Small Arms Mass Destruction

I posted a useful visual on twitter and thought I should share the same here. So below is a Small Arms Mass Destruction chart, part of the PBS series on Women, War & Peace. Synthesizing some of the bigger picture facts about small arms, the chart looks at common weapon types, civilian versus military ownership, the illicit flow of arms, and small arms casualties globally. Below the image, I share a couple of thoughts and reactions.

• The flow of illicit arms section made me wonder if there is any project globally tracking hot zones for diversion, theft, or illicit transferring of small arms. The example given focuses on Sudan, and there are other known hot zones in Africa and across the globe. It would be fascinating to see where in the world arms smugglers mark their comfort zones. It would seem natural if the patterns emerging from such a global flow study ended up pointing to states rampant with corruption, states lacking infrastructure, and states with the weakest policing and law enforcement but it would be worth finding out if such hypotheses are backed by the data. Such a study would also be useful in understanding the global pattern because flow direction can often indicate origin and destination – which can be crucial to uprooting or terminating the illegal arms trade (if I can momentarily lapse into optimism). The challenge, of course, is information itself – its accessibility; its availability; its quality. (Black market data may not exactly be the easiest to crowdsource, after all.)
• I was highly surprised that after the U.S., Yemen had the highest firearm to population ratio – an astounding 5.9 guns to every 10 residents. Keep in mind though, this may not translate to 59% of the population being armed. It may, of course. But, more likely, those that are armed are in possession of multiple weapons. Also keep in mind the three violent groups in Yemen: the Houthi rebels, the Southern secessionists, and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). These groups certainly add fuel to the fire; the end result being armed violence – regardless of whether local individuals and tribes are taking up arms for or against their causes.
• As a sidenote, the chart does not specify but I believe the ownership statistics are based on registered firearms since it is nearly impossible to count illegal arms (especially in conflict zones). If this is true, Yemen’s 5.9/10 ratio is even more jarring. Who knows what else is out there…
• Final point: the global epidemic map made me pause to rethink some of my assumptions. Though it is limited to the 2004-09 period, I was struck by Afghanistan’s categorization in the middle of the death rate scale. According to this data, in Afghanistan an average of 10-20 of every 100,000 people died from small arms violence in Afghanistan (and that too, for five years before the 2009 U.S. troop surge). This number, unfortunately, seems a low estimate at best.
• Overall, the rest of the global picture makes more sense from region to region. Western countries and Southern parts of Latin America see the least deaths from small arms violence. The usual suspects such as Colombia and Sudan end up with some of the highest number of small arms casualties. That Guatemala and South Africa ranked in the highest category of death rates was, however, a bit surprising for me. I suppose media reporting bias affects all of our perceptions to some extent…

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Old News That Remains New (II)

In January of this year, The Guardian published a useful brief Licensed to Kill? How Gun Laws Vary Around the World. The brief presents a two-line summary of gun laws in 16 countries around the world. Since it is so short, I am including the entire text of the brief below.

Australia: Ownership is strictly prohibited unless there are “genuine reasons” such as licensed sport, animal control or employment requirements.

Brazil: If you are over 25 and have registered a weapon, you are free to keep it indoors. The country has the second-highest gun-related death rate after the US.

Canada:  Significantly stricter than the neighbouring US. To acquire a licence, applicants must undertake a safety course, pass a criminal records check and be certified by a firearms officer.

China: Civilians are not allowed guns, except for hunting and protection from wildlife. The illegal sale of arms can be punished by death sentence.

India: Gun ownership is a “privilege” under the Arms Act of 1959, allowing civilians to have a licence if they can prove that there is a “threat to life”.

Czech Republic: Liberal laws compared with the rest of Europe. Applicants must pass a questionnaire on firearms, have no criminal record and show ID proving they are over 21.

Austria: Also liberal. Guns are classified by four categories – the lowest, for non-repeating shotguns, requires no registration for over-18s.

Germany: The Federal Weapons Act (1972) restricts everything apart from replica guns to over-18s, who must pass checks for “trustworthiness, knowledge and adequacy”.

