition of weapons.
• Young people are only allowed to shoot under the guidance of an adult or shooting supervisor or at an approved shooting range

Travel relief

• Hunters may carry one or more firearms for firearms in categories C and D and target shooters for firearms in categories B, C and D who are traveling through two or more Member States in order to take part in a hunt or to pursue their sport, without prior authorization, provided that they have the European firearms pass issued for this weapon (s) and can prove the reason for your trip, e.g. B. by submitting an invitation or other proof of their participation in the hunt or of their shooting sport in the target Member State.

Increase in sanctions

• The sanctions envisaged must have a deterrent effect.

middle East

The Arab League drafted an Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material in 2002 . This contains provisions on the possession of weapons and ammunition, etc. a. requesting a license or permit to possess firearms; the recommendations to limit the amount of ammunition that can be owned or carried; Limit the number of weapons a citizen may own ("one rifle, one pistol, two hunting weapons"); to set the following admission criteria: minimum age 21 years, reliability, no criminal record, physical fitness; as well as drafting regulations on the cancellation of licenses, the obligation to report lost or stolen weapons within three days and the associated penalties.

Oceania

The Nadi Framework (Nadi framework for a common approach to Waffenkontoll measures) presented in 2000 the request to civilians, a need ( genuine reason ) to prove to the private possession of arms and describes the acceptable reasons. It lists the firearms that should be banned for civilian possession; proposes a procedure for licensing civilians and keeping a register of property and sales. This agreement was signed by representatives from the following countries: Australia , Cook Islands , Fiji , New Zealand , Samoa , Tonga and Vanuatu .

Implementation in national law

Each country takes the prerogative, based on its own mix of culture, historical and constitutional factors, to regulate civilian gun possession as it sees fit.

However, the 2011 Small Arms Survey found the following similarities in 42 legal districts examined in five regions:

• All states recognize the need to take certain measures to prevent abuse and threats to public safety, as well as to ensure the safety of gun owners.
• Almost all states prohibit or restrict citizens' access to weapons that states consider unsuitable for civilian use.
• The vast majority of states have a system of licensing to exclude certain people from private gun possession. However, instead of tying this exclusion to certain criteria, many states use a considerable margin of discretion.
• Many states register firearms or keep registers of privately owned firearms; these states tend to have a central registry.
• Most states require civilians to demonstrate a good cause or genuine reason for possession of a weapon.
• Some states allow the possession of firearms for self-defense, while others specifically deny this use.

The following countries were examined in the study:

• Africa : Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda
• America : Belize, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Canada, Colombia, United States of America, Venezuela
• Asia : India, Israel, Japan, Yemen, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Turkey
• Europe : Estonia, Finland, Croatia, Lithuania, Russian Federation, Switzerland, United Kingdom
• Oceania : Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea

Implementation factors

The process of passing laws is often very complex. The 2011 study on private gun ownership by the Small Arms Survey says the following factors have an influence on the drafting of the law:

• mainly the public opinion presented by the media
• private interests
• social mobilization
• the predominant national priorities
• interpersonal relationships with policy makers
• Attitude and experience with the use of weapons and weapon crime

Indeed, an increase in crime often leads to legislative action, as does high-profile public incidents involving gun violence .

Public opinion on gun control

On the one hand, weapons are seen as instruments for establishing power and exercising violence . Private possession of firearms is seen as a threat to internal security. In order to restrict access to and use of them, self-defense as a need for private gun possession is prohibited in many countries . The same applies to carrying weapons in public . In Germany, for example, since 1992, through a ruling by the BVerwG, the recognition that “every weapon less increases internal security” has become naturalized in jurisprudence and public opinion. This position is also shared by some political parties. Up to now there has not been a scientific study in Germany that could confirm this statement. In the United States too, large numbers of citizens are hostile to private gun ownership. In 2001, when the Michigan " Carrying Guns in Public " bill was about to be voted on, it was fiercely opposed by the Brady Campaign and the Michigan Attorneys Association. The Detroit Free Press wrote ten years after the law was passed: Concealed weapons haven't changed much in the state, say both sides of the debate.

The other side allows law-abiding guarantors to own controlled private weapons. This opinion holds u. a. Ueli Maurer from the Swiss Federal Council: “The gun tradition is an expression of the liberal civil state. Anyone who objects that the armed citizen is dangerous is denying him personal responsibility. " Former British Superintendent Colin Greenwood goes into detail here: " Strict gun legislation ... armed (only) the underworld. As a rule, it only shows the feeling of insecurity of government officials and their unjustified fear of their own people, who are always met with distrust. "

Influence from non-governmental organizations

The public opinion is u. a. influenced by the published opinion, e.g. B. through media and campaigns. After the Second World War, many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) successfully fought for arms control measures with worldwide campaigns. Since the 1990s, their focus has been on conventional weapons, especially small arms and light weapons. The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) are among the newly founded NGOs during this period. Many organizations that had joined IANSA had previous experience from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). At the same time, the World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities (WFSA) was founded, an international interest group for the preservation of private gun ownership. The best-known member is the National Rifle Association (NRA USA).

Although the individual NGOs are ideologically and organizationally set up differently, most of the individual groups and individuals belong to one of the two umbrella organizations:

• Gun control advocates are united under IANSA, which represents 500 million members from 800 organizations in 120 countries.
• The firearms advocates have united in the WFSA, which represents 100 million members from 35 organizations of hunters, shooters and gun collectors, as well as some groups from the arms trade and industry in 13 countries.

Both umbrella organizations have been invited to all UN small arms conferences with speeches since 2001 and participate in the national and international preparations (PrepCom) for the next conference. Since 1995, the groups have been particularly involved in research, policy development, advocacy, public awareness and education and the implementation of practical measures.

In particular, humanitarian and human rights organizations began to create empirical evidence for a link between the increased prevalence of small arms and the negative effects of the rise in violence and loss of life, especially among civilians. Gun advocates focused on preventing global gun controls that seek to restrict the legal trade in firearms or the right to private gun possession (especially in the United States).

In 2006, the UNIDIR investigated the influence of NGOs in terms of their influence on small arms control and disarmament, describing the influence of some NGOs as follows: 2003 launched Oxfam , Amnesty International and IANSA the Control Arms campaign, which aims a global Arms Trade Treaty ( . English Arms Trade Treaty ) is. The consequences of the misuse of firearms and the calls for increased controls and disarmament were publicized through background reports and public actions.

In addition to this campaign, which received worldwide attention, UNIDIR was also able to recognize that non-governmental surveillance ( “citizens' reporting”, “inspection by the people” or “civil society monitoring” ) is an important element in international Community has become when it is examined how effectively the implementation of the contractual obligations has taken place. The Red Books on ReliefWeb.int - a project by IANSA's OCHA from 2003, 2005 and 2006, are rated as an important resource for governments, international organizations and civil society, although the authors themselves noted that facts were missing due to lack of access and Findings could also be interpreted differently. These yearbooks were created as a joint project of IANSA, International Alert , Saferworld and the Center for International Co-operation and Security (CICS) of the University of Bradford under the title "Biting the Bullets". The data was collected from more than 100 NGOs from over 180 countries.

The authors of the study called on the governments to grant the relevant NGOs more financial resources, to support them with information and to provide them with technological and material assistance. They called on NGOs engaged in lobbying and campaigning as well as research to ensure that monitoring and review work is completely separate from their campaigning activities to ensure objectivity. No WFSA activity is mentioned throughout the report.

