Stop Illegal Assault Rifles
Photo: Sean Sutton MAG
Ineffective gun amnesties and collection campaigns are common around the world. Warlords and mercenaries rarely hand in their most expensive, lethal weapons by choice.
ShieldPNG seeks to help remove illegal assault rifles from hotspots to reduce risk of mass killings.
This includes promoting and enabling easier and safer anonymous reporting through ShieldPNG channels about illegal assault rifle activity including smuggling, supply, use and possession. Such reporting is similar to CrimeStoppers, which is usually only available in high income countries.
We gather information on collection campaigns in PNG and around the world with a view to helping law enforcement and affected communities improve their collections, especially seizure of illicit assault rifle removal.
Use and possession of unregistered high-powered firearms are serious crimes under the Firearms Act. See the Justice page on this site for more on how ShieldPNG supports prosecution for these and other crimes related to armed violence.
Growing Support for Removing Illegal Assault Rifles
We understand some members of tribes at risk of attack fear losing access to assault rifles, especially if they do not trust that their rivals are being similarly disarmed. This is a common dynamic in disarmament programmes in conflict-affected situations around the world and there are proven strategies to address it and build trust.
ShieldPNG collects, analyses, and shares information on community campaigns in like situations. We support people working on community campaigns to control these deadliest of arms in PNG.
Stopping Supply
ShieldPNG will work closely with community partners to obtain useful information on gun smuggling in hotspot locations. That information will assist law enforcement to stop the smugglers, trace supply and attempt to stop it at its source.