CLARIFICATION OF TERMS

These are the relevant terms that need to be clarified before moving on to the succeeding lessons.
DISCIPLINE (in relation to the use of firearm)

 This is the training that produces obedience or self-control, often in the form of rules
and punishments if these are broken, or the obedience or self-control produced by this
training.
 In simple words, it is the ability to control yourself or other people, even in difficult
situation. However, discipline may also mean to teach or punish someone to behave
in a controlled way.

Here is a story which can help you appreciate more about self-discipline.
So what is discipline? Discipline is to study, learn, train, and apply a system of standards.
What isn't discipline? Discipline is not rules, regulations, or punishment. It is not compliance,
obedience, or enforcement. It is not rigid, boring, or always doing the same thing.
Discipline is not something others do to you. It is something you do for yourself. You can
receive instruction or guidance from one or many sources, but the source of discipline is not
external. It is internal.
In relation to the use of firearm, discipline is important. Even if your firearm instructor taught all
the things you need to know about firearms, its uses and how do you use it, you would likely
shoot yourself or anybody accidentally if you do not internalize the instructions that he gave.
Without self-discipline, you will hurt yourself with a firearm.

FIREARM

 A firearm, a.k.a gun, is a portable barreled weapon that launches one or more
projectiles often due to the action of explosive as a propellant. It is a mechanical
device that uses pressure from a burning powder or an explosive charge to force a
projectile thru and out of a metallic tube.

 Modern firearms are typically described by their bore diameter or caliber or gauge.
Based on bore diameter, there are 2 main categories of firearm - small arm and
artillery.
 Firearms may be further distinguished in reference to the ff:
o type of barrel used (rifled-bore or smooth-bore)
o barrel length (short-barrel or long barrel)
o design's primary intended target (anti-aircraft)
o commonly accepted name for a particular variation (handgun, rifle,
machinegun)
  They can be described also by the type of action employed:
o single-action
o semi-automatic
o bolt-action
o double-action
o automatic
o slide-action

(This course focuses on the most common type of firearm used in police works – the handgun.)
Here are videos that can help you know more about classification of firearms.
AMMUNITION

 Ammunition is the general term applied to cartridges and shot shells loaded in
firearms. The term is usually used when referring to a supply of cartridges or shots in
the possession of a person.
 ‘Ammunition’ is alternately used with the term ‘cartridge’ which is sometimes
inappropriate. Technically, a cartridge refers to one unit of unfired ammunition
designed to be loaded in small arms particularly rifles, handguns, carbines,
machineguns and submachine guns. A cartridge consist of a primer, gunpowder and
one or more projectiles loaded in a shell (case). In other words, a cartridge refers to
one ‘round’ of ammunition.

SAFETY

 Safety is used to refer the state of mind or action intended to reduce the risk of
personal harm. However, it is also used to describe the mechanical device on a
firearm intended to lock the firing mechanism thus hinder discharge of a cartridge.

GUN SAFETY

 Gun safety is a collection of rules and recommendations that can be applied when
possessing, storing, or handling firearms. The purpose of gun safety is to eliminate or
minimize the risks of unintentional death, injury or damage caused by improper
possession, storage, or handling of firearms.

Online references (from UNODC)

To-Do Date: May 6 at 7:00am

Typology and classification of firearms

A 'firearm' is usually referred to in a national and domestic context of states, including the
legislative framework for the manufacture, transfer, ownership and use of such 'firearms'. This
would include private ownership.
A 'small arm' ' is more commonly used to refer to the weapon an individual may use and carry in
a military context' (Parker, Wilson, 2016).
There are many ways for looking at arms and different types of classifications, depending on the
criteria applied: the level of the level of lethality; the structure; portability; action; technical
features, and also on the purpose of classification: for legal, judicial, or technical purposes.
The general classification of firearms can be based on the following criteria:

 Level of harm they produce


o Lethal - designed with the intent to eventually kill the target
o Non-lethal - designed with the intent to scare or incapacitate the target, without
killing or producing major, irreversible injuries.
 Traditional structure

o Firearms: A firearm is a weapon that fulfils the characteristic of the definition in
the Firearms Protocol, Article 3a. Technically, the firearm is characterized by the
action of an explosive gas or powder to expel a projectile through the barrel.
o Conventional weapons: Conventional weapons are traditionally weapons that are
relatively widely used and designed for military purposes, without being
classified as weapons of mass destruction. The United Nations Register of
Conventional ArmsLinks to an external site. includes the following seven
categories of major conventional weapons, plus small arms and light weapons:
o
 Battle tanks
 Armoured combat vehicles
 Large calibre artillery systems
 Combat aircraft including manned and unmanned aerial vehicles
 Attack helicopters
 Warships
 Missiles and missile launchers
 o Non-conventional weapons: Refer to weapons of mass destruction, also known
as ABC (atomic, biological and chemical) or NRBC (nuclear, radiological,
biological, chemical) weapons.

