"  Lay down, Lay down your guns All you daughters of Zion, All you Abraham sons —U2, "Love and Peace or Else"

Gun violence is increasingly becoming an issue across Canada. The media regularly tells stories of youth with guns and the tragedies that follow. While this trend makes big news here, a bigger story is being ignored. Children around the world are finding small arms all too easy to access, with devastating results. Something needs to be done.

"Small arms" is a term referring to weapons that are lightweight and easy to carry. They are widespread, with an estimated 640 million found worldwide. Nearly seven million more are manufactured annually. In 2000, small arms and ammunition production generated at least $7.4 billion US in sales.

The size of these weapons makes controlling the arms trade challenging. Being small, they can be easily smuggled, then sold very cheaply. They are also simple to operate, so children who are forced into fighting by militia groups often use them. It is no wonder then that since 1990, some two million children have been killed by small arms alone. These deaths, and the culture of fear and violence that accompany them, cripples a society's healthy development.

Long recognizing the extent of this tragedy, World Vision has been working hard to advocate both within Canada and internationally for an end to the easy accessibility of these weapons. In late June, the United Nations will be holding a World Gun Summit (the " Small Arms Review Conference "). World Vision will be there, calling for recognition of this problem and clear actions to control these deadly weapons. 

What You Can Do
World Vision is a member of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), a global network of agencies working together to tackle this issue. Click here to add your name and voice in support of controlling small arms.

You can also send a message to your Member of Parliament in support of this issue. When people raise their voices, change can happen.