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Study: 9 guns for every 10 Americans
By Frank Jordans
Associated Press
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GENEVA -- There are nine guns for every 10 people in the United States, with about 270 million firearms in circulation, according to a report released Tuesday.

Worldwide, civilians now have access to 650 million small arms - from handguns to semiautomatic rifles - an arsenal that far outstrips what is held by police and militaries, according to the annual Small Arms Survey. It estimates that civilians account for about three-fourths of the 875 million such weapons in circulation.

"Civilian holdings of weapons worldwide are much larger than we previously believed," the director of the Geneva-based group, Keith Krause, told reporters.

But it is the United States that has the heaviest concentration of firearms.

Of the 8 million new firearms manufactured annually around the world, roughly 4.5 million are bought in the United States.

Other countries with high per capita ownership include Yemen, with 61 small arms per 100 people; Finland with 56; Switzerland with 46 and Iraq with 39.

Much lower on the scale are Brazil, with nine guns per 100 people, England and Wales with six, India with four, China with three and Nigeria with one.

The report notes that only about 12 percent of all weapons worldwide are registered with authorities, making it difficult to collect exact data on gun possession. Five years ago the group estimated a total of 640 million small arms worldwide.

"There's a large number of states in the middle, mostly northern industrial states in Western Europe and North America," said Krause, citing France, with 32 per 100 people; Canada and Sweden, with 31 each and Germany, with 30.

The figures dispel the idea that gun ownership and high levels of violence necessarily go hand in hand, he said.

"There's no clear relationship between more guns and higher levels of violence," Krause said, pointing to low ownership and high crime rates in Latin America.

He said studies had shown that gun violence often occurred in places undergoing rapid urban growth, and when lawless areas are created by extreme poverty and the absence of effective policing.

The problem is worsened when members of government or police forces sell ammunition on the black market, Krause said.

In Rio de Janeiro, "a combination of factors suggest that state security forces - most notably the police - are the source of much of the assault rifle ammunition in the hands of criminal gangs," the report said.

Thousands of arms supplied to Iraq by the United States are believed to have been acquired by insurgents through rogue elements in the Iraqi security forces.

Sudan, meanwhile, has purchased more than 25 million firearms in recent years - mostly from China and Iran - despite well-documented human rights violations committed by government-backed militias.

Krause said wealthy countries with lower crime rates, such as those in the 27-nation European Union, are dealing with an increased flow of small arms across borders where controls have been loosened.

Recent shootings in Britain - where ownership is severely restricted and the gun crime rate is low - highlight the need for greater police cooperation in Europe, he said.

On the Web

Small Arms Survey: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/

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Reader comments on this story - 49 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Gun Nut wrote on Sep 11, 2007 12:20 PM:

" George Washington,Thomas Jefferson,Ben Franklin,Patrick Henry,all said I have the right to bear arms. Hillary Clinton,Adolph Hitler,John Kerry and Teddy Kennedy say I shouldnt have that right. Nuf Ced "

to I have five wrote on Sep 5, 2007 1:08 PM:

" hey i have friends in wisco. don't punish them! they have done nothing to deserve getting stuck with chicago. besides that would give the politico's 2 states to corrupt and i don't feel this nation can handle that! "

to: to Annie wrote on Aug 30, 2007 6:33 AM:

" turn off FAUX news . We rank behind COSTA RICA in health delivery care, our educational system ranks well below other democracies in the world and yes g.w. there is a thing called global warming ! "

moonie wrote on Aug 29, 2007 9:25 PM:

" ps. that group better recheck there figures for england, and do it now. "

To Annie wrote on Aug 29, 2007 7:48 PM:

" Clueless. We have the best healtcare and colleges. Where do you think all the innovation comes from? That's why people come to the USA for education and healthcare from around the world. Global warming...don't even get me started on that one. "

to strange wrote on Aug 29, 2007 6:32 PM:

