8/14/2023 0 Comments Larger than light weapons![]() There is a very high proliferation of SALW throughout the world, notably in conflict prone and fragile states, coupled with rising numbers of victims. The beginning of the 21st century is characterized by three major developments in SALW: However, there are a large number of countries where regulations are poorly observed. Many manufacturers produce civilian arms-for hunting, self-defence and sport-,and these small arms are generally regulated by national legislation. ![]() ![]() In some countries, civilians have acquired military weapons to protect themselves from criminals and from undisciplined soldiers. ![]() Criminals also have their own weapons holdings. Only few government forces or other armed groups report accurately on the number of firearms lost, stolen or out of commission.ĭue to the mass manufacture and lack of legislation in many countries, many military weapons have leaked into civilian and criminal hands and have become a major part of criminal arsenals. No one knows for sure because factories do not always report accurately, and many governments keep the numbers they own, and the numbers they export, a secret. Portable mortars of calibers less than 100mmĪccording to estimates, there are between 600 and 800 million firearms in the world. Man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) Portable launcher of anti-tank missile /rocket systems (ATGM or ATGW) Hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade launchers In its Small Arms and Light Weapons Guide, the Bundeswehr Verification Centre (VZBw), department for global arms and proliferation control differentiates between 13 different categories of small arms and light weapons. Heavy machine guns have also been developed against light vehicles and low-flying aeroplanes. Light weapons development brought about many weapons that could fire guided or unguided rockets against people, armoured vehicles, aeroplanes, and fortifications. In the latter half of the twentieth century, automatic weapons became lighter (allowing, for example, children to use them) and cheaper to manufacture. Machine guns fed with ammunition connected by belts allowed rapid firing for lengthy periods at high rates of fire (a modern machine gun can fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute). These were succeeded by automatic weapons which can fire bursts of ammunition. SALW also diversified: Single-shot rifles gave rise to repeaters, which allowed loading several bullets and firing them off by manipulating a bolt. By the mid-20th century, all armed forces were equipped with them. SALW in their modern form began appearing in armed forces at the end of the nineteenth century. The larger the calibre, the higher the probability that the ammunition is explosive. With the exception of artillery shells that are a weapon and ammunition in one, all small arms need ammunition. They can be carried by two people or a team, transported in a small vehicle or on a pack animal and must be operated by a team. So-called light weapons are heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, portable tank and air defence missiles, recoilless rifles, portable rocket launchers and mortars up to a calibre of 100mm. As a rule of thumb, small arms have a calibre (internal diameter of the barrel) of less than 12.7 mm. It defines so-called small weapons as revolvers, self-loading pistols, carbines and rifles, assault rifles, machine pistols and light machine guns (all can be operated by one person). The UN definition for SALW differentiates between small and light weapons. Moreover, while modern armies require many types of sophisticated weapons, even the smallest and weakest military force will be equipped with small arms. Small arms often play a role in non-state conflicts and are the weapons preferred by criminals and politically motivated groups. And, even though many weapons such as sticks, knives and even spears are still used today, small arms-pistols, rifles and related arms-are almost invariably involved. When people resort to violence in this way, arms that can be handled by one person are the preferred choice. Often, such conflicts become violent, because people feel they are unable to agree.
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