The Scope and Implications of a Tracing Mechanism for Small Arms ...

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Table 3: Categories of firearms recovered in 1995 18
Type of weapons
Number
Carbines/shotguns 443
Handguns 163
Restricted-authorization carbines 1
Prohibited firearms with shortened barrels
32
Other prohibited weapons 4
Replicas/limitation weapons 7
Air rifles 171
Other/unspecified 10
Total 831
These studies have shown that carbines and rifles represent the
weapons most commonly used to commit criminal offences. 72% of the
weapons used in homicide cases were handguns. Of the 67 homicide cases,
52% of the weapons came from illegal sources. Let us not forget that certain
weapons intended for civilian use can be used in armed conflict. 19
Paradoxically, although antique weapons too should be traced, as we
will see later on, it is either difficult or impossible to do so.
Unfortunately, studies like those above remain few in number for the
moment. It would be interesting to carry out similar studies in all of the
world's large cities and then to compile a comparative database on weapons
recovered by police in the context of serious and petty crimes. Such a study
is currently being carried out in Switzerland, but what of the other
countries? It would also be interesting to be able to compile statistics on the
weapons used in armed conflict. However, such a feat seems a more
difficult and even idealistic undertaking, given the erratic counting methods
that would be used. Nevertheless, an article published in the Swiss daily
newspaper 24 heures (4-5 May 2002 edition, p. 2) reported that “the
harvest from operation Rampart exceeded all expectations: 1,949
Kalashnikovs, 2,563 precision rifles, 779 guns, 81 telescopic rifles, 93
machine guns, 23 explosives laboratories, 430 explosives charges, 8