 Portability: Depending on their portability, weapons can be classified in these three

categories:

o Weapons that can be transported by one person without additional support (small
arms)
o Weapons that can be transported by a small crew of people (light weapons)
o Other systems that must be transported with the help of technical means

 Physical characteristics, size and support


o Short or hand-held firearms (handguns) are portable arms designed to be aimed
and fired with the action of one hand, whether or not the weapon has been re-
designed or altered to be aimed and fired differently.
o Long or shoulder fired firearms (long guns) are portable weapons designed to be
used and fired from the hip or shoulder with the action of both hands.

 Action of weapon: "Action" refers to the firing system of a firearm, more specifically the
physical mechanism through which cartridges are loaded, locked and extracted as well as the
firing frequency when the trigger is actioned. There are five common types of action related
to firearms:

o Single shot - Fires a single round from the barrel(s) for every depression of the
trigger; requires manual reloading of the barrel(s) after each shot.
o Repeating - Fires a single round from the barrel(s) for every depression of the
trigger; requires a repetitive action for the reloading of the barrel(s) after each
shot.
o Semi-automatic - Fires a single round for every depression of the trigger, and
automatically cycles between rounds (i.e. is self-loading).
o Burst - Fires a small set of rounds for every depression of the trigger, and
automatically cycles between rounds with each trigger pull (i.e. is self-loading).
o (Fully) Automatic - Fires continually upon a depression of the trigger, until the
trigger is released; automatically cycles between rounds (i.e. is self-loading).

 Type of firearm: For ease of understanding and accessibility, the Module will explain the
most commonly accepted categories of firearms [SALW]: revolver, pistol, shotgun, rifle, sub-
machine gun and machine gun. In addition, there is a generic "Other firearms" category that
includes firearms that either are crafted or assembled outside production facilities, are
modified and converted, are using interchangeable parts or take advantage of new
technologies, such as replica, converted, modular, 3D printed etc.

Common firearms types

The most common classification of firearms is done by types, and the most commonly used tool
for firearms identification is the Firearms Reference TableLinks to an external site. (FRT). The
FRT is a computerized database available online and offline. It was proposed and developed by
Canadian Royal Mounted Police and it was further adopted by INTERPOLLinks to an external
site. as a reference classification tool. Use of the FRT Web is limited to individuals who have
been authorized by the RCMP. Authorized users include members of the police community,
specific Public Agents and approved firearm verifiers.
UNODC adopted a simplified classification in its 2015 StudyLinks to an external site. and also in
its global illicit arms flow questionnaire, which is based on the following types:

Revolver
Is a short or hand-held firearm with a revolving cylinder typically of five to nine chambers,
manually loaded with cartridges. As the cylinder rotates into position, the trigger can be pulled,
releasing the hammer firing the cartridge. Expended cartridge cases remain in the cylinder until
manually unloaded.
Action: Revolvers are usually repeating firearms. According to the system of operation of the
trigger tail, revolvers can be of double (when the trigger also cocks the hammer) or single action
(when the hammer is cocked manually)
Figure 1: Revolver models. Source: Firearms Reference Table (RCMP-GRC / Interpol)

Pistol
The pistol is a short or hand-held firearm designed for semi-automatic operation. The chamber is
part of the barrel. Cartridges are generally loaded into a magazine, which is inserted into the grip.
The action of the firearm feeds the next cartridge and expels the spent round.
Action: single shot, repeating, semi-automatic and automatic pistol.

Figure 2: Pistol models. Source: Firearms Reference Table (RCMP-GRC / Interpol)

Shotgun
Is a shoulder-fired long gun with one or two unrifled barrels (side-by-side or over configuration),
usually designed to shoot many small projectiles ("shots") rather than a bullet. The calibre of a
shotgun is referred to as the gauge and is usually larger in diameter than other small arms.
Action: Usually single-shot. May also be repeating, or semi-automatic
Figure 3: Shotgