NCJ Number
66217
Date Published
1968
Length
27 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT TO THE ICPO-INTERPOL GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION IN 1968 DISCUSSES VARIED REGULATIONS ON THE SALE, PURCHASE, AND POSSESSION OF FIREARMS.
Abstract
A TOTAL OF 56 MEMBER COUNTRIES REPLIED TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE. MOST COUNTRIES CONTROL FIREARMS IMPORTS AND EXPORTS BY CERTAIN REGULATIONS OR CONDITIONS. ACQUIRING AND POSSESSING FIREARMS IS STRICTLY CONTROLLED IN MOST COUNTRIES AND APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS USUALLY REQUIRE A GOOD REASON FOR FIREARM OWNERSHIP. MILITARY AND PROHIBITED WEAPONS ARE FORBIDDEN IN MOST COUNTRIES. TWENTY COUNTRIES DID NOT PERMIT LEGALLY-ACQUIRED WEAPONS TO BE TRANSPORTED BY THEIR OWNERS OR KEPT IN VEHICLES; 35 DID UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. NONRESIDENT ALIENS COULD ACQUIRE FIREARMS IN 38 COUNTRIES. IN MOST COUNTRIES, IT WAS AN OFFENSE TO CARRY A GUN OUTSIDE OF ONE'S OWN HOME WITHOUT A PERMIT. IN 26 COUNTRIES, ONLY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, POLICE, AND OTHER OFFICIAL SECURITY AGENCIES COULD CARRY FIREARMS UNLESS CIVIL DISORDER OR OTHER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WERE PRESENT. THIRTY-FOUR COUNTRIES KEPT A NATIONAL FILE OF PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO OWN AND BEAR FIREARMS, AND THERE WERE NO RESTRICTIONS ON AMMUNITION SALES IN BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND BURMA. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT MOST COUNTRIES HAVE ADOPTED A FIREARMS CLASSIFICATION, HAVE ESTABLISHED A SYSTEM OF REGULATIONS GOVERNING THEIR USE, AND HAVE FOUND WAYS OF ADHERING TO THESE REGULATIONS. IN ADDIDION, A RECOMMENDATION ADVOCATING THE INTRODUCTION OF REGULATIONS ON THE SALE, OWNERSHIP, AND CARRYING OF FIREARMS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED AND EACH COUNTRY SHOULD KEEP RECORDS OF ALL PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO OWN OR CARRY FIREARMS. AN APPENDIX ON QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERS BY COUNTRY PROVIDES REFERENCES TO FIREARMS LAWS. (AOP)