" that's why we are the most free "

strange wrote on Aug 29, 2007 5:49 PM:

" anyone else feel it is strange that we are supposedly the most "free" country yet we have the highest concentration of firearms? "

Meg wrote on Aug 29, 2007 3:21 PM:

" "The report notes that only about 12 percent of all weapons worldwide are registered with authorities, making it difficult to collect exact data on gun possession." Hmm...also makes it difficult to collect the guns themselves once pols like Blago and Emil get their way. Good! Oh, and I have 3. "

Native wrote on Aug 29, 2007 3:12 PM:

" How many of these firearms are in collectors hands. I have six firearms, five of them are military between 80 and 120 years old with no ammunition. The sixth is 145 years old with a plugged barrel. Do they count these? "

Annie wrote on Aug 29, 2007 2:36 PM:

" get your gun. Wish these gunnies were as rabid about health care, quality jobs, global warming, world class education system, etc. etc. So sad to be obsessed with armaments. Keep on poppin. Love, Charlton Heston "

OMG~~ wrote on Aug 29, 2007 1:49 PM:

" I'm short a few, guess I'd better get my quota so I can match the survey. "

Digs Deeper wrote on Aug 29, 2007 1:48 PM:

" Hunting is the greatest experience one could ever have. Shoot a deer for 200 yards knowing that you will have food for months, the reward, the natural high, the Steaks, oh I can't wait. Rabbit, squirrel, Turkey, Pheasants, and are all offered here in Illinois. A BB gun ain't gonna cut it, lol... A bow and a very good aim, might, but hey gotta love America. FYI: This Police State- is arming themselves while disarming everyone else! Lock "in" Load "

BlogHog wrote on Aug 29, 2007 12:48 PM:

" Thus we are the most well-armed civilian population on the planet. What's the negative here? It would also appear the number of firearms used with criminal intent is a VERY small percentage of the total quantity in this country. "

to: to Peace through superior firepower. wrote on Aug 29, 2007 12:41 PM:

" What you fail to mention is that everyone is in the military. And that the reserves take thier weapons home with them. Try that here and all the liberals would have strokes when told that military service is mandatory, as well as training in the use of firearms. Give the whole story. And remeber this is a Neutral Country. "

Jed Clampett wrote on Aug 29, 2007 12:39 PM:

" Does owning a pellet gun to shoot ground squirrels and other small critters count? "

JD wrote on Aug 29, 2007 11:15 AM:

" Our forefathers knew that one day, the people may need to overthrow a tyrannical government, such as the one the forefathers had fled from. They feared that so much, that they made sure that Americans could arm themselves to protect themselves from a government run amok. Now the government wants to curtail, and eventually abolish, guns in civilians hands. The same government that our forefathers wrote rights to specifically protect us from. What is sad, is that people are falling believing the government wants to do this to protect us. "

I have five wrote on Aug 29, 2007 10:31 AM:

" Guess what I'm doing with my tax return in April. Yep, getting another gun. Soon, you can call me "I have six". "

TO: All you anit-gunners out there- wrote on Aug 29, 2007 10:10 AM:

" I am a police officer- like most officers I am pro-gun. I own 2 AK-47's / 1 Mac 11 9mm with 32 round mags / 1 308 sniper rifle / 1 benelli police tactical shotgun / 3 hand-guns and a couple of rifles.... More power to people who own guns in America !!! I am lucky because I can carry my gun with me anywhere in America at anytime. Law abiding citizens should also be able to carry a gun to protect themselves from the scum of the earth. Felon's should do mandatory sentences for having weapons- and should be held until their trial. LIBERAL DEMOCRAT'S HATE ME AND MY GUNS- TOO BAD SO SAD I'll protect them too- "

Liberal wrote on Aug 29, 2007 9:49 AM:

" Well, I guess I give in! I have always been anti-gun. But since all of you crazies have them I guess I better arm myself, to protect against you gun nuts. "

to 9 guns for every 10 wrote on Aug 29, 2007 8:00 AM:

