MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union

MISSING PIECES
Statute in 2003, the government conducted the second largest gun buyback
campaign in the world, collecting approximately 470,000 guns. A
combination of the requirements under the new legislation and the reduction
in weapons availability through the buy-back scheme led to a 92%
decline in legal commerce in firearms and an 8.2% decrease in the overall
homicide rate (the first drop in 13 years). Similarly the number of firearm
injuries medically treated decreased, with a comparison of the first 7 months
of 2003 with the first 7 months of the buy-back campaign showing a 10.5%
decrease in Rio de Janeiro and a 7% decrease in São Paulo. 20
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS
As the issues related to gun violence and small arms control evolve, it is
worth noting the move towards more comprehensive, long-term, and sustainable
programmes where weapons collection is a part of the process
rather than an end goal.
1. Ammunition control is critical. Guns are dependent on available and
functional ammunition to be effective. Particular efforts should be made
to effectively and safely collect, control, store, and destroy ammunition.
2. Support weapons collection initiatives combined with other measures.
These could include the establishment of adequate procedures for stockpile
management and security; destruction of surplus, seized, confiscated,
and collected small arms; police reforms towards models of community
policing; the establishment of adequate regulations on gun possession;
and efforts to prevent illicit arms supplies to the country or region in
question.
3. Communicate clearly the objectives and process of any weapons collection
programme. Transparency can build confidence in the process
and help the public form reasonable expectations of a weapons collection
exercise. Awareness raising programmes can also help shift perceptions of
guns from a tool leading to increased security to one that actually decreases
personal safety. Parliamentarians can be key communicators of reform
efforts.
4. Sustained data collection efforts are essential, and should be adequately
resourced. These include detailed assessments of weapons in circulation,
but also of perceptions of insecurity, predominant forms of violence (crim-
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