IANSA receives very strong financial support, including a. by the governments of Great Britain, Belgium, Sweden and Norway, as well as by the Ford Foundation , Rockefeller Foundation , Compton Foundation, Plowshares Fund, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation , Open Society Institute , Samuel Rubin Foundation and Christian Aid (UK ). IANSA is also a member of the Reference Group for the International Standards on Small Arms Control (ISACS) and a member of the expert group that advises the UN Offices on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC ) on the implementation of the UN Firearms Protocol. IANSA members also work closely with UN organizations, in particular with the United Nations Development Program ( UNDP ) and the UNODA regional UN disarmament centers. The Arms Trade Treaty initiated by IANSA is supported by UNODA. The arguments of the proponents of stronger controls and bans are: Many of the legally owned private weapons end up in illegal hands and must therefore be strictly controlled. Thousands of people die every day as a result of armed violence. Since fully automatic weapons, semi-automatic rifles and handguns in particular are used in firearm violence, it makes sense to ban these weapons for private weapon possession.

The Federal Foreign Office also supports IANSA and the Small Arms Survey (SAS), which is described by the Office as follows: “The Small Arms Survey is a globally recognized independent research institute for the investigation and presentation of arms transactions and measures to combat the illicit trade in small arms. To this end, government data on the illegal arms trade and current data on the legal trade in small arms are collated and the efficiency of national and international measures to control the illegal arms trade and the measures to identify and track ammunition is assessed. ”The Small Arms Survey is mainly carried out by the Geneva University Institute for international studies , supported by the United Nations Development Program and the South Eastern Europe Clearing House for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Critique of the gun lobby

According to Franz Császár, a former professor at the University of Vienna, anti-weapons NGOs bring a large number of books to the market that are written by activists with the support of funds from foundations and government money. Since the anti-weapons NGOs do not make any distinctions in their statistics with legal, private weapons, he fears that the changes in national weapons law will mainly be influenced by the well-funded anti-weapons NGOs. In contrast, the financial resources of the gun supporters are modest.

In countries of fragile statehood , in which the state's monopoly on the use of force serves not for security but for the oppression of the population, in which there is neither a fair distribution of resources nor democratic access to power, weapons are used as an instrument for the production of power, for exercise used by violence and for self-defense. Private gun ownership can, such as B. among the tribes in Yemen , as a guarantor of security and order, help determine the country's politics. However, like the drug war in Mexico , private (illegal) gun possession can have the opposite effect.

Proponents of small arms control assume private gun owners have “an archaic, backward-looking worldview and an uncivilized way of life. () Since weapons enable direct violence, even the owners of legal firearms are undermining the monopoly of force that should be in the hands of a "civilized, modern" state. " The opponents of small arms control argue that in democratic countries, i. H. in constitutional states , the state monopoly on the use of force is not called into question. Citizens accept that there is no such thing as vigilante justice , only the state has the right to protect the rights and freedom of citizens. In constitutional states, the possession of private weapons should therefore not be generally prohibited, but rather be linked to the reliability of the citizen and, in the case of weapons relevant to crime, to the needs of the citizens.

Gun advocates point to scientific research that shows that in countries with many legal private gun owners, many guns lead to less violence. Disarming the people does not reduce violence, but privileges criminals and terrorists at the expense of the innocent, since criminals do not allow themselves to be deterred by laws from owning and using weapons. They also refer to the population's fear of crime . In addition to media influences, particularly serious crimes are more important for individual citizens, as they can remember the information better and this is also often discussed in everyday interactions. The majority of citizens assume increases in crime even when light and dark field findings show that there has been a decrease. This phenomenon can also be found in other western countries. Since the arguments of the gun proponents find no echo in the published opinion, they use the counter-public more and more .

Influence through media-effective incidents involving armed violence

Gun violence incidents that reach the media often have an impact on national gun laws. This can be seen most clearly in countries where gun violence is very rare, where rampaging spells trigger great feelings of powerlessness and thus focus on tougher controls. Over the past 20 years, rampages have sparked changes in private gun ownership in at least seven of the countries surveyed by the Small Arms Survey. While six countries decided to tighten gun laws, some American states have liberalized their gun laws and abolished gun-free zones in schools and universities.

• Australia : After the killing spree in Port Arthur , the "Nationwide Agreement on Firearms" came about with the following contents:

a) semi-automatic rifles and shotguns as well as pump guns were banned, except for special purposes;

b) In order to own or use weapons, there must be a need, as well as special reasons for certain types of weapons;

c) a minimum age of 18 years has been introduced, proof of expertise and a 28-day waiting period for purchase;

d) Registration of all firearms and requirements for safe storage,

• Germany : The rampage in Erfurt (2002), Emsdetten (2006) and Winnenden (2009) caused the government to ban certain weapons, to raise the age limits for training and possession, to raise the requirements for the acquisition license, the need to restrict, to increase the requirement for reliability, to introduce expropriations without compensation and unreasonable house controls for officially registered gun owners. Articles 13 and 14 of the Basic Law were restricted for this group of people.
• Finland : Two school massacres in Jokela (2007) and Kauhajoki (2008) led to the minimum age of 20 years for handguns. In 2010, a regulation is to be introduced in which every applicant must first pass an aptitude test and then an aptitude test. In addition, the police would like to receive more information from the applicants regarding their health, drug habits and violent behavior and view the files from their military service.
• Canada : Before 1989, only the restricted handguns and submachine guns were registered. After the rampage in Montréal , the government decided in 1995 to introduce a weapons register for long weapons as well. The register was abolished in 2012.
• New Zealand : The 1990 Aramoana massacre triggered the following changes in gun law:

a) Introduction of a new weapon category MSSA (military-style-semi-automatic = semi-automatic rifle with military exterior) with high restrictions;

b) the licenses that were previously issued for life must be checked again after 10 years;

c) restrictions on the mail order of firearms and ammunition;

d) It is forbidden to leave weapons in vehicles without supervision.

• United States of America : No country has suffered as many rampages as the US and no other country has reacted so differently. The penalties for the misuse of weapons were often increased, as well as increased requirements for safekeeping so that children and young people cannot get access to weapons in the house. Many states have introduced penalties for parents for giving children access to loaded firearms. Other states, such as B. Arkansas, have lowered the ages for penitence. Some states (Utah, Colorado, and West Virginia) lifted arms bans in schools and universities. Texas plans to follow suit in 2011. Teachers and students who have a concealed carry (CCW) license are allowed to do so on the school premises. After the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007, the FBI recommended setting up a database of all relevant mental information.
• United Kingdom : After the 1987 Hungerford shooting , the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 was introduced, banning most semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, as well as self-loading rifles and pump guns. After the massacre in Dunblane in 1996, all handguns (with the exception of compressed air, starter and anti-gun pistols) were banned. After the 2010 Cumbria rampage , a commission was set up to see if further restrictions should follow.

Firearms Control

Prohibitions and Restrictions

Shooter with a semi-automatic handgun

There is no internationally agreed demarcation between military and civil firearms. However, most of the countries examined by the Small Arms Survey consider certain weapons to be inappropriate for civilian use and prohibit or severely restrict access to them. Bans and restrictions can, however, also extend to types of weapons which are disproportionately involved in violent crimes or which states consider unsuitable for permitted civilian use.

Most of the countries checked (with the exception of Yemen) prohibit the possession of fully automatic firearms and restrict the possession of semi-automatic firearms and handguns .