" the problem with that is the 1 person who is not armed. how do we get a gun in every person's hand. "

Wrong information provided wrote on Aug 29, 2007 7:28 AM:

" How can 650 million small arms outstrip the police and military around the world? Out number, maybe, out shoot, no way. The U.S constitution provides for a means for the civilians to overthrow the goverment if it is being too suppressive. In no way do the people of the U.S. have what they need to do this anymore. "

I have five wrote on Aug 29, 2007 7:17 AM:

" Illinois is one of only two states in the nation that doesn't have some form of concealed carry law. Wisconsin is the other. Since pretty much all public policy here in the People's Republic of Illinois is dictated by Chicago, we should redraw the state lines. Give Chicago and the burbs to Wisconsin, then pass laws that are more in line with the rest of the nation. Hell, even New York and California have better gun laws. "

Digs Deeper wrote on Aug 28, 2007 9:18 PM:

" This is an other push for the state to ban guns and swing our opinions to ban them. The police and military combined have way more fire power than the citizens do. With the ever increasing ease of being convicted of a felony you should be scared even if you own one right now legally as the push for our government to disarm it's citizens could never be spotlighted more in recent history. Stock pile every single one. "

To: I have 3 wrote on Aug 28, 2007 8:58 PM:

" I've got ya covered - but you should fix the situation yourself because there's some folks on here that aren't "carrying" their share. Pun intended. For all you anti-gunners, I imagine your anti-gun arguments are just the tip of the liberal iceberg. I imagine you have all sorts of other great ideas on how the populace needs controlled through your ideas of smarter, bigger government to help us all. "

Max Sniler wrote on Aug 28, 2007 8:51 PM:

" USA First! We win! "

I have 3 wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:41 PM:

" With four people in the family, so I'm below the average, only 7.5 guns per 10 people in our house. "

pitdogg wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:12 PM:

" I'd rather have my guns and not need them than need a gun and not have one... losers that keep spouting about getting rid of the guns will only be the sheep someone will torture and finally SLAUGHTER...I'd rather take a few out before I DIE or PRESERVE MY LIFE LIKE THE SHEEP CAN'T "

OJ wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:12 PM:

" And rightly so! Warning: Citizen Zombies, a sociopathic government on the loose! And it's all right here!!! Keep your guns; you may need them. "

Bet wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:07 PM:

" there are more guns in American homes than books. How sad. Shoot'em up you gunnies ! "

Fact: wrote on Aug 28, 2007 6:56 PM:

" Since Britain banned handguns 10 years ago, their use in crimes has doubled. Yeah, lets ban handguns, good idea! Look it up, it's true. "

to A Gun In Every Home Needed wrote on Aug 28, 2007 6:32 PM:

" You say it should be the right of EVERY citizen to own a gun. Really? That includes convicted felons and people with a history of mental illness, right? You said EVERY citizen. "

Thanks for the reminder wrote on Aug 28, 2007 6:29 PM:

" I've got to mail off my NRA renewal. "

Facts wrote on Aug 28, 2007 6:05 PM:

" In 2002 Switzerland population was 7.3 million. About the population of one of our large cities. Working population was 3.9 million. We probably have 6 times that many on welfare. Work is aprox. 26% industry and business and the other 70% work for the government. You can't judge the US by Switzerland and as far as area we're much larger. Texas is probably bigger than Switzerland. "

To Alphonse wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:55 PM:

" I'm still laughing at your post. "

NRA wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:54 PM:

" I knew this would bring out the NRA. "Every place where there is a concealed carry has lower crime rates? Quote your facts. The argument about Pontiac HS is so poor a rational person can not answer. If kids or teachers had guns, you would've had WAR and dozens would've been hurt or killed. How in the world can it be any other way? I surrender to the spoon-fed, believe everything the NRA says no matter how stupid it is. Oh, by the way, England has an anti-carry law. They had fewer 100 murders by gun last year. The COUNTRY had fewer than 100 murders....AND that isn't the only country that can say that! And MORE guns will make things better here? You have got to be kidding me? Defend that, NRA, if you can. "

