New Firearms publication gauges extent of global problem

Academics researching gun-crime have published a book which gives sight of a global problem which claims more than 200,000 lives a year.

The book, Firearms: Global Perspectives on Consequences, Crime and Control, which has been co-edited by Dr Simon Sneddon, Senior lecturer in Law at the University of Northampton, and Dr Helen Poole, formerly of the University of Northampton, now Executive Dean of the School of Crime, Justice and Security at Staffordshire University, explores the illicit use of firearms across the globe, including legal, social science, technical and research perspectives on the issue.

Employing a global set of case studies, with contributions from notable experts covering weapon trafficking, responses to firearms crime and impacts on society, the book introduces students to the core issues related to firearms markets, national and international legal frameworks to control firearms and the role of civil society in affecting change and how students can get involved through research and action.

Dr Poole explained: “Over 200,000 people per year are killed by firearms outside of conflict zones, and this does not even begin to cover those who sustain life changing injuries, or those secondary victims who witness violence, deal with it as emergency responders, or who lose the key provider in their family in countries where there is no welfare support to fall back on. Furthermore, although violence has been reducing globally, firearms related violence is still increasing.

“In part this is the result of the availability of illicit firearms which have accumulated during periods of conflict or have been diverted from the legal market as a result of theft and corruption. Over 80% of illegally held firearms are manufactured legally but are diverted into the illicit market.”

“There is also an emerging threat from 3D printed weapons which, whilst still a small part of the picture, are becoming more viable and increasingly featuring in violent crime. This book is intended to bring these issues to life and to inspire individuals to be motivate to take action in order to bring about positive social change.”

Dr Sneddon said: “The threats posed to societies by firearms are many and varied. Organised criminality, terrorism, patchy legislation, weak law enforcement and corruption all combine, and serve to amplify the dramatic consequences of firearms use. This book looks at both the legal and illegal trades, and brings the reader into contact with policy and legislative measures that have been designed to curb the threat posed by firearms. The contributors identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches taken to reduce firearms crime, and discuss the roles played by legitimate firearms users.”

Dr Poole added: ”Much of this is about awareness raising and education, however, it is also about civil society groups lobbying for change. There is some evidence that initiatives around outlawing legal ownership of the most lethal firearms such as handguns among the public have merit; similarly ensuring there are robust licensing rules with stringent background checks for those using firearms for conservation and sport.”

The book also features chapters from Dr Nick Cartwright, Senior lecturer in Law at the University of Northampton, his areas of expertise are international cooperation and international legal frameworks.

Dr Cartwright said:” I believe that international co-operation remains the most powerful tool in combatting the illicit and illegal use of firearms.  This will require nation states to work together on ensuring legislation is compatible and information can be shared in a useable format. Procedural reforms at national, regional and international level are still needed and more effort and resource must to go into ensuring that enforcement agencies have the capacity to investigate and prosecute.

“National and regional legislatures need to ensure that laws are updated in line with the relevant international instruments and whilst the Firearms Protocol has within its statement of purpose a clear commitment to promoting, facilitating and strengthening international cooperation this does not always happen in practice.  Further, key international instruments such as the Arms Trade Treaty have been criticised for making limited reference to international cooperation.”

Senior Lecturers in Law, Dr Nick Cartwright, and Dr Simon Sneddon are part of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Education for Justice (E4J) initiative, which aims to integrate crime prevention and other rule of law aspects into education across the globe – from primary and secondary schools through to University. Read more about their work here.