Handgun restrictions vary. Either certain types of weapons are prohibited or only allowed for certain uses, or both. For example, Lithuania prohibits the possession of handguns with a caliber over 9 mm for the purpose of self-defense, while in South Africa handguns are generally only allowed for the purposes of hunting, shooting sports and self-defense.

Brazil has two classifications: “restricted-use weapons” and “freely usable weapons”. The use and possession of automatic weapons and certain handguns are permitted by the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and in certain restricted cases, marksmen, hunters and gatherers. These weapons cannot be bought in the arms trade, but only directly from the manufacturer with a special state permit from the Brazilian army. Other handguns can be sold directly to civilians. In the Dominican Republic, too, certain firearms are considered weapons of war and may only be used by state forces. These include .45 caliber pistols, rifles, machine guns, carbines, artillery and other heavy weapons.

Registration

A registration comprises records of certain information about firearms, in some countries also about their owners in an official register. Most of the countries surveyed have arms registers , although the nature of the system and the information recorded vary widely. While some countries keep an official central register or several decentralized registers, in other countries firearms are only recorded on the licenses of the gun owner.

Some states, such as B. Australia, Brazil, Germany, Estonia, Canada, South Africa, and Switzerland require full records of all information related to registered firearms. This also includes all information about the license holder: all weapons he owns; which license applications he has submitted and which of them have been rejected or approved; all purchases and charges that the license holder has made. Other states, such as B. Austria, only record limited information for certain types of weapons.

The main purpose of registration is traceability:

• in the case of weapons that have been misused, the register can help determine the last known legal owner
• found, previously stolen weapons can be returned to the owner
• if the license holder commits a criminal offense, the register facilitates the confiscation of his weapons
• Arms transfers can be checked for legality

Proponents of registration see it as a better way of implementing current gun law, determining the origin of illegally owned weapons and reducing the availability of weapons for criminals.

Critics of the registration point to the financial cost of maintaining the register and the burden on owners of non-restricted weapons (mainly hunters and marksmen).

For example, in Canada in 1995, in addition to the existing registration of handguns, automatic and semi-automatic weapons, a weapons register for the remaining long weapons was introduced by law. The estimates were based on 2.4 million owners with 7.9 million long guns. The costs were initially set at $ 119 million, which were set against an estimated income of $ 117 million. However, the cost estimate was increased to $ 1 billion in 2002. Canada's police denied that the system was too expensive and unanimously voted in their 2010 Edmonton annual conference in favor of keeping long guns registration to improve public safety.

In 2012 the register was abolished. The province of Quebec wanted to continue to use the data, which was rejected by the government because “such a register is too expensive and also does not prevent firearms crime.” In addition, data protection officials criticized the fact that the police requested data up to 22,000 times a day.

New Zealand took a different approach with its 1983 Arms Act. Instead of registering all firearms, license holders were more carefully registered, as well as certain types of firearms. Prior to 1983, the country had a decentralized system for registering weapons upon purchase (including all shotguns, rifles, pistols and restricted weapons). An evaluation that assessed the amount of work required to adapt the previously existing system, which was based on index cards before the introduction of computers, to today's requirements, and an internal police report came to the conclusion that maintaining an accurate registry really helps police investigations would be an enormous and costly task, largely dependent on the owners' willingness to provide updated information. Ultimately, it was found that the money required in crime prevention could be better spent elsewhere. Therefore, the registration of long weapons in the 1983 Act was waived. The recommendations for the resumption of long gun registration in 1997 with the support of the police were rejected.

The United States does not have a national register of firearms or their owners, although the National Firearms Act requires machine guns, short-barreled shotguns and rifles, and silencers to be registered. The federal law even expressly excludes that the data of the "National Instant Criminal Background Check System" may be used for any registration, by requiring the destruction of this data in the event of legal transfers. Even so, some states have registers of all types of firearms.

New Jersey requires that assault weapons be registered with the police. This US state also requires that dealers and other sellers register handguns and their buyers (including a description of the buyer and the weapon) and, for sales of shotguns and rifles, archive the buyer's details (name, address, identification number) .

Florida expressly prohibits the keeping of a register of legal firearms and gun owners, claiming that such a list is " not a legal tool of law enforcement, but a tool for the profiling, harassment and abuse of law-abiding citizens " and maintains this list, if it fell into the " wrong hands ", it could be a shopping list for thieves. Indeed, the law includes a liability to pay compensation to gun owners whose names have been registered. Nonetheless, the rule allows information to be collected from firearms used in crimes as well as from persons involved in crimes. It also allows all stolen firearms to be recorded, even if only for a limited time.

Acquisition control

Most states impose restrictions on private gun owners by making gun ownership conditional on licensing. This includes checking the reliability of the applicant, checking whether the applicant has a need (legitimate reason) for possession of a weapon, checking the origin of the weapon acquired. Even after the weapons have come into private hands, many countries are checking whether the reliability and need continue to exist, as well as whether they are kept safe.

reliability

With the help of criteria that check the suitability of the applicant, the risk that the future gun owner engages in abuse should be reduced. Some states also require the applicant to receive prior training to reduce the chances of accidents.

Age restrictions

Most countries either prohibit the acquisition and possession of firearms by young people and minors, or restrict the types or use of firearms.

In most countries the possession of weapons is prohibited for civilians under the age of 18, as this age limit also determines the age of majority in many countries . There are higher age limits in Egypt, Estonia, India, Croatia, Lithuania, South Africa and Turkey, which only allow gun possession from the age of 21. In Brazil and Uganda the limit is 25 years and in Israel it is even 27 years if the applicant has not done military service. There are lower age limits in New Zealand and Belize, which allow gun ownership from 16 years of age, and Kenya, where 14-year-olds are allowed to own weapons.

United States federal law requires an age limit of 18 years for handguns, while there is no age limit for long guns. Even so, a number of US states require an age limit of 18 years, sometimes 16 or 21 years, for long guns and 21 years for handguns.

Mental and physical health

Gun possession is banned in several countries for people with severe mental disorders . While in some countries the authorities only have to make sure that the applicant is not mentally ill, in other countries the applicants themselves have to prove that they do not suffer from a mental disorder and that their mental health suggests responsible use of firearms.

In Australia (ACT region and Queensland), the Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, Croatia, the Russian Federation, South Africa and Turkey, the authorities can request a medical report. The Canadian authorities can investigate whether the applicant has been treated for a mental illness. In the UK, applicants are required to state on their application whether they have ever received treatment for depression or other mental or nervous disorders. They must also give their consent for the licensing authority to contact the treating doctors.

In Australia and the UK, doctors are required to report their concerns to the authorities as soon as they believe their patient may be putting himself or public safety at risk from possession of a weapon. The medical confidentiality is thereby legally repealed. Finland is considering introducing similar laws.

Some countries also check the applicant's physical aptitude. Egypt, Lithuania, Switzerland, Turkey, the Australian regions of Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia and the US state of New Jersey all require a medical certificate. In Singapore, license holders of a certain age are checked again for their physical suitability: sport shooters from 60 years and holders of a self-protection license from 50 years. Certain diseases are also an obstacle to a license in some countries. Epileptics do not get a license to carry a weapon in the Dominican Republic. In New Jersey, when purchasing a handgun license, all physical defects and possible illnesses that could jeopardize the safe use of the weapon are checked.

Drug and intoxicant addiction

In some countries, permits are denied if the applicant can be shown to be addicted to alcohol or other drugs, such as: B. in Yemen, Croatia, South Africa, Turkey and the United States. In other countries this does not lead to a refusal, but flows into the assessment of reliability, as in the Dominican Republic, Great Britain and New Zealand.

In most countries, it is a criminal offense to sell firearms to anyone who is intoxicated or drunk at the time of delivery. In the following countries, however, the use of firearms under the influence of intoxicants is a criminal offense, regardless of whether it has caused damage or not: Belize, Lithuania, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Uganda, as well as in the Australian provinces of Victoria and South Australia . In Estonia, the license can be withdrawn for one year if the licensee moves a car, train or plane while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Criminal record

Most countries take an applicant's criminal record into account in the licensing process. Even in countries that do not require a license to purchase, it is illegal to sell firearms to anyone with a criminal record, such as the United States.

The regulations vary. Some states deny any license to ex-prisoners, regardless of the period or type of crime. Others consider a time frame. Canada only looks at the criminal record for the last five years prior to filing the application. Some states take the crime itself into account. Firearm offenses, drug offenses, and capital crimes are often a reason for refusal. Some countries combine the factors. For example, Yemen will refuse a license to anyone convicted of a "serious crime", who received a seven-month sentence for a crime involving bodily harm, money or honor, who was convicted or used twice for these crimes within a year had committed a firearm.

In many countries, licensing authorities pay special attention to whether the applicant has committed a violent crime, particularly those involving sexual violence, domestic violence, domestic violence, or interpersonal violence. This is the case in the Australian province of Victoria, Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland. In New Zealand, a license may be refused if the applicant has received a ban on contact . In the United States, federal law also prohibits the acquisition or possession of firearms and ammunition by anyone guilty of domestic violence or banned contact. Some US states can confiscate all of the perpetrator's firearms. In South Africa, checks are carried out to see if the applicant has engaged in violent behavior, if he has had a threat or violence lawsuit in the last five years, and if he has separated from a partner who has accused him of violence in the past two years.

safety

Private Security: In Canada, applicants are asked to identify their current and former marriage partners. They must also sign the application. Otherwise the police are obliged to inform these partners of the application. In New Zealand, the police will contact the applicant's spouse, partner or next of kin to verify their reliability.

Public Safety : In many countries, the licensing authorities should decide whether the applicant can own firearms without endangering public safety. The criteria for this are so vague that they leave a considerable margin of discretion for the authority.

Expertise

Many countries require future gun owners to take a firearms training course or a proficiency test before submitting an application. The type of training or examination will vary, but the general aim is to assess the applicant's practical and theoretical knowledge. This person should be able to handle weapons safely and be familiar with the requirements for safe custody, as well as the laws for acquisition, use and the limits of self-defense.

In Brazil, applicants must demonstrate both technical skills and psychological aptitude through certified trainers and psychologists. In Estonia, the applicant must take an exam that includes gun law, first aid for gunshot wounds and a practical part in handling. In New Zealand, all licensees are required to undergo training and pass a theory test on how to safely handle firearms.

In some cases, training and testing depends on which weapon or for what purpose you are applying for a weapon.

There is no federal law on tests or exams in the United States. Even so, California and Massachusetts are demanding handgun training. Many US states have introduced proficiency tests for the concealed carry license (CCW). In Texas, the test includes a. nonviolent conflict resolution and retention requirements to prevent accidental harm to a child. In Germany, to get a hunting rifle , you need to have passed the hunter's examination with an entry in the rifle ownership card , and for sporting rifles, the applicant must show a certificate of active membership in a shooting club. Comparable in Croatia. In Lithuania, applicants applying for weapons for self-defense must pass a proficiency test. In Singapore, the applicant's shooting skills are also checked for self-defense applications.

Other criteria

In addition to the common criteria described above, some states also consider other factors in determining whether an applicant is reliable for private gun possession.

• Lifestyle : Lifestyle or domestic circumstances (unspecified) are assessed in Estonia and the Australian states of ACT, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
• Confidants : The reputation, honesty and integrity of an applicant's closest confidants are checked in South Australia, in New Zealand it is checked whether the closest confidants are trustworthy and in Japan the life partner may not have a previous conviction.
• Loss of previous weapon : Belize and Lithuania are investigating whether the applicant has already lost a firearm or whether a firearm has been stolen through negligence.
• Military service : Estonia checks whether the applicant has refused to do military service. The United States is investigating whether he was dishonorably discharged.
• Professional career : South Africa is checking whether the applicant has been terminated in the past two years.
• Pending Enforcement : The United States is investigating whether the applicant is on the run from justice. In Massachusetts, state arrest warrants are examined before a license to carry undercover is granted. In Texas, this license also checks whether the applicant has met his maintenance and tax obligations.

Licenses

In Germany there is a three-stage licensing system. A distinction is made between acquisition, ownership and management. Many countries including Estonia, Finland, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Lithuania, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, Singapore, Switzerland, and Turkey have an acquisition license and a possession license. In most of the countries that do this, the purchase license is limited in time to days or months and the ownership license is often only valid for a limited time.

In Croatia, for example, the applicant must first apply for a license to purchase, which is checked for reliability. With this license, he can buy a firearm, which he has to register with the authorities within eight days. The authority checks the origin and the serial number (identification). Only then does the applicant receive his license to own the registered weapon.

In other countries a reverse system is used. The applicant first needs a firearms license in which his need for a certain weapon category has been checked. Only then can he apply for a purchase license. He may only apply for weapons that fall into his approved category.

This is what happens in the Australian state of New South Wales. In Canada, applicants must first acquire a personal license ( Possession and Acquisition License; PAL ) that entitles them to purchase, own, and purchase ammunition. Canada differentiates between PAL and RPAL for restricted ( restricted ) weapons, such as. B. Handguns. The arms dealer registers the new owner upon purchase. If you buy it privately, you have to register the weapon yourself with the authorities.

In other countries there are individual licenses that are issued per firearm and do not require a purchase license, as in Belize and Great Britain. This license can vary depending on the weapon category. In Great Britain, for example, there is a license for shotguns (shotgun certificate) and one for other firearms (firearm certificate), which are associated with different procedures and criteria.

In New Zealand, the future gun owner first needs a firearms license that includes all non-restricted weapons. For handguns (category B) and fake weapons (category E), this license is extended with a supplement, provided that the associated conditions are met. So is z. B. the license for handguns depends on membership in a shooting club.

In the United States, federal law does not require licenses, although some US states require licenses for restricted weapons and covert wielding. Under federal law, licensed arms dealers are required to check with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to determine whether sales to that customer are permitted prior to selling. The NICS is a database provided by the FBI. Federal law does not require inquiries for private sales between civilians or at sales shows, but some US states require it.

In Yemen, where gun ownership is a fundamental right, there is no possession license. A license is only required for driving.

In some countries such as Lithuania and Canada, reasons for denying a license must be given. Other countries, such as Uganda, give the authority a completely free hand if they do not want to issue a license.

Acquisition license

With this permit, the owner can buy or acquire a firearm. Often the license is restricted to a certain weapon, weapon category and / or caliber. As a rule, it is valid for a short period of one to twelve months.

Ownership license

This permit entitles the licensee or permit holder to own weapons. In some countries, the ownership licenses are valid until the holder's life. In most countries, however, they are only granted for a limited period (often five years). Before it expires, the license holder must apply for an extension. This often means that the license holder has to go through the same procedure that was necessary for the first grant. Often this license also includes the purchase authorization for the ammunition that is suitable for the weapon.

Collective license

This permit entitles the licensee to buy and own firearms belonging to his collection area . Often it is impossible to have the right ammunition to buy.