Italy: Citizens can have up to three “common” handguns in their home, but if they want to hunt or carry a concealed weapon they must apply for a licence.

Japan: Licensing requirements are strict and gun deaths are among the lowest in the world.

Mexico: Strict laws apply for ownership, including criminal records checks. However, there are growing concerns that smuggling from the US is undermining these regulations.

Norway: Since 1989, no registration has been required for buying a shotgun over the counter. There are an estimated 500,000 unregistered guns in homes. However, gun crime is very low.

Russia: Hand guns and fully automatics are prohibited, but over-18s with no criminal record can apply for a licence for shotguns and air rifles. Self defence is not an excuse for carrying firearms outside the home.

Switzerland: All able-bodied men between 20 and 34 are required to have fully automatic firearms in their homes in case of a call-up to the army under the doctrine of “universal conscription”. Others may own weapons for hunting but need a licence. A referendum is to be held next year to determine whether stricter gun laws should be introduced.

UK: Anyone sentencved to three years or more in prison is banned from holding a licence. A licence is needed for any firearm except low-powered air rifles/pistols. Self-defence is not a valid reason for ownership. The country has one of the world’s lowest gun crime rates.

USA: Fully automatic firearms are legal in most states. However, you need a criminal records check and must pay $200 registration tax. In 2004, there were 29,569 gun-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

© 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

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Some Useful South Asia Resources

As promised, below is an initial list of some useful resources specific to South Asia. I am certain that there is much more research to be discovered, so please add to my findings if you can. These are just some interesting starting pieces I have come across. Without further ado…

Some South Asia Specific Blogs & Online Sources:

• Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI)
  • Link: CAFI
  • Comments: CAFI is a local NGO working towards diminishing the proliferation of and violence by small arms in the region. Since this blog focuses on South Asia, CAFI will be a good starting point to look at local initiatives, partnerships, efforts, and networks that are emerging. CAFI covers a wide range of issues in the Indian context, with relevant news updates and reports on India’s progress towards the Arms Trade Treaty as well as compliance with the UN Program of Action to Prevent, Combat, and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons.

• Alliance for Peace and Disability Rights (APDR)
  • Link: APDR
  • Comments: APDR is an NGO registered to Pakistan (and the UK). One of its focus areas is disarmament, peace, and conflict prevention in Pakistan and its surrounding area. APDR serves as a valuable lens to look at local efforts in Pakistan, which seemingly has one of the worst cases of small arms proliferation to NSAGs – especially militant groups.

• Pakistan Security Research Unit (PSRU)
• Link: PSRU
• Comments: A research organization attached to the University of Bradford, PSRU serves more as a point of reference than an object of analysis. It provides links and reports relevant to the topic and is good for navigational purposes on this rather complex issue. While PSRU provides research on all aspects of Pakistan’s security, it does also have a section devoted specifically to small arms and light weapons with useful information.

• India Armed Violence Assessment (IAVA)
  • Link: IAVA
  • Comments: A research arm of The Graduate Institute in Geneva and the Small Arms Survey, IAVA is one of the only organizations conducting in-depth research on the causes and elements of all forms of armed violence in India. IAVA’s spectrum covers armed violence across several types of actors, including crime, militancy, terrorism, insurgency, separatism, social conflict, and even gender violence.

Some South Asia Specific Books & Reports:

• Banerjee, Dipankar and Robert Muggah. “Small Arms and Human Insecurity: Reviewing Participatory Research in South Asia.” Regional Centre for Strategic Studies. July 2002.
  • Link: Small Arms and Human Insecurity
  • Comments: This paper is a joint effort (by Small Arms Survey and the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies) to study the progress and potential of the movement against illegal small arms in South Asia. It uniquely explores local approaches and techniques and frames the issue as one of human insecurity from a “subjective” rather than “objective” standpoint – meaning that while it considers data and records, it does so for the ultimate purpose of assessing “the experience of people living in conflict zones and how the presence of small arms is conceived in relation to their personal security.”

