Small Arms of Mass Destruction

There are over 698 Million firearms in our world, more than one for every ten people. Some of these guns are used by criminals, some are used to terrorize innocents, some are used to displace people from their homes, and some are used to abuse international human rights and humanitarian law. Many guns, all around the world, are used for killing.

Here are some of the disturbing facts:

• Every minute, someone is shot dead by the use of a gun.
• Between 300,000-500,000 people are shot dead every year.
• Guns are relatively cheap and easily available.
• The "Black Market" arms trade is valued at $2-10 billion in sales every year.
• Guns are easy to use, long lasting, highly portable, and easily concealable.

"The death toll from small arms dwarfs that of all other weapons systems – and in most years greatly exceeds the toll of the atomic bombs that devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In terms of the carnage they cause, small arms, indeed, could well be described as 'Weapons of Mass Destruction'. Yet there is still no global non-proliferation regime to limit their spread."
--- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 2000

In this post, I will try to shed some light on this important global issue. Where are these guns coming from? Where do they end-up? Why isn't anybody doing anything?

I will answer the last question first, because the answer is quite simple. In 2001, the United Nations held a conference aimed at reducing the flow of arms into conflict zones. The goals for the two week conference were scaled back after pressure from major gun-producing countries such as the United States, China and Russia, whose delegates had worked behind the scenes to block any agreements on a program of action.

In this conference, the U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control at the time, John Bolton (and a former U.S Ambassador to the United Nations), told the delegates that "The United States will not join consensus on a final document that contains measures contrary to our constitutional right to keep and bear arms." The conference (I remind you) was about reducing the flow of arms into conflict zones. Bolton stated that the United States could not support a final Conference document that included:

• Making restrictions on the sale of small arms and light weapons to entities other than governments.
• Funding campaigns by human rights organizations to raise awareness of the trade.
• A ban on private ownership of military weapons (such as assault rifles and grenade launchers).
• A commitment to begin discussions on legally binding agreements.

This, in effect, answers the first question, "Where are these guns coming from?" - at least to some degree. According to the U.S Congress report on "Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations" (page 64), the U.S had "Transferred" over $61 Billion in arms (between 1999-2006). Russia was number two with over $32 Billion, followed by the U.K with almost $28 Billion, and France with 16.6 Billion Almighty Dollars in "Arms Deliveries to Developing Nations". These figures include supplying: Tanks, Helicopters, Missiles, Armored Cars, Combat Aircrafts, etc.

In terms of small arms, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are (what-do-you-know) the five leading nations in terms of small arms exports (88% of the market).

According to the Oxfam International & Amnesty International Arms Report (Page 54), the U.S is the World "Leader" in this category (as well) with $14 Billion in sales per year (between 1998-2001). The U.K is a "Solid" number two at $4.6 Billion. France and Russia are tied for third ($3.4 Billion), and China ($0.5 Billion) is number five.

Some of these weapons reach conflict zones (one way or the "Black Market" way), causing pain and suffering to the powerless. There are over 698 Million firearms in our world, more than one for every ten people. So to answer the question, "Where do these guns end-up?" - Small arms are in every corner of our globe, involved in almost every conflict that we hear about, every day of every week.

Another disturbing factor, a part of the "Arms Trade" discussion, is that there are an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 children serving as soldiers in current armed conflicts, both for rebel groups and government forces. Africa is the most problematic continent in regards to this issue, an estimation from 2004 claims that there are over 100,000 "child-soldiers" in current armed-combat-positions. This is of course a world-wide plague, and in Columbia for example, between 11,000 and 14,000 children are estimated to be involved with left-wing guerrilla groups and right-wing paramilitaries. Children are also recruited by terrorist-organizations and rebel-groups around the globe. If you are interested, you can read more about this specific topic "Military use of children" (Wikipedia).

I know a lot of American citizens who feel strongly about the 2nd Amendment of our constitution, and care very much about their right to own a gun. The truth, at least in my own mind, is that there's nothing wrong with legally (and responsibly) owning a gun. The problem, both within the U.S. and in other parts of the world, begins when firearms end up in the wrong hands, and I'm sure you can see that often times they do.

I sit here tonight, writing about these issues, and I feel perplexed as to how this matter is not a top-priority. In an era when the "War on Terror" is such a "Hot" topic, finding ways to prevent the distribution of arms into conflict zones should be a matter of international security. In a time when every American Presidential Candidate is being asked whether or not they are "Pro Life", perhaps the issue of "arms" could serve as an extension (of sorts) to the "Pro Life" debate. Maybe as a side note, or in the form of a new topic. Maybe someday.

"We cannot have it both ways. We can’t be both the world’s leading champion of peace and the world’s leading supplier of arms."
--- Former US President Jimmy Carter, The presidential campaign, 1976