License to lead

Gun passport (Austria) - outside

Gun passport (Austria) - inside

This permit allows the holder of a firearm to wear this outside his apartment ( Run ). In some countries, the ownership license already includes permission to drive. In Austria, the weapon passport entitles the holder to possess and carry it at the same time, whereas the weapon possession card only entitles the holder to possess and transport the unloaded weapon. In other countries, special licenses are issued, such as the gun license in Germany. In most countries where the concealed carry permit is legally permitted, this permit is subject to a license.

Restriction of the quantities

Some countries have restrictions on the number of guns a person can buy or own in total at one time. There are also restrictions on the purchase of ammunition and their supplies.

For example, in the state of California, a single person can only purchase one handgun in 30 days. In Germany, sport shooters have only been allowed to acquire two weapons within six months since 2008. German hunters have a need for standard hunting for two handguns. The acquisition of handguns going beyond this requires a separate requirement.

In many countries the purchase of ammunition is only permitted in the caliber in which the license holder also owns a weapon. In Lithuania the stock of ammunition is limited to 300 pieces (1000 pieces for sport shooters) per weapon owned. In Estonia, too, civilians are only allowed to store limited amounts of ammunition and propellant powder: 100 cartridges for handguns, 300 for shotguns, 1000 for sport weapons, 1 kg of propellant powder per weapon, but a maximum of 5 kg in total. Israel limits the ammunition for handguns to 50 pieces. South Africa limits the ammunition supply to 200 cartridges, unless the gun owner is a dedicated hunter or marksman. The Australian states of Tasmania and South Australia limit their ammunition stocks to a "reasonable" level. In Belize, Great Britain, India, Kenya and Uganda, the maximum quantities are entered on the weapons license.

Limitation by waiting times

Some countries have mandatory waiting times. Either a license is only granted after a certain period of time or the buyer has to wait a certain number of days before he can take possession of his weapon.

In Australia, purchase permits are typically only granted 28 days after a license holder submits an application. In Canada, too, there is a 28-day waiting period between application and approval of a purchase and ownership license. In the United States, several states impose a waiting period between purchase and delivery of handguns, even though no license is generally required to purchase. In New Jersey, buyers have to wait seven days and in California ten days before being given a handgun. In Florida, the waiting period for handguns is three days. It is faster for holders of a concealed carry license. If the buyer has been threatened with death or bodily harm and has reported this threat to the local law enforcement authorities, he can even be completely exempted from the waiting time.

Penalties for unauthorized use and possession

The penalties for unauthorized use or possession of a firearm vary from country to country. They are usually higher if the gun owner wanted to commit a crime, drunk or intoxicated with a gun, wields a gun without a license or leaves it to an unauthorized person.

In Singapore, unlawful use of firearms, including attempts to kill them, can be punishable by death. In Egypt, too, the use of firearms against public order or the security of the state is subject to the death penalty.

Transfer of used weapons (privately owned weapons)

Civilians acquire firearms from a variety of sources. You can inherit them, buy them from an arms dealer, a wholesaler or - in some countries - at exhibitions or take them over as used weapons from another private arms owner.

Most countries allow private sales between civilians under the following conditions. The buyer must show the appropriate license, such as B. Germany, Estonia, Finland, Great Britain, Canada, Kenya, Papua New Guinea and Uganda, and the seller must notify the licensing authority of the sale. In Finland the seller has 30 days to do this, in Belize 14 days, in Great Britain seven days and in Kenya and Uganda 48 hours.

In the United States, federal law restricts private sales to only between citizens of one state and the buyer must be 18 years or older. Without further restrictions, the private sale is z. B. Allowed in Arizona, Florida and Texas. In Massachusetts, the buyer needs a license, and New Jersey does a similar thing.

Some states only allow purchases from licensed dealers and prohibit transfers between individuals or allow private sales under restricted conditions. In Australia and Singapore, for example, the transfer of firearms between private individuals is prohibited. In California, a licensed dealer must be involved, who must do a "background check". In South Africa, the competent authority representative determines the terms of the transfer. In Croatia, the handover may only take place in the presence of a police officer.

Possession control

Most countries require prospective gun owners to have a need to acquire a gun, or they only allow civilians to use guns for specific purposes. Many countries require applicants to provide evidence that they have a reason for acquiring weapons, with the level of “evidence” varying from case to case.

desire

Some of the countries that presuppose a genuine reason specify its definition in the legal text. Croatia demands a “ reasonable reason ” for gun possession, which is legally described as hunting, sport shooting and self-defense. Other countries that also have needs are left to the discretion of the licensing authority to decide on a case-by-case basis, such as the UK, Kenya and Papua New Guinea. While in Great Britain the need for the shotgun license is more precise (sport shooting and pest control), this definition is missing for the firearms license. This means that their approval or rejection is within the discretion of the authority. In Yemen, where licenses are only required to carry a weapon, the applicant must have “ a political or social position ” or be professionally dependent on the use of a weapon. On the other hand, the law allows the approval authorities to “ value ” the applicant themselves.

In other countries, a need is not prescribed by law, but is applied in practice by earmarking. In South Africa, for example, ownership licenses are only issued for certain activities such as " occasional hunting and sport shooting ".

In some countries, some uses of firearms are automatically authorized, while others are subject to government approval. In Switzerland, for example, “ every person who wants to acquire a license for a purpose other than sport, hunting or collecting must state their reason .” In Canada, no need to possess a weapon is required. License holders of restricted firearms (handguns and certain self-loading weapons ), however, require special licenses for both transport (Authorization to Transport = ATT ) and for carrying ( Authorization to Carry = ATC ). In the case of the latter, they must prove that they need the restricted firearm to protect themselves or others or need it because of their professional activity. In New Jersey, too, the applicant must demonstrate a need before receiving a license to carry a handgun. A written application stating the reason for the license must be submitted for the acquisition, possession and wielding of machine guns or assault weapons. There is no legal definition of what reasons are acceptable. In any case, certain assault weapons are accepted, provided that the purpose is sports competitions and the applicant is a member of a shooting club and public safety is not endangered.

purpose

The reasons countries accept for private firearms possession fall into the following categories: hunting; Sport shooting and competition; dependent or self-employed occupational activity (e.g. in agriculture and pest control); for demonstrations and in art (including theater and film), collections and exhibitions (also in museums) and for the protection of people or property.

The decision of the licensing authority as to which weapons are allowed to the civilian often depends on the stated purpose. In Finland z. B. checks whether the weapon applied for is not too powerful and not too powerful for the specified purpose. In Western Australia, the licensing authority must be satisfied with both the purpose and that " the type of firearm and ammunition are appropriate and justified ."

Hunting, shooting training and sport shooting

Hunting, target practice, and marksmen are the main reasons most countries allow private gun ownership.

Singapore is a notable exception as this state only allows harpoons for fishing, not firearms.

In some countries, applicants have to prove that they are committed hunters or marksmen. This proof can be provided by membership in a shooting club or the passed hunter test. In Uganda, the holder of a license must also present a license to hunt birds or wild animals within three months, otherwise their firearms license will expire. In Singapore, a license holder must be a member of a registered shooting club and attend at least 12 training sessions per year in order to renew the license.

Professional activities

Many countries permit firearms possession for certain professional purposes, including pest control and agriculture.

In some countries there is general recognition that a firearm may be required for a profession or job. These include Estonia and Finland. Their law refers to " employment relationships where a weapon is necessary ". In other countries the special work is explicitly defined as in Croatia, where only the purposes of environmental research and protection of the environment are recognized, or Canada, where particularly dangerous or risky work permits the possession of weapons, e.g. B. in remote wilderness or when transporting money.