• “India’s States of Armed Violence: Assessing the Human Cost and Political Priorities.” Small Arms Survey Issue Brief No.1. Small Arms Survey. September 2011.
  • Link: India’s States of Armed Violence
  • Comments: This brief concentrates on three particular problem areas within the larger armed violence issue in India: (1) insurgency; (2) terrorism; and (3) criminal violence. Each area is addressed through an assessment of trends and patterns as well as government action, spending, and policy. The brief emphasizes a lacking focus on the domestic side of the issue by the Indian government, which tends to emphasize international threats more greatly. Accordingly, the authors encourage greater attention on criminal elements, which leads to a large (and often understated) portion of India’s casualties.

• “India and the Arms Trade Treaty.” Oxfam Briefing Note. September 2006.
  • Link: India and the Arms Trade Treaty
  • Comments: This paper was published immediately prior to the October 2006 UN General Assembly – which was to focus heavily on the arms trade and the potential for an international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Accordingly, the briefing advocates India’s participation and poses three chief reasons the ATT should be supported by India: (1) the ATT matches India’s own values and fits with India’s constitution; (2) the illegal arms trade is greatly harming India’s own citizens; and (3) the ATT would not hinder India’s legitimate arms production or trade, which remains one of the government’s main concerns.

• Malik, Salma and Mallika Joseph. Small Arms and the Security Debate in South Asia. Manohar Publishers: New Delhi, 2005.
  • Comments: Where much of the regional literature on small arms tends to focus on specific issues and occurrences of the problem, this book is one of the few to begin the discussion from a different perspective. It aims to situate the problem itself within the broader theoretical debate on security. The authors pose and attempt to address important questions that often get brushed over, particularly relating to why the small arms problem in South Asia is in fact a security threat. Moving beyond traditional assumptions that nation-building in South Asia will inherently be a violent process (as it was with the West as well), the authors attempt to look at the particular historical causes for this violent process in South Asia.

• Kartha, Tara. “Controlling the Black and Gray Markets in Small Arms in South Asia” in Light Weapons and Civil Conflict: Controlling the Tools of Violence. Eds. Jeffrey Boutwell and Michael T. Klare. Carnegie Corporation: New York, 1999.
  • Comments: This chapter points to the critical (but often ignored) distinction between the black and gray illegal arms markets in South Asia. Neither of these are new markets, but both have thrived in an unprecedented way due to the war in Afghanistan. While the black market is primarily profit-driven, the gray market is not. The latter “involves the machinery of the state in some form, notably where the government (or its agent) has either assisted in or turned a blind eye to illicit arms transfers originating from within its own territory or being organized by its national operating in other countries” (Boutwell and Klare, p. 51). This is a significant phenomenon in South Asia in light of states’ contributions to the arming of rebel, militant, or extremist groups – certainly a trend in India and Pakistan, but also in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Some South Asia Specific Articles & Speeches:

• Kapila, Subhash. “South Asia: Proliferation of Small Arms and its Impact on India’s Security.” Trancript. South Asia Analysis Group. March 2006.
  • Link: South Asia: Proliferation of Small Arms
  • Comments: Echoing Kofi Annan’s famous description of small arms as the real weapons of mass destruction, Kapila depicts South Asia as undisputable evidence of this reality. In a succinct and direct manner, he guides the audience through major observations and deductions on the region’s propensity for small arms proliferation before delving deeper into India’s particular challenges and vulnerabilities. It is all tied together with an analysis of the impact on India’s security – from strategic, political, economic, energy, and societal perspectives.

• Arputharaj, W. James. “The Crisis in South Asia.” Frontline Magazine. September 2001.
  • Link: The Crisis in South Asia
  • Comments: This brief article is useful for what it calls to attention. One important observation is that there is not enough regional cooperation to solve the issue of small arms proliferation in South Asia – unlike the more concerted efforts being made in Africa and Europe, for instance. The article also sets forth the characterization of India and Pakistan as suppliers as well as end-users of small arms, both legal and illegal. This may seem obvious, but it is interesting when the author contrasts these two countries with the others in South Asia – not all of which play the roles of both, broker and client.

