MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union
MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union
MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union
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INTRODUCTION<br />
INTRODUCTION<br />
The statistics are damning. There are currently an estimated 640<br />
million small arms and light weapons in circulation – from handguns<br />
and assault rifles to shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles.<br />
The majority of this arsenal, or about 60%, is in the hands of<br />
civilians. A further seven to eight million new weapons are added to the<br />
global stockpile every year, as well as at least 10 billion units of ammunition.<br />
Guns are light, cheap, durable, easy to conceal and easy to operate, and<br />
therefore pose a pernicious threat to human security in countries at war<br />
and at peace alike.<br />
While landmines kill or maim between 15 and 20,000 people a year,<br />
during the same time the use and misuse of small arms and light weapons<br />
take between 200,000 and 270,000 lives in countries ‘at peace’ alone<br />
through homicide and suicide – up to five times more, depending on<br />
estimates, than die directly from gunfire in situations of war. The number<br />
of war wounded and disabled ranges anywhere from two to thirteen times<br />
the number killed. The economic cost of this violence is staggering, and<br />
it is now well recognised that armed insecurity poses a grave threat to<br />
sustainable development. Shots do not even need to be fired for firearms<br />
to be used to threaten, coerce, intimidate and abuse, including by committing<br />
sexual violence at gunpoint. The trauma and pain guns leave in<br />
their wake take years to overcome, if at all.<br />
PARLIAMENTARY ACTION<br />
The role of parliamentarians is critical in turning the tide of gun proliferation<br />
and violence. By strengthening or creating national laws, improving<br />
implementation and enforcement, stimulating and leading public debate,<br />
parliaments set new standards for reducing the societal impacts of gun<br />
violence.<br />
Missing Pieces: A guide for reducing gun violence through parliamentary<br />
action has been written for parliamentarians, their advisors and civil society<br />
to guide, inspire and suggest action. This special edition builds on the July<br />
2005 publication, Missing Pieces: Directions for reducing gun violence through