Mike wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:32 PM:

" I'll tell you what's wrong. The kids of some of these "responsible" gun owners are bringing their guns into schools and shooting innocent victims. Don't give me this garbage about no correlation between violence and guns. It's obvious! Look at all of these school shootings. "

to LSD wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:21 PM:

" "

To: Peace through superior firepower wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:11 PM:

" You need to read up on Switzer;and and their STRINGENT gun control requirements. They have mandatory gun training, safety training and STRICT control of all ammunition. They are not like the US where any numbnut can by a weapon and shoot 32 people then have the NRA say we need guns in colleges. Wake up people the NRA and their cronies are losers and are looking out for themselves and their lobby which also helps pay their salary. Without the NRA and the idiots that join Wayne LaPierre woudl be out of a job. I know Wayne LaPierre personaly and would not trust him. "

90% is not good enough wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:10 PM:

" Who's slacking? Get to the shop! We're all waiting.... "

Remember wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:08 PM:

" Cops carry guns for their protection not yours. Your protection is your responsibility. If you are a victim of a crime the police will show up with their guns and take a police report. Kinda nice of the pantagraph to print this right next to the Pontiac School article. Pantagraph trying to push their anti gun agenda again. Good luck on this author getting this printed. "

To: Just A Guy wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:05 PM:

" No the intent of the 2nd Amendment is that there should be a well equipped military because back then there was not a military only a militia. You NRA nuts interpret the 2nd Amendment in the wrong manner, actually read the constituion rather than listen to Wayne LaPierre "

To: A Gun In Every Home Needed wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:03 PM:

" You are so wrong buddy. In the state of Florida after they passed CC the crime rates and murder rates in several large cities actually increased. Now all you NRA nuts go away. "

I have wrote on Aug 28, 2007 4:54 PM:

" 3 shotguns, 2 22 rifles, 1 high power rifle, 1 deer slug gun, 1 pistol, for 8 total in a family of 4. People who hunt different game have a variety of firearms. "

9 Guns for Every 10... wrote on Aug 28, 2007 4:50 PM:

" ...so? What's wrong with that? "

Alphonse wrote on Aug 28, 2007 4:41 PM:

" I'd post something about how creepy this story is, but the next nine guys would probably shoot me. "

Just A Guy wrote on Aug 28, 2007 4:40 PM:

" What's wrong with Americans having guns? Isn't that the intent of the 2nd Amendment? We just need to teach the gun owners how to correctly use them. "

LDT wrote on Aug 28, 2007 4:35 PM:

" For all of those who may have missed it. It states in the survey that there is no correlation between the number of guns and the violent crime rate. So for all of you idiots out there who cant get it through your heads that gun control doesnt prevent vioelnce, maybe you should re-read the article to let it set in. Personally I am glad to know that the number of arms in the civilians aresenal is vastly greater then that of the military and the police. It keeps the government a little more honest. "

Peace through superior firepower wrote on Aug 28, 2007 4:34 PM:

" I know it's fun for everyone in the world to bash America (we are the bastard children of all other countries), but I have to say that 'Switzerland with 46' is quite amusing for the model of peaceful co-existence and diplomacy. "

A Gun In Every Home Needed wrote on Aug 28, 2007 4:32 PM:

" Every place in the US where there is concealed carry has lower crime rates. It should be a right for every citizen. Illinois needs to get with the program. Taking away guns will mean that only gangs and corrupt cops will have guns and the citizenry will have no means to protect themselves. Take, for instance, Pontiac High School today. Had the students began shooting, it would take only one armed teacher or one armed student to stop it. Without any guns on campus except those smuggled in, they would have a carte blanche to do whatever they wanted. "
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