• Sarwari, Bilal. “Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.” Pakistan Law. 17 January 2010.
  • Link: Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons
  • Comments: This article looks at the small arms trade and manufacturing industry in Pakistan, breaking it down into three types of domestic producers: (1) the state-owned and public sector enterprise; (2) private manufacturers – which often operates under state license and regulation; and (3) the cottage industry – which escapes state supervision (including the Darra and Landi Kotal markets). The piece is useful for an initial understanding of how these three segments of the overall small arms market in Pakistan functions and who the key actors within it are.

• Gautam, Col. P.K. “Proliferation of Small Arms in South Asia and Human Security.” Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. 18 January 2003.
  • Link: Proliferation of Small Arms in South Asia
  • Comments: Though brief, this article points out quite a few useful considerations on the topic. It discusses the proliferation of small arms in South Asia in the context of three 21^st century trends: (1) most armed conflict has shifted from inter- to intra-state with the end of the 20^th century; (2) international disarmament efforts still tend to focus more on traditional weapons of mass destruction (especially nuclear ones) at the cost of offering sufficient attention to small arms – the main weapon used in such intrastate violence; and (3) civilians are now beginning to account for the highest percentage of casualties in small arms violence. The author argues that these factors should be a call to action for the international community.

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Some Useful General Resources

Now seems like a good time to share some initial resources I have come across as well as some interesting background reading materials. Where possible, links are provided. Two quick disclaimers: (1) the sources below are chosen for a broad background understanding on the global issue; and (2) this in no way claims to be a comprehensive list, but it is a start.

Please feel free to add to my list in the comments section if you can share key general sources I may have missed (or not yet discovered). If you wish to add South Asia specific items, you may prefer to wait for my forthcoming post with more focused sources. Until then, happy reading.

Some General Blogs & Online Information Portals:

• Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers (NISAT) blog
• Link: NISAT blog
• Comments: NISAT is a reliable informational resource on the small arms trade. Other than its research component, the organization also runs a useful blog on small arms issues and news.

• Arms Control NOW – The Arms Control Association blog
• Link: Arms Control NOW
• Comments: The Arms Control Association is one of the original actors in the international movement against the illegal small arms trade. Its blog provides news and expert commentary on issues and progress. It is relevant for its first hand involvement as well as its immediate news releases.

• Small Arms Monitor
• Link: Small Arms Monitor
• Comments: Small Arms Monitor is a good resource for its “NGO reporting on the biennial meeting of states on small arms and light weapons.” Unlike other resources with vast pools of information on diverse issue areas, Small Arms Monitor is useful for its focused reporting on state policy changes and progress.        

• International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA)
• Link: IANSA
• Comments: IANSA considers itself a “global movement against gun violence” and has proved to be a critical actor. In itself, IANSA can serve as a beneficial case study in itself, especially for measuring goals and effectiveness. Additionally, the organization provides access to a great deal of background information and research.

• United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
• Link: UNIDIR
• Comments: The UN is one of the most critical actors tying various regional networks together in the larger transnational network on the issue of small arms. UNIDIR serves as a support center and resource, with “action-oriented research [bringing] together perspectives on national, regional and international security, disarmament and development with a fundamental focus on human security.” One of the many relevant sub-pages of the UNIDIR website has valuable reports from its past research projects, ranging from Mapping Illicit Small Arms Trafficking in 2000 to Fixing the Broken Disarmament Machinery in 2010.

• Small Arms Survey
• Link: Small Arms Survey
• Comments: Small Arms Survey is one of the leading informational resources on the transnational advocacy network on small arms. It is widely accepted as one of the primary sources for tracking data and conflict related to small arms and its evidence is often used in reports and papers on the topic. 

Some General Books & Papers:

• Marsh, Nicholas. “Two Sides of the Same Coin? The Legal and Illegal Trade in Small Arms.” The Brown Journal of World Affairs. Spring 2002.
• Link: Two Sides of the Same Coin
• Comments: This may be one of the best introductory papers I’ve read on the subject of separating the legal and illegal small arms trade. It begins with an often forgotten fact – that many of today’s illegal weapons were originally made and sold legally. With an interesting structure, the paper gives readers a brief overview of the legal and illegal markets before concentrating on the gray market and ending with a few basic recommendations.

