Human Rights and Gun Confiscation

54 Pages Posted: 17 Oct 2007 Last revised: 2 Apr 2015

See all articles by David B. Kopel

David B. Kopel

University of Wyoming College of Law - Firearms Research Center; Independence Institute; Cato Institute; Denver University - Sturm College of Law

Paul Gallant

Independence Institute

Joanne D. Eisen

Independence Institute

Date Written: 2008

Abstract

This article examines human rights abuses stemming from the enforcement of confiscation or similar laws. Part I conducts a case study of the U.N.-supported gun confiscation program in Uganda, a program which has directly caused massive, and fatal, violations of human rights.

Part II examines a similar gun confiscation program, with similar results, in Kenya.

Part III describes the recent government attempts to disarm South African citizens, and details how the implementation of antigun laws has caused extensive violations of civil and human rights, although not the government-perpetrated murder, torture, arson, and ethnic cleansing that have been endemic in Kenya and Uganda.

Part IV reports on survey data and other evidence from around the world which suggest one reason why gun confiscation programs can result in major human rights violations: most gun-owners possess their firearm for personal and family defense. Therefore, gun confiscation must be enforced by extremely violent and intrusive measures.

We conclude by offering two caveats for disarmament programs. First, that voluntary disarmament will generally be possible only after a government has proven that it will protect the security of the people who would be disarmed. Second, that coercive attempts to disarm people who still need guns to defend themselves - including for protection from predatory governments - are likely to lead to massive resistance, and to an escalating cycle of human rights abuses by government forces, and re-armament by the victim population.

Keywords: Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, gun confiscation, disarmament

JEL Classification: I31, J70, K14, K33, K42, Q19, R58

Suggested Citation

Kopel, David B. and Gallant, Paul and Eisen, Joanne D., Human Rights and Gun Confiscation (2008). Quinnipiac Law Review, Vol. 26, p. 385, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1022089

David B. Kopel (Contact Author)

University of Wyoming College of Law - Firearms Research Center ( email )

United States

HOME PAGE: http://firearmsresearchcenter.org/

Independence Institute ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.davekopel.org

Cato Institute ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.cato.org/people/david-kopel

Denver University - Sturm College of Law ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.davekopel.org

Paul Gallant

Independence Institute ( email )

14142 Denver West Parkway
Golden, CO 80401
United States

Joanne D. Eisen

Independence Institute ( email )

14142 Denver West Parkway
Golden, CO 80401
United States

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