Small arms proliferation
Encyclopedia
Small arms proliferation is a term used by organizations and individuals advocating the control of small arms
and their trade; the term has no precise definition. Users of the term have notably included Kofi Annan
, ex-Secretary-General of the United Nations
.
Some organizations use the term particularly in arguing for weapons restriction of small arms
sales to private citizens in conflict zones. These organizations argue that restricting the number of small arms in a conflict zone will reduce the number of deaths.
and Amnesty International
, as part of the Control Arms Campaign
, and the United Nations) and domestic groups (e.g. the Small Arms Working Group
in the US) have committed themselves to limiting the trade in, and proliferation of, small arms around the world. They claim that roughly 500,000 people are killed each year by the use of small arms and that there are over 600 million such arms in the world.
In addition, massive exports of small arms by the US (M16
), the former Soviet Union (AKM
), People's Republic of China (Type 56
), Germany (H&K G3), Belgium (FN FAL
), and Brazil (FN FAL
) during the Cold War
took place commercially and to support ideological movements. These small arms have survived many conflicts and many are now in the hands of arms dealers or smaller governments who move them between conflict areas as needed.
One systematic effort to track global small arms is published by the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, a research project of the Graduate Institute of International Studies (see external links). This organization’s flagship publication, the annual Small Arms Survey, covers trends in global production, inventories, and international transfers, as well as international negotiations, regulations, and the social problems associated with small arms proliferation.
Research featured in past editions of the Small Arms Survey reveals that there are at least 639 million firearms in the world, although the actual total is almost certainly considerably higher. This number increases by approximately 8 million every year, for a total economic impact of about US $7 billion annually.
The Small Arms Survey figures are estimates, based on available national figures and field research in particular countries. They give a general sense of trends and the scale of the number of small arms.
and the Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership
argue each non-criminal person has a right to self-defense, and the most effective way of doing so is by the individual keeping and bearing of arms. These organizations point out warlord
s and governments in conflict areas will always have access to weapons, and disarmament efforts only serve to disarm the population, creating more defenseless victims.
On the other hand, gun control organizations like the Small Arms Working Group
argue the prevalence of small arms contributes to the cycle of violence between governments and individuals. Some of these organizations argue civilians should only own weapons for sporting or hunting purposes, if they decide to at all (ANC alley COSATU, SOUTH AFRICA, ARTICLE 77). These organizations do, however, support the right of governments to keep arms.
Gun rights organizations also argue that disarming the citizens while allowing the government to maintain their arms leaves the civilians defenseless against non-representative governments, such as in Nazi Occupied Europe, Iraq, Rwanda, and Sudan.
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
and their trade; the term has no precise definition. Users of the term have notably included Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
, ex-Secretary-General of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Some organizations use the term particularly in arguing for weapons restriction of small arms
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
sales to private citizens in conflict zones. These organizations argue that restricting the number of small arms in a conflict zone will reduce the number of deaths.
The international movement to limit the availability of small arms in conflict zones
Various international organizations (including Oxfam International, IANSAIANSA
The International Action Network on Small Arms is an international non-governmental organization recognized by the United Nations. IANSA is based in London and has over 800 member organizations in 120 countries, working to stop the proliferation and use of small arms and light weapons.- United...
and Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, as part of the Control Arms Campaign
Control Arms Campaign
Control Arms is a campaign jointly run by Amnesty International, IANSA and Oxfam International.The campaign focuses on the international trade in arms, arguing that the lack of controls on the arms trade is fuelling armed conflict, poverty and human rights abuses worldwide.The campaign seeks to...
, and the United Nations) and domestic groups (e.g. the Small Arms Working Group
Small Arms Working Group
The Small Arms Working Group is an alliance of US-based non-governmental groups working together to promote change in US and international policies on small arms. SAWG members believe that small arms proliferation must be countered by more responsible policies on legal sales and international...
in the US) have committed themselves to limiting the trade in, and proliferation of, small arms around the world. They claim that roughly 500,000 people are killed each year by the use of small arms and that there are over 600 million such arms in the world.
Main small arms exporters
The Small Arms Survey, an organization advocating the control of small arms (see external links) claims in their 2003 report that at least 1,134 companies in 98 countries worldwide are involved in some aspect of the production of small arms and/or ammunition. The largest exporters of small arms by volume are the European Union and the United States.In addition, massive exports of small arms by the US (M16
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
), the former Soviet Union (AKM
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
), People's Republic of China (Type 56
Type 56 Assault Rifle
The Type 56 assault rifle is a Chinese copy of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle, which has been manufactured since 1956. It was produced by State Factory 66 from 1956-73, then by Norinco from 1973 onwards.-Service history:...