Demonstrations and art

Most countries have regulations prohibiting the use of firearms during demonstrations such as demonstrations. B. in the theater or in film productions. This is often linked to certain conditions. For example, weapons must be deactivated in Croatia. In some countries such as Great Britain and Uganda, however, the applicant does not need any special certificates.

Collections and museums

Many countries allow museums and individuals to collect firearms, including those that are prohibited or restricted.

In some countries, such as Croatia and Lithuania, such weapons must be deactivated or made inoperable. In other countries, such as Germany and South Australia, collectors have to prove that they want to build a “ real ” collection, which is constantly being expanded, and that the collection is the only purpose for gun ownership. Use of the collector's weapons for sporting or hunting shooting is expressly excluded on a collector's license.

Self defense

The right to defend oneself against a physical threat is a generally recognized principle in all constitutional states, provided that the threat is “ immediate ” and the defense is “ necessary and proportionate ”. However, there is no generally recognized right to own a weapon for the purpose of self-defense .

The report prepared in 2006 by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Barbara Frey, discussed the principle of self-defense from the point of view of human rights . In their opinion, there are two international legal principles : the state's highest duty of care to prevent the misuse of firearms by private owners and the principle of self-defense , which occupies a prominent position in international human rights. She comes to the conclusion that there can be no independent right to own firearms for the purpose of self-defense, since the state has to fulfill its duty of care.

While some countries do not accept self-defense as a weapon possession purpose, they do not necessarily prohibit the use of a firearm in self-defense, provided that such use is done in accordance with criminal law provisions for the use of force. Conversely, states that allow self-defense as the purpose of gun possession are not always allowed to be used in self-defense.

In the study by the Small Arms Survey, 16 of the 42 administrative districts examined explicitly allow self-defense or personal protection as a purpose for gun possession. Others, such as Germany, do not prohibit this purpose, but interpret the need so restrictively that hardly any applicant is allowed to do so. Many countries that allow self-defense as a purpose restrict the type of weapon and require proof of the need.

In South Africa, for example, you can only have one weapon for self-defense. Either a shotgun that is neither fully automatic nor semi-automatic or a semi-automatic handgun is permitted. In addition, the applicant must prove that he or she has a need for self-defense and that no other means than a firearm is suitable for protection. If the applicant can also prove that only a restricted firearm (semi-automatic shotgun or rifle) is suitable for self-defense, this can also be allowed. In Singapore, too, the applicant must prove the serious threat to their own life and that there are no other ways of countering this threat.

restrictions

Countries restrict the license to own through a number of legal systems. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in the license being revoked or the licensee penalized, or both.

Notification of loss

In many countries, gun owners are required to report the theft or loss of firearms from their possession to the police or other authorities within a short period of time.

The casualty report is believed to improve public safety. The timely report can help the police to locate the weapon more quickly and thereby retrieve it. The obligation to register makes gun owners more accountable. On the other hand, it protects against accusations if the stolen or lost weapon is used in a crime. A timely report helps the law enforcement authorities to uncover illegal trade and purchases by "straw men".

Most states require owners to report the lost or stolen firearm within a certain period of time (e.g. 24 hours), while others expect the report to be "immediately" or "immediately". Most states with an obligation to notify people fined owners who fail to comply with this obligation, and in some countries imprisonment.

South Africa has the highest sentence of all the countries examined: ten years in prison. In New Jersey, if the owner of a (restricted) assault weapon fails to immediately report the loss, he not only has to pay a fine, but is also civilly liable for any damage caused by a crime with the weapon.

Safe storage

The safe storage requirements can help reduce the risk of firearms being stolen or misused, both deliberately and accidentally. The main focus in most countries is to prevent unauthorized persons, such as thieves or small children, from accessing the weapon. What is meant by safe storage varies in most countries.

In many countries, weapons should be unloaded, kept separate from ammunition and securely locked.

In some cases there are no specific norms, the licensee is simply obliged to take “reasonable precautionary measures”, as in Papua New Guinea, or to keep the weapons “with caution” as in Switzerland or “securely and in safe custody” as in Kenya to prevent unauthorized access. In Great Britain, the firearms certificate states that the firearm must be stored safely at all times in order to prevent, as far as this is justifiable, an unauthorized person from gaining access to the weapon or ammunition. The 1998 law has no specific requirements. The Ministry of the Interior had drawn up guidelines in 2005 and recommended adhering to them in order to comply with the statutory duty of care. For example, the guidelines recommend the separate storage of ammunition and detachable parts for the weapon. They also recommend lockable cabinets if there are children in the house. Canada also requires separate storage of weapons and ammunition, unless the ammunition - with or without a weapon - is kept in a locked container. In New Zealand, the owner of handguns, semi-automatic bogus weapons or other restricted weapons must store them separately from their ammunition. With all other weapons, the owner is obliged to ensure that no unauthorized person has access to ammunition and the weapon that is ready to fire at the same time. Another common requirement is to keep the unloaded weapon safe. There are exceptions for countries where self-defense is allowed. Some US states, including Florida and Texas, require gun owners to store guns in such a way that children cannot access loaded guns, such as guns. B. by storing in a lockable container or by a trigger lock. There is no requirement in New Jersey. However, it is a criminal offense for minors to have access to loaded weapons unless the weapon has been kept in a locked container with a trigger lock. There are only a few countries that prescribe exact storage conditions. Kazakhstan requires a safe or a metal cabinet, Estonia requires a metal cabinet from the second weapon that is anchored in the floor or wall. In New Zealand, all restricted weapons must be stored in a police-removed weapon safe. The non-restricted weapons should be stored inaccessible to children. Some countries expect the licensee to demonstrate that they can fulfill a safekeeping requirement before they issue a license. These include Germany, Kenya, New Zealand, South Australia and Uganda. Singapore has one of the strictest regulations on storage. License holders of sporting weapons must keep them in the shooting club. License holders for self-protection must keep the weapon in a safe with a number and key lock that weighs at least 70 kg. If the holder leaves the country for more than a month, he must give the weapons to the police or another authorized person for safekeeping.

Wearing in public (leading)

Some countries, such as Brazil and the Russian Federation, prohibit civilians from taking firearms into public places, although there are exceptions for private security guards, hunters and marksmen.

Other countries allow weapons to be carried if there is a reasonable reason and the weapon is unloaded, as in Finland, or the carrier has a license to carry it as in Croatia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, New Zealand (license only required for restricted weapons) and in the Switzerland. There are also countries that prohibit the carrying of firearms in certain places, such as B. in government buildings, in and around schools and churches, or during certain holidays and events such. B. on election days.

For example, the United States restricts the use of guns in or near government buildings and school campuses. The Colombian cities of Bogotá and Cali have had good experiences with the ban on wearing them on holidays: homicides have decreased. South Africa's law allows the establishment of “weapon-free zones”. It is forbidden to carry weapons in areas that are so marked.

Concealed Carry Law in the United States

The United States has four standard laws governing the concealed carrying of firearms (typically handguns) in public. These are described as follows: no issue , may issue , shall issue and unrestricted law .

• no issue : In two countries the concealed carrying of weapons in public is absolutely forbidden.
• may issue : In twelve states and the District of Columbia , applicants are only licensed to wear it if they meet a number of criteria.
• shall issue : 34 US states grant concealed carry licenses if a few conditions are met. This usually includes a minimum age of 21 years, a background check and possibly attending a safety training course.
• unrestricted law : In three states (Alaska, Arizona and Vermont) guns may be carried covertly without a license or carrying them is permitted if there is a reason to do so, e.g. B. Hunting or working as a security guard.

