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

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67 explosives belts and dozens of tons of explosives”. In this case, there was a majority of long weapons, which indicates that it would be a good idea to focus in particular on this type of firearm for tracing operations in the context of armed conflict. What the example of Brazil shows us is that there is a certain link between crime and armed conflict. Because the life of a firearm can span several decades, it is not uncommon for a weapon to be involved in several criminal cases, in armed conflicts, or simply to be moving from one country to another and used in both types of activities. Each year during the 1990s, the Brazilian police seized more than 7,000 firearms, which included handguns (revolvers and guns) and long weapons (AR-15, AK-47, SIG Sauer, etc.). Which of these weapons should be targeted for tracing? It matters little whether or not they are SALW: what is important is to be able to trace the history and the route followed by each of these weapons in order to determine their source and the principal individuals involved. Each State has the answer in its relevant statistics (crimes and offences committed, illicit trafficking, etc.). Additional studies are therefore indispensable to ensure the optimal tracing of all SALW; for the time being, it is difficult to establish a precise list of the weapons that should be traced. Each State ought to develop the capacities that would provide a clearer picture of the current situation regarding firearms and crime. 2.7 DO ANY CATEGORIES OR TYPES OF SALW REQUIRE SPECIAL TYPES OF MARKING? IF SO, WHICH ONES AND WHY? The composite parts of a weapon vary from one type to another. For this reason, it is impossible to make a global decision for all the weapons as to which parts to mark; each type of weapon must be considered individually. Certain categories of weapon may therefore require specific marking. It is also important to note that the marking technique may vary depending on the material comprising the support to be marked—whether it is metal, polymer and so on. Today, weapons are increasingly
68 sophisticated and are comprised of increasingly diverse materials (polymers, alloys, etc.). Semi-automatic Glock ® pistols are characterised by their polymer frames (the remainder of the weapon is metal). There is a similar trend currently for certain types of assault rifle. Marking may also vary according to the size of the weapon and that of its constitutive elements. Here again, the SALW classification proposed by the UN does not allow for an appropriate solution to be taken. If we follow its assumption that the standard should be to mark all SALW on the firing pin, how can this standard by applied to a tank? Generalising in the case of SALW is therefore not the right answer. Certain weapons require a particular—or even a personalized—type of marking. Coherent and efficient marking is therefore a matter of having detailed knowledge of the components of a firearm. Appendix 2 contains an illustration of the different marking options that exist. The same approach can and should be adopted with respect to all the categories of weapons included under SALW. Manufacturers are also an invaluable source. Each manufacturer can propose locations for marking each type of weapon. In this context, a technical expert committee could even be appointed to evaluate each of the proposals for marking the weapons and their components. The major difficulties encountered by the BATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) during arms tracing are shown in Table 4. Table 4: Main problems encountered when tracing a firearm 20 Problems encountered during firearms tracing Percentage Problem with the weapon’s serial number 13 Registration record of the weapon not available 7 Problem with the name of the importer 7 Problem with the name of the manufacturer 4 Registers not available 1 Expiry of the 20-year deadline for conserving the registers 1
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UNIDIR/2002/20 The Scope and Implic
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CONTENTS Page Preface. . . . . . .
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v Chapter 4 Structures and Institut
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viii point of diversion, thus inhib
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ACRONYMS ATFUS BATF BPA CFR CFR CIC
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xiii VIN WFSA WIES WR Vehicle Ident
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2 and lines of supply of illicit SA
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4 First, if a weapon has been invol
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6 The UN Programme of Action includ
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8 1.3 MARKING 1.3.1 Introduction A
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10 uniquely identify each productio
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12 • Ensure, at the time of trans
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14 • increasing the resistance of
Page 29 and 30: 16 The UN Firearms Protocol, in its
Page 31 and 32: 18 component of this project is to
Page 33 and 34: 20 They clarify whether a weapon is
Page 35 and 36: 22 Though such systems have great p
Page 37 and 38: 24 have a more prominent role to pl
Page 39 and 40: 26 That said, national intelligence
Page 41 and 42: 28 training and technical assistanc
Page 43 and 44: 30 This highlights one of the most
Page 45 and 46: 32 An international tracing mechani
Page 47 and 48: 34 Some of the necessary elements a
Page 49 and 50: 36 on sources and lines of supply o
Page 51 and 52: 38 In promoting international assis
Page 53 and 54: 40 3 Programme of Action to Prevent
Page 55 and 56: 42 25 This section draws on discuss
Page 58 and 59: 45 BIBLIOGRAPHY Berkol, Ilhan, Mark
Page 60 and 61: CHAPTER 2 WHAT TO MARK AND WHAT TO
Page 62 and 63: 49 tracing method for all SALW (con
Page 64 and 65: 51 Figure 2: : The different sub-ca
Page 66 and 67: 53 In order to better grasp the pro
Page 68 and 69: 55 SALW include weapons of war, def
Page 70 and 71: 57 The following questions should t
Page 72 and 73: 59 All of this data, while useful f
Page 74 and 75: 61 2.5 WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR IN
Page 76 and 77: 63 traced, but which ones? Precisel
Page 78 and 79: 65 Table 1: Firearms recovered in c
Page 82 and 83: 69 This data provides an interestin
Page 84 and 85: 71 weapons belonging to illicit cir
Page 86 and 87: 73 imagine being able to effectivel
Page 88 and 89: 75 case of Switzerland, it would be
Page 90 and 91: 77 electronics in animal identifica
Page 92 and 93: 79 based our reflection on goals fo
Page 94 and 95: 81 10 Small Arms Survey, Annuaire s
Page 96 and 97: APPENDIX 1 83
Page 98 and 99: APPENDIX 3 85
Page 100: 87 the army weapon is capable of au
Page 103 and 104: 90 significance, hence in general t
Page 105 and 106: 92 3.1.2 Sanitization Removal or ob
Page 107 and 108: 94 Chinese Type 56-1 Unique Identif
Page 109 and 110: 96 verify that the imported weapons
Page 111 and 112: 98 weapons. There are risks involve
Page 113 and 114: 100 China Type 56 Russia AK47 Russi
Page 115 and 116: 102 channels, with the protection o
Page 117 and 118: 104 3.1.9 Comments Countries seekin
Page 119 and 120: 106 as a result, potentially tip-of
Page 121 and 122: 108 2. All markings must be made pe
Page 123 and 124: 110 shared encryption standard. The
Page 125 and 126: 112 Domestic record-keeping varies
Page 127 and 128: 114 Nevertheless, whilst the Wassen
Page 129 and 130: 116 individual weapon, should as a
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118 • “Consolidation”—4 x 2
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120 With the scope of the Protocol
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122 The South African authorities a
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124 • (Tracing) Details of all st
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126 tracing Chinese weapons. Conseq
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128 circulating information by fax
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130 Tracing requests are normally c
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132 encourage countries along the t
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134 close enough to provide adequat
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136 3. If Interpol is not up to the
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138 which restrict the amount of in
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140 9 It was notable during negotia
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142
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144 There are other reasons as well
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146 Laws Firearms are a durable com
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148 This last point should not be u
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150 the future a firearm tracing qu
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152 There are several important ele
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154 Canada, nearly all transfers re
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156 accuracy and man-hour effective
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158 industry practices. An effectiv
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160
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162 manner in national (and possibl
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164 routine stockpile management. A
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166 International regulations on th
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168 2. The definitions of weapons,
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170 enable national authorities to
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172 serial number of the firearm. T
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174 9. Explosives: the recommendati
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176 • The States parties undertak
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178 • The following is establishe
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180 International regulations on th
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182 • The participating States ag
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184 The Convention on Plastic Explo
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186 5.3.1 European Joint Action The
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188 years in July 2001. In December
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190 • States must make efforts to
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192 a greater degree of harmonizati
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194 this may lead to the undesirabl
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196 28 Or at least difficult or imp
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198 49 Speech by Mr. Koffi Adjouman
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200 in its capacity as President of
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202 Table 1: Scope of the Seven Pri
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204 Table 1 (continued) Characteris
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206 Characteristics of the marking
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208 Characteristics of the marking
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210 Characteristics of the recordke
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212 Characteristics of the record-k
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214 Table 4: Comparison of the Stan
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216 Characteristics of the exchange
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218
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