), Germany (H&K G3), Belgium (FN FAL
FN FAL
The Fusil Automatique Léger or FAL is a self-loading, selective fire battle rifle produced by the Belgian armaments manufacturer Fabrique Nationale de Herstal . During the Cold War it was adopted by many North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries, with the notable exception of the United States...
), and Brazil (FN FAL
FN FAL
The Fusil Automatique Léger or FAL is a self-loading, selective fire battle rifle produced by the Belgian armaments manufacturer Fabrique Nationale de Herstal . During the Cold War it was adopted by many North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries, with the notable exception of the United States...
) during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
took place commercially and to support ideological movements. These small arms have survived many conflicts and many are now in the hands of arms dealers or smaller governments who move them between conflict areas as needed.
Data issues
Perhaps the greatest barrier to resolving debates over gun policy is the lack of comprehensive data. Although the UN Arms Register tries to keep track of major weapons holdings, there is no global reporting system for small arms. Some countries make information available about the small arms of their armed forces and law enforcement agencies; others release estimated data on public ownership. Most refuse to release anything, release rough estimates or simply do not know.One systematic effort to track global small arms is published by the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, a research project of the Graduate Institute of International Studies (see external links). This organization’s flagship publication, the annual Small Arms Survey, covers trends in global production, inventories, and international transfers, as well as international negotiations, regulations, and the social problems associated with small arms proliferation.
Research featured in past editions of the Small Arms Survey reveals that there are at least 639 million firearms in the world, although the actual total is almost certainly considerably higher. This number increases by approximately 8 million every year, for a total economic impact of about US $7 billion annually.
The Small Arms Survey figures are estimates, based on available national figures and field research in particular countries. They give a general sense of trends and the scale of the number of small arms.
Gun rights issues
Gun rights organizations like the National Rifle AssociationNational Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
and the Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership is a group dedicated to the preservation of gun rights in the United States and "to encourage Americans to understand and defend all of the Bill of Rights for everyone". The group was founded by former firearms dealer Aaron S. Zelman in 1986...
argue each non-criminal person has a right to self-defense, and the most effective way of doing so is by the individual keeping and bearing of arms. These organizations point out warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
s and governments in conflict areas will always have access to weapons, and disarmament efforts only serve to disarm the population, creating more defenseless victims.
On the other hand, gun control organizations like the Small Arms Working Group
Small Arms Working Group
The Small Arms Working Group is an alliance of US-based non-governmental groups working together to promote change in US and international policies on small arms. SAWG members believe that small arms proliferation must be countered by more responsible policies on legal sales and international...
argue the prevalence of small arms contributes to the cycle of violence between governments and individuals. Some of these organizations argue civilians should only own weapons for sporting or hunting purposes, if they decide to at all (ANC alley COSATU, SOUTH AFRICA, ARTICLE 77). These organizations do, however, support the right of governments to keep arms.
Gun rights organizations also argue that disarming the citizens while allowing the government to maintain their arms leaves the civilians defenseless against non-representative governments, such as in Nazi Occupied Europe, Iraq, Rwanda, and Sudan.
See also
- UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms
- Gun politicsGun politicsGun politics addresses safety issues and ideologies related to firearms through criminal and noncriminal use. Gun politics deals with rules, regulations, and restrictions on the use, ownership, and distribution of firearms.-National sovereignty:...
- SALWSALWSALW is an acronym, meaning Small Arms and Light Weapons, a term used in arms control protocols to refer to two main classes of weapons:...
- IANSAIANSAThe International Action Network on Small Arms is an international non-governmental organization recognized by the United Nations. IANSA is based in London and has over 800 member organizations in 120 countries, working to stop the proliferation and use of small arms and light weapons.- United...
- Small Arms SurveySmall Arms SurveyThe Small Arms Survey is an independent research project located at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland...
Further reading
- Lora Lumpe (ed), Running Guns: The Global Black Market in Small Arms, Zed Books 2000
External links
- Organisations advocating small arms control
- Control Arms - Amnesty International, International Action Network on Small Arms and Oxfam
- Norwegian Institute on Small Arms Transfers
- The Small Arms Survey (Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva)
- Arms Sales Monitoring Program - Federation of American Scientists
- Small Arms Working Group
- List of Arms Trade related organizations
- Organisations advocating to exclude small arms from trade control
- Summary on the US position on civilian small arms