Friday, December 14, 2012

INTERACTIVE: Who are the world's top importers and exporters of small arms

Yesterday, I came across a map spelling out where the world's small arms come from and where they go.  This information was derived from the Small Arms Survey Report of 2012 by The Graduate Institute of Geneva.  They compiled these figures from official government reports, media speculation, and field research.  I HIGHLY encourage you to both peruse the map and the report to get a better understanding of the small arms issue.

This is the map I previously mentioned.  If you want a bigger map to look at, click here.






Here's some data gleaned from the report:


  • After 15 years of rising homicide rates, El Salvador, Guatemala,  Honduras, Jamaica, and Venezuela all suffer from rates of more than 30 per 100,000—at least five times the global average. Together with Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and Puerto Rico, these countries also exhibit very high proportions of homicides committed with firearms (>70 per cent).
  • Worldwide, at least two million people are living with firearm injuries sustained in non-conflict settings over the past decade. Their injuries generate considerable direct and indirect costs, such as those incurred through treatment, recovery, and lost productivity.
  • In response to increased attacks by Somali pirates, international naval forces and private security companies have stepped up their activities in high-risk waters. As a result, the number of successful attacks dropped in 2011, but pirate groups are increasingly resorting to lethal violence and abusing their hostages during attacks and captivity.
  • State transparency on small arms and light weapons transfers improved on average by more than 40 per cent between 2001 and 2010, but the average score for all states combined remains below half of all available points.

  • Here's a video from the press conference spelling out more of the report's findings:




    UPDATE:I had no way of knowing that this post would be so timely.  I am mortified about the events in Connecticut today and by some of the commentary taking place through social media and other outlets in an attempt to correlate this with a need to address gun control.  I have a simple philosophy in that regard.  Crazy people kill kindergartners and NOT guns.  That being said, I do believe we need to address the ease of access these nutjobs have to weapons which can kill a large volume of people.  I think we need a discussion about we as professionals and citizens can recognize the signs something maybe amiss with people who commit these crimes.  I think the discussion also needs to go much further than what I proposed.  As Jay Carney, President Obama's press secretary said today, "There's a day for gun control review, 'but today is not that day'"  On that note, I ask you that take a moment to think about the victims and the heinous crime that took their lives.

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