The case

The global firearm count surpassing one billion is a concerning trend, reflecting the increase in armed conflicts and the proliferation of weapons.

The commentary

According to a survey, there are over a billion small and low-calibre arms worldwide, a figure that has doubled in just two decades. This increase in the global stock of arms is particularly evident in the American market, where 13 million new guns are produced annually.

When looking at the types of firearms most commonly seized globally, automatic pistols top the list at 39 %, followed by carbines at 25 %, hunting rifles at 18 %, revolvers at 14 %, and submachine guns and machine guns at 3 % and 1 % respectively, according to UN data.

According to the mentioned survey these data underscore the urgent need for international cooperation to address the proliferation of firearms and to prevent further escalation of armed violence and conflicts globally.