• Holtom, Paul and Mark Bromley. “The International Arms Trade: Difficult to Define, Measure, and Control.” Arms Control Association. August 2010.
• Link: The International Arms Trade
• Comments: Taking an interesting approach, this report looks at the relatively small effects of the global economic crisis on the international arms trade. It addresses arms trade trends in recent years as well as trade control efforts. Though much is yet to be learned about the real impacts of deteriorating global economic conditions on the illegal arms markets, this paper serves as an excellent base.

• “Arms Without Borders: Why a Globalised Trade Needs Global Controls.” Control Arms Campaign. October 2006.
• Link: Arms Without Borders
• Comments: This paper addresses the loopholes in the international production of small arms, where many such weapons disappear into the wrong hands due to very fluid and loose regulations on the production side. Instead of the traditional approach of tightening trade treaties, this paper advocates nipping the issue in the bud. This is an area of concern that deserves at least as much attention going forward as the development of a global treaty.

• “A Destruction Handbook – Small Arms, Light Weapons, Ammunition and Explosives.” United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs. 2001.
• Link: A Destruction Handbook
• Comments: To move away from theory and gain a more tangible picture of what can be done to curb illicit small arms violence, it is worth skimming this UN handbook. It begins with an overview of the problem before concretely presenting methods of destruction for small arms, among other weapons and explosives. I found that reading this kind of practical guide added color to my knowledge on actual and immediate steps governments can take.

• “Guns Out of Control: The Continuing Threat of Small Arms.” IRIN In-Depth Report. Integrated Regional Information Networks. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. May 2006.
• Link: Guns Out of Control
• Comments: This in-depth report gives a good briefing on several states in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, and South Asia. The report also includes interviews with the UN Special Rapporteur on the prevention of human rights violations committed with small arms and light weapons; the Director of IANSA; the Manager of the Human Security and Small Arms Programme at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue; and two former soldiers of the Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) engaged in several years of illicit small arms violence. Though many of the countries covered in the report are outside the direct focus of this blog, they give good context for the global situation.

• “Shooting Down the MDGs – How Irresponsible Arms Transfers Undermine Development Goals.” Oxfam Briefing Paper No. 120. Oxfam International. October 2008.
• Link: Shooting Down the MDGs
• Comments: This paper is not opposed to legal trade and transfers of weapons between countries. It recognizes a state’s legitimate right to defend itself. However, the paper notes that irresponsible transfers can fuel local conflicts and slow development progress. Accordingly, it presents an in-depth analysis and advocates for a robust global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) with tougher enforcement and better controls on the international arm trade. This, according to the authors, would be a momentous step towards sealing some of the many loopholes that place ammunition in the wrong hands.

• Grimmett, Richard F. “Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2003-2010.” Congressional Research Service. September 2011.
• Link: Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations
• Comments: Those of us in the research community know that CRS often presents some of the most comprehensive reports and this is one of them. Updated annually, this latest congressional report examines general trends in global arms transfers before focusing on developing nations. The emphasis is on legal arms transfers, sales, and agreements. However, understanding the legal market is somewhat of a prerequisite to investigating the illegal market.

• Potter, Matt. Outlaws Inc. Bloombury USA: New York, 2011.
• Comments: This recently released book was written by a journalist that traveled with ex-Soviet soldiers who now use their skills and resources to smuggle arms and other illegal goods within the international black market. It offers insight on the perspectives and motives of the sellers propagating the arms black market and confirms that money – not violence itself – is often the endgame for the proliferators.

• Garcia, Denise. “Small Arms and Security: New Emerging International Norms.” Routledge: New York, 2006.
• Comments: This book systematically studies the trends in international norms governing the proliferation of small arms. It is helpful for understanding current patterns in global practices and shared norms in the international movement.

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