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World's small weapons total 639 million

Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
edited July 2002 in General Discussion
World's small weapons total 639 million


By Elizabeth Olson
The New York Times
GENEVA - The recorded number of small arms around the world rose 16 percent last year, to 639 million, according to a new survey.

Civilians owned 377 million of those weapons, which included handguns and rifles, according to the study, the Small Arms Survey conducted by the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva. The school said that number represented a 25 percent jump in civilian ownership from the year before, but explained that much of the rise probably reflected improved data-gathering after its first survey last year.

That initial survey was issued just before the U.N. conference in July to forge an international pact tightening firearms controls.

One of the new survey's surprising findings was how widespread gun production is throughout the world, said Peter Batchelor, project director for the Small Arms Survey 2002.

"Our figures show that more than 1,000 companies in some 98 countries around the world produce small arms and ammunition," he said. The previous report found that about 600 companies in 95 countries made firearms.

The study found that the United States and Russia dominated small-arms manufacture and export. China is thought to have a significant industry, and it probably ranks among the top three countries in firearms manufacture, Batchelor said, but he added that the country keeps no formal statistics on production or sales.

The survey based its research on public sources, like the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and its research team verified the findings, Batchelor said.

Arms manufacturers around the world make about 8 million small arms yearly, the survey found. No more than 2 million such light weapons are destroyed annually, Batchelor said.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/134485087_arms30.html







"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878

Comments

  • steve45steve45 Member Posts: 2,940 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I was pretty sure SaxonPig owned more than that.
  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That sounds too low.

    I thought it was "fact" that the Chinese alone have produced 500 million SKS's--while some of those no longer exists, you'd have to add the AK's they've produced to replace them.

    I wonder what the "total military personnel" for the world is--most of those would be "armed"--which would give an accurate estimate of the "world's small arms".

    Or I wonder if the numbers are for some type of propaganda purpose--to try to "intimidate" government officials into thinking they have to "disarm the heavily armed civilians"?
  • Shootist3006Shootist3006 Member Posts: 4,171
    edited November -1
    quote:I wonder what the "total military personnel" for the world is--most of those would be "armed"--which would give an accurate estimate of the "world's small arms".
    ??????????????????

    Total military personnel would give an accurate estimate of the world's small arms - what a depressing thought! It is estimated that in the U.S. alone there are more than 200 million small arms - held by civilians, not including any stocks held by the government.

    If the ratio of civilian ownership is that bad throughout the rest of the world, no wonder it is such a screwed-up place. In the U.S. there are over 80 million gun owners (owning 200 million guns) which means that, if this study is to be believed, there are only 177 million guns owned by civilians in the rest of the world!!! That would mean that while about 1 out of every 4 Americans own guns, only 1 out of every 300 non-Americans own guns. Sure helps to explain Cambodia, Rwanda and all the other horror stories.

    Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis
  • jimkanejimkane Member Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    the more the merrier. since there are so many that means I could use a few more.

    Live for Peace, prepare for War
  • airborneairborne Member Posts: 1,728 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Looks like I only own .00005112 of the World's total small arms.

    B - BreatheR - RelaxA - AimS - SightS - Squeeze
  • Shootist3006Shootist3006 Member Posts: 4,171
    edited November -1
    Dang airborne, how many safes does it take to house 32,665.68 guns??
    (and what makes up .68 guns?)

    Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis
  • airborneairborne Member Posts: 1,728 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Shootist3006,

    Let me recalucate, if you divide 125 into 639 million don't you come up with .00005112, or would it be .000005112.

    Please advise if I'm wrong.

    B - BreatheR - RelaxA - AimS - SightS - Squeeze
  • cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,642 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    5.112 million

    cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
  • cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,642 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I think you have .000000196 of the world's supply.
    Keep buying!

    cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
  • airborneairborne Member Posts: 1,728 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    cbxjeff,

    I'll accept that if it's right. As long as I have my fair share I'm happy, with time I'll add to the number. As said before it just makes me feel good every time I obtain another firearm.

    B - BreatheR - RelaxA - AimS - SightS - Squeeze
  • cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,642 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    airborne,

    I look at these numbers as a good thing. Now we have all the more reason to buy! Heck, you have twice as many as I. I better check GB right now.

    Happy shooting,

    cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
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