The laws in the individual US states also differ for the public carrying of weapons. Some states allow this without a license, some require a license, and others restrict public wearing to certain activities, such as walking. B. Hunting on your own property. The trend in American legislation over the past decade has been a general relaxation of legal restrictions.

See also

• Weapon abuse
• Gun Law
• United Nations Small Arms Action Program

literature

Future aspects

• Heinrich Böll Foundation : The Future of Arms Control . Heinrich Böll Foundation, Berlin 2014, ISBN 978-3-86928-121-6 .

Comparative law

• Gudrun Hochmayr: Punishable retention of goods: The scope of the penalties for the (mere) possession of weapons, narcotics, child pornography, etc . Manz, Vienna 2005, ISBN 3-214-07409-1 .
• Sarah Parker, Chapter 9 — Balancing Act: Regulation of Civilian Firearm Possession . In: Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Ed.): Small Arms Survey 2011: States of Security . Cambridge University Press, 2011, ISBN 978-0-521-14686-9 ( Online (PDF; 3.2 MB)).

Economic analysis

• John F. Macdonald: An economic analysis of guns, crime, and gun control . In: Journal of Criminal Justice. To International Journal . 1999.
• Paul M. Sommers: Deterrence and gun control: An empirical analysis . In: Atlantic Economic Journal . tape 8 , 2006, p. 89-94 , doi : 10.1007 / BF02300518 .
• David B. Kopel, Carlisle E. Moody, Howard Nemerov: Is There a Relationship between Guns and Freedom? Comparative Results from 59 Nations . In: Texas Review of Law and Politics . tape 13 , 2008 ( online ).
• Marie-Christine Heinze: Small arms control and “weapon culture” in Yemen . In: Federal Agency for Civic Education: From Politics and Contemporary History . tape 24 , 2010 ( online ).
• David B. Kopel, Paul Gallant, Joanne D. Eisen: Firearms Possession by 'Non-State Actors': the Question of Sovereignty . In: Texas Review of Law and Politics . tape 8 , 2004, p. 375-463 ( online (PDF; 654 kB)).

Crime prevention

• Task Force on Community Preventive Services: Firearms Laws and the Reduction of Violence . In: American Journal of Preventive Medicine . tape 28 , 2005, pp. 40–71 , doi : 10.1016 / j.amepre.2004.10.005 ( online (PDF; 462 kB)).
• Don B. Kates, Gary Mauser: Would Banning Firearms Reduce Murder and Suicide? In: Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy . tape 30 , 2007, p. 650–694 ( online (PDF; 545 kB)).

Web links

• Levels of Action Overview of the gun control actions
• Control Measures Overview of the control measures

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Small Arms Survey 2009 Annexe 1.3 Methodology on Small Arms Survey.org, PDF file (141 KB) - accessed November 21, 2010
2. ↑ Disarmament and Employment - A Conflict of Goals? (PDF; 316 kB) Christian Wellmann 1989, library of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
3. ↑ Lorenz, W. (2009) vwl.wilhelm-lorenz.de - accessed on August 28, 2011
4. ↑ The UN Small Arms Process (PDF; 148 kB) German summary of the 2011 report, Chapter 2 of the Small Arms Survey
5. ↑ Authorized Light Weapons Transfers (PDF; 152 kB) German summary of the 2011 report, Chapter 1 of the Small Arms Survey
6. ^ UN Report Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects - accessed November 17, 2010
7. ↑ Small Arms Survey Report 2009: Authorized Small Arms Transfers p. 42ff, PDF file (2.53 MB)
8. ↑ General Assembly Resolution 50 / 70B ( Memento of the original from February 22, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on the UN website - accessed September 17, 2010 
9. ↑ Firearms Protocol on PoA website - accessed October 31, 2010
10. ↑ Transparency Registers on the UNODA website - accessed on October 31, 2010
11. ↑ International Tracing on the PoA website - accessed October 31, 2010
12. ↑ Arms Trade Treaty on the UNODA website - accessed October 31, 2010
13. ↑ Control Arms ( Memento of the original from April 13, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Homepage - accessed on September 18, 2010 
14. ↑ UN Firearms Protocol (PDF; 160 kB) UNODC Resolution 55/255 of June 8, 2001 - accessed on August 7, 2011
15. ↑ Directive 91/477 / EEC on the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons - viewed on October 31, 2010
16. ↑ Directive 2008/51 / EC of May 21, 2008 amending Council Directive 91/477 / EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons - viewed on October 31, 2010
17. ↑ Firearms for civilian use: Commission proposes stricter rules to combat illicit trafficking on the European Union website - accessed October 31, 2010
18. ↑ Implementing Article 10 of the UN Firearms Protocol - Measures for Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition (PDF), accessed on October 31, 2010 on the website of the European Union
19. ↑ Export list on the BAFA homepage - viewed on June 11, 2011
20. ↑ Small Arms Survey Yearbook 2001 Chapter 1, p. 45, PDF file (1.1 MB) - accessed February 2, 2011
21. ↑ Clinton Gun Ban website of the [National Rifle Association] of America
22. ↑ Small Arms Survey Yearbook 2001 Chapter 1, p. 45, PDF file (1.1 MB) - accessed February 2, 2011
23. ↑ International arms smuggling case lands in Rochester The Daily Record of January 28, 2011 - accessed May 8, 2011
24. ↑ Arms dealer Karl Kleber in bid to get home York Press dated April 11, 2011 - accessed June 18, 2011
25. ↑ ^{a b} Arno Schütze: Weapons for friend and foe. The armaments trade in Nuremberg during the Thirty Years War in the yearbook for economic history edition 2004/2: Markets in pre-industrial Europe . Akademie-Verlag, 2004, ISBN 3-05-004036-X .
26. ^ Weapons Museum Suhl viewed on January 1, 2011
27. ↑ Small Arms Survey Yearbook 2001 Chapter 1, p. 7, PDF file (1.1 MB) - accessed June 18, 2011
28. ↑ Free, restricted free and unfree states, map of the Federal Agency for Civic Education from 2008 - viewed on June 18, 2011
29. ↑ Small Arms Survey 2011 Chapter 9 Summary in German, PDF file - accessed on August 11, 2011
30. ↑ ECOSOC , 1997, para. 5
31. ↑ Small Arms Survey 2011 Chapter 9 (PDF; 3.2 MB) Table 9.1 Civilian possession provisions of regional instruments
32. ↑ ( OAU , 2000, art. 3 (A) (iii))
33. ↑ SADC , 2001, art. 5 (3)) and art. 7th
34. ^ Nairobi Protocol, 2004, art. 5
35. ↑ ECOWAS , 2006, art. 14th
36. ^ OAS , 1997
37. ^ Andean Community , 2003, Art. 4 (e) and Art. 3
38. ↑ EU firearms legislation on Europa.eu - viewed on August 7, 2011
39. ↑ Directive 91/477 / EEC of the Council of June 18, 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons
40. ↑ Directive 2008/51 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 21, 2008 amending Directive 91/477 / EEC of the Council on the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons
41. ↑ Possible advantages and disadvantages of restricting the division of firearms into two categories (prohibited or subject to authorization) (PDF) Report of the EU Commission of July 26, 2012 #COM (2012) 415 final
42. ^ Arab League , 2002 Art. 6, Art. 8, Art. 10, Art. 23
43. ↑ SPCPC and OCO, 2000
44. ↑ Small Arms Survey 2011 (PDF; 3.2 MB), Chapter 9 Private Gun Possession - accessed August 11, 2011
45. ↑ Small Arms Survey 2011 Chapter 9 (PDF; 3.2 MB) p. 7: Approaches to regulating civilian possession
46. ↑ Bringing as few weapons as possible among the people Judgment of the Administrative Court of Baden-Württemberg in 2000, offense point 27 - viewed on August 28, 2011
47. ↑ More security through fewer weapons - The new weapons law as of April 1, 2003 ( Memento of the original from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Police of North Rhine-Westphalia - viewed on June 18, 2011 
48. ↑ Fewer weapons mean more security ( Memento of the original from February 22nd, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Die Linke from January 30, 2009 - accessed on June 18, 2011 
49. ↑ Finally disarm deadly firearms. Press release Bündnis90 / Die Grünen from July 21, 2010 - viewed on June 18, 2011
50. ↑ Detroit Free Press 10 years after concealed weapons law, unclear why many in state were gun-shy, July 2011
51. ^ Detroit Free Press German unofficial translation
52. ↑ Federal Councilor Maurer dossier on 20 minutes online from January 16, 2009 - accessed on May 9, 2011
53. ↑ Colin Greenwood ( Memento of the original from February 22, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on Expertsearch - accessed June 18, 2011 
54. ↑ NRA and the UN Arms Trade Treaty ( Memento of the original from October 14, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. NRA homepage - accessed September 12, 2010 
55. ↑ IANSA About us
56. ↑ List NGO in Consultative Status with ECOSOC at City University London - accessed on September 17, 2010
57. ↑ NGOs and the Small Arms Issue ( Memento of the original of July 7, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 140 kB) P.Batchelor, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), 2002 
58. ↑ Control Arms Campaign
59. ↑ International campaigns against illegal arms trafficking Deutsche Welle from January 28, 2007
60. ^ Red Book 2005
61. ↑ The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in the Monitorin and Verification of International Arms Control and Disarmament Agreements  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 156 kB) Michael Crowley and Andreas Persbo, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), 2006  
62. ↑ How is IANSA funded ( Memento of the original dated November 23, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on Iansa.org - accessed September 19, 2010 
63. ↑ International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) ( Memento of the original from September 6, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on United Nations Coordinating Action on Small Arms (CASA) 
64. ↑ IANSA campaign ( Memento of the original from October 10, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on their own homepage 
65. ↑ International Trade Control at IANSA.org - accessed September 3, 2011
66. ↑ Arms Trade Treaty ( Memento of the original of May 24, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on their own homepage - viewed on September 19, 2010 
67. ↑ The Global Trade in Small Arms ( Memento of the original from July 17, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on Corporations and Health Watch - accessed September 19, 2010 
68. ↑ Arms Trade Treaty ( Memento of the original dated August 11, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on Oxfam.org - accessed September 3, 2011 
69. ↑ National Gun Laws ( Memento of the original from August 18, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on Iansa.org - accessed September 3, 2011 
70. ↑ Support for civil society initiatives Federal Foreign Office of August 22, 2011
71. ↑ About the Small Arms Survey own homepage
72. ↑ Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology ( Memento of the original from March 1, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. of the University of Vienna - accessed on September 19, 2010 
73. ↑ IWÖ Newsletter01 / 2006 ( Memento of the original dated February 22, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on IWÖ.org PDF file, pp. 5–7 (873 KB) - accessed on September 19, 2010 
74. ↑ Small arms control in Yemen (PDF; 5.3 MB) Marie-Christine Heinze on BPB.de from June 2010 - accessed on May 9, 2011
75. ↑ Small arms control in Yemen (PDF; 5.3 MB) Marie-Christine Heinze on BPB.de from June 2010 - accessed on September 4, 2011
76. ↑ Would Banning Firearms Reduce Murder and Suicide ( Memento of the original from August 29, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 545 kB) Don B. Kates and Prof. Dr. Gary Mauser in Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy Vol.30 - accessed May 9, 2011 
77. ↑ Firearms Regulation and the Reduction of Crime (PDF; 113 kB) by Joyce Lee Malcolm in the Texas Review of Law & Politics Vol.8 - accessed on May 9, 2011
78. ↑ Effectiveness of Licensing Systems Colin Greenwood on parliament.uk dated February 4, 2003 - accessed May 9, 2011
79. ↑ 2nd Periodical Safety Report 2006 ( Memento of the original from August 11, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Federal Ministry of the Interior 
80. ↑ Small Arms Survey 2011 Legislative and policy responses to mass shooting (PDF; 3.2 MB) Box 9.1, pp. 8–9.
81. ↑ APMC, 1996
82. ↑ Finland, 2009a; 2009b
83. ↑ Candada 1995, para. 83.1, Makarenko, 2010
84. ↑ ^{a b} Canada: Abolition of arms register approved. ORF , March 27, 2015, accessed on September 24, 2017 . 
85. ↑ New Zealand, 1992b; Newbold 1998, pp. 116-117.
86. ↑ Scott and Steinberg, 2008, p. 18; NYT, 1999
87. ↑ Campus Guns ( memento from October 6, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Stern from September 30, 2010
88. ↑ Firearms soon allowed on campus ORF from February 22, 2011 - viewed on August 11, 2011
89. ↑ UK, 1997, pp 1 (2), 2–8)
90. ^ Publication of the UK Parliament Firearms Control 2010–2011
91. ↑ Small Arms Survey Yearbook 2011 (PDF; 3.2 MB) Chapter 9, p. 10.
92. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x} Sarah Parker: Chapter 9 — Balancing Act: Regulation of Civilian Firearm Possession . In: Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Ed.): Small Arms Survey 2011: States of Security . Cambridge University Press, 2011 ( Online (PDF; 3.2 MB)).
93. ^ Canada's billion dollar gun registry. CBC , December 4, 2001, archived from the original on September 14, 2011 ; accessed on September 27, 2017 (English). 
94. ↑ Gerd Braune: Police defend themselves against loose gun law. Frankfurter Rundschau , August 24, 2010, accessed on September 27, 2017 . 
95. ^ National arms register abolished. Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag , March 19, 2012, accessed September 24, 2017 . 
96. ^ New Zealand, 1997, p. 2.2
97. ^ New Zealand, 1997, p. 50.
98. ↑ US, NDB, s. 25.9 (b) (3)
99. ↑ New Jersey, nda, pp. 2C: 58-2 (a) (4), 58-2 (b)
100. ↑ Florida, n. D., P. 790.335 (1) (a) (2)
101. ↑ s. 790.335 (1) (a) (4)
102. ^ Great Britain, 1998
103. ^ Royal Canadian Mounted Police Licensing
104. ↑ New Zealand Firearms Code ( Memento of the original from June 24, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 1.3 MB) at police.govt.nz - accessed on August 15, 2011 
105. ^ National Instant Criminal Background Check System on FBI.gov
106. ^ Canadian Firearms Program Royal Canadian Mounted Police
107. ^ Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights UNHRC of August 21, 2006
108. ↑ Printed matter 18/723 of March 6, 2014 18,587 active gun licenses in accordance with Section 10 on December 31, 2013 in Germany
109. ↑ Tagesspiegel from March 17, 2014 The three applications for self-protection in Berlin in 2013 were rejected
110. ↑ 10 years after concealed weapons law Detroit Free Press, July 31, 2011

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