There are believed to be about 700 million small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the world, often contributing to highly destabilizing security and other concerns in international law. SALW are the primary source of violations and abuses of humanitarian and human rights principles by states, rebels, terrorists, and criminals. Many consider them the real weapons of mass destruction of our time, causing about half a million deaths annually. The unrestricted international transfer of SALW by states - 99 states and 1000 companies involved in manufacturing and supply - is one of the major...