MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union
MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union
MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union
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THEME 1<br />
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS<br />
Governments are increasingly acting to strengthen small arms control measures,<br />
including the regulation of civilian-held guns, in efforts to address<br />
gun violence and the negative effects of the arms trade. <strong>Parliamentary</strong><br />
action is crucial when it comes to reviewing and updating national gun<br />
laws. Encouragingly, there is a rich body of evidence and lessons to draw<br />
from in efforts to strengthen national gun laws.<br />
1. Parliamentarians can instigate reviews of current national laws and<br />
policies on arms possession and use, as well as the implementation of<br />
existing laws. As a benchmark, laws and policies can be brought into<br />
conformity with the recommendations laid out in the 1997 Resolution of<br />
the UN Commission of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. 86 These<br />
include licensing, registration, and safe storage requirements, among<br />
others—all of which would help reduce misuse and diversion of legal<br />
firearms to illegal markets. In addition, governments should seriously<br />
consider the importance of passing federally uniform, rather than subnational,<br />
arms control laws. Doing so would impede arms trafficking from<br />
lesser to more regulated provinces.<br />
2. Parliamentarians can convene public hearings or inquiries to ascertain<br />
views on the arms trade and gun violence and possession in the<br />
country. Seeking the views of diverse sectors of the population is a useful,<br />
transparent and publicly accountable method of informing changes to<br />
laws and has been a feature of the success in several government reform<br />
efforts including in South Africa, Australia, and El Salvador.<br />
3. Parliamentarians can advocate for legislation that will:<br />
• Promote gun owner responsibility by registering firearms. Individuals<br />
permitted to own firearms must be responsible for them. Development<br />
of systems of accountability should also be agreed, with losses reported<br />
and investigated quickly. Governments could agree to hold individuals<br />
accountable for weapon loss through serious disciplinary action. Support<br />
for safe storage facilities and awareness-raising campaigns could<br />
help promote responsibility of gun owners for ensuring that society is<br />
not harmed with their weapons.<br />
• Define minimum criteria for private ownership of guns by introducing a<br />
national system of licensing. At a minimum, criteria for acquiring guns<br />
should include the capacity to handle a gun; age limit; proof of valid<br />
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