The LA Times reports that 16 year old Zac Sunderland, who is currently attempting to sail around the world alone, came across a suspicious ship while on his way to the Cocos Islands. What did he do? After calling his parents on the sat phone he pulled out a gun.
Why security firms are not being contracted to protect shipping in Somalia with arms, I will never know. The Somali government is in talks with a French private security contractor after negotiations failed with a shady US firm but if I were insuring these ships I would demand armed personal onboard or an armed escort.
Thanks to Charlie for the link.
Sebastian, Snowflakes in Hell, breaks down MSBC’s attempt at a gun article.
But the semi-automatic ammunition used in one of the weapons
Sigh, while I get a laugh occasionally most of the time I get frustrated. In this age I find it hard to believe they cannot check their “knowledge” on google to ensure it is correct.
The BBC reports that the North Korean weapon purchases are up from $13 million, during the previous South Korea administration, to $65 million. Weapons are being supplied by China, Russia, Germany, the Slovak Republic and others.
While the supreme leader buys weapons and develops bombs the people are starving and the country relies of food aid.
“The report shows the North has developed its military capacity despite severe food shortages,” Mr Kwon told reporters.
He said more caution should be practised when providing aid to the reclusive, impoverished, communist state.
Ideally the South would like to keep the North fed and intact, to prevent a flood of 20+ million impoverished refugees, and also does not want aid turned into weapons. This is just not possible.
Russia Today reports:
Russia will give Venezuela a credit for $US 1 billion, a Kremlin source said to RIA Novosti news agency. The money will give a boost to the military co-operation between the two countries.
…
Venezuela has become a major buyer of Russian military hardware recently. Caracas has purchased 100,000 AK-103 assault rifles along with 40 Su-30MK2 jet fighters and about 50 combat helicopters, says Interfax-military news agency. On the future shopping list are 20 Tor-M1 air defence systems and three or more submarines.
The Russian defense budget for 2009 is $46 billion. So this loan is worth 2.17% of annual Russian defense spending. No small amount!
Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) and André Baptiste Jr. (Sammi Rotibi)
Charles “Chuckie” Taylor Jr, son of former Liberian leader Charles Taylor, on whom the character André Baptiste Jr. in the movie “Lord of War” is based is now on trial in the US on eight offenses, five or which are for torture.
He is depicted in the film testing his newly acquired arms, sold to him by Yuri Orlov (aka. Viktor Bout), on civilians at a nearby camp.
Andre Baptiste Jr.: Can you bring me the gun of Rambo?
Yuri Orlov: Part One, Two, or Three?
Andre Baptiste Jr.: I’ve only seen Part One.
His father, also depicted in the movie is on trial for war crimes at the Hague and Bout is facing an extradition hearing in Thailand.
If you have not seen Lord of Ware I highly recommend it. It is one of my favorite movies.
BBC reports.
Click to expand.
This photo is of members of the Mexican army on parade during the Independence Day celebrations on 16 September 2008.
Hat Tip: MP.net
The BBC reports that the “Lord of War’s” extradition hearing in Bangkok’s Criminal Court has begun.
Some interesting details have surfaced. Apparently he was attempting to sell US agents, posing as members of FARC, 700 surface to air missiles and aircraft outfitted with missiles! That is some pretty heavy stuff. Selling AKs by the ton is one thing, surface to air missiles is another story!
The Russian parliament supports Bout and has inferred that there exists a US led conspiracy to damage Russia’s reputation.
The State Duma - the lower house of Russia’s parliament - on Friday adopted a statement in support of Mr Bout, Itar-Tass reports.
“Political motives, attempts to link this issue with the fight against international terrorism and thus damage the interests and reputation of Russia, are present in Bout’s case”, claimed the parliamentarians in the statement.
“It is necessary to intensity efforts aimed at securing the rights of Russian citizen Viktor Bout, prevention of his illegal prosecution and return to his home country, as well as at curbing attempts to use this case against Russia,” the lawmakers said, according to Itar-Tass.
I can’t wait to hear to details that come out of a US trial if he is extradited!
Reuters reports:
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian spending on arms will rise to a record $46.5 billion next year, a senior government official said on Friday, as the Kremlin moves to beef up the armed forces after a conflict in Georgia.
Russian national defence orders will rise to 1.2 trillion roubles ($46.55 billion) in 2009, 70 billion roubles higher than previously planned, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov was shown saying on Russian television.
“We have managed to convince the Finance Ministry that the volume of state defence orders in 2009 will be 70 billion higher than previously planned,” Ivanov told Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
MSPO 2008 International Defence Industry Exhibition was held in Kielce, Poland and ended about an hour ago. I will shortly be posting some of the cool firearms that were displayed, or at least the cool firearms I could find. Not being able to read polish makes it hard to find information.
Interesting development. That was the last place in the world where I expected firearms to be banned.
From Stars and Stripes:
DIYALA PROVINCE, Iraq — The police chief of this restive province has ordered a ban on all firearms, including AK-47 rifles to which every Iraqi household is entitled.
Iraqi police Maj. Gen. Maj. Gen. Abdul al-Kareem Khaleef said he issued the firearms ban after a fatal shooting in Baqouba, the province’s capital, which killed one policeman and injured four civilians on Sunday.
“No civilians can have them or they will be detained,” warned Khaleef through a translator on Monday. He added that only Iraqi security forces and government security guards will be allowed to possess the weapons.
This is hilarious, you just can’t make this stuff up (not of course for the poor guy who was shot). The BBC reports:
Three Chinese reporters attending a police briefing on the success of an anti-gun campaign were accidentally shot, media reports say.
An officer picked up one of the weapons on show - a confiscated home-made gun - but it went off in his hand.
A reporter needed surgery for injuries to his ankle, crotch and chest, after being hit by what appeared to be pebbles fired by the gun.
It was a homemade shotgun designed for birds. UPDATE: Actually it was a homemade double barreled pistol shotgun!
I think if anyone needs guns confiscated it is the Chinese police. Stay clear of them if you are attending the Olympics 
The classic policeman-discharging-his-pistol-in-a-classroom video shows incredible lack of safety but it is even more unbelievable that nobody checked to ensure the gun was unloaded between confiscating it, processing it, storing it and then displaying it to the media.
More here.
UPDATE: I found a photo of the gun at china.org.cn
Very cool. A double barreled pistol!
Other guns that were on display. Those looks like Norinco pistols.
Ruger have updated information on their website about the SR9 recall:
Click to expand or click here to download PDF.
According to Tom, who posted a comment on the SR9 blog entry, Ruger has said that they will be servicing 1000 pistols a week:
Just received an email from Ruger that the boxes are being shipped. They plan to service 1000 SR9? per week. They are sending out boxes in the order we registered with Ruger.
Hat Tip: John Snow and commenters Tom and David.
Chicago, you are next! When the Chicago ban is finally overturned and crime does not increase, or even decreases, a lot of wind will be taken out of the gun control sails 
A summery, along with some interesting comments, of this historic Supreme Court ruling can be found over at GunPundit.
As a commenter, Jack, at The Gunnut said:
It’s a wretched commentary on this Court that the opinion wasn’t 9-0.
Men on horseback armed with AKs and RPGs attacked UN peacekeepers in Darfur earlier this year. It has only now been reported. From the BBC:
The joint UN-African Union troops were ambushed by up to 60 men armed with AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades on Wednesday, the Unamid peace force said.
It is not clear who was behind the attack, which has been made public for the first time.
The UN took joint control of the force in January but has not been able to bring peace to the region.
Who is Africa’s biggest supplier of arms to criminals? I don’t know, but I think the UN are giving them some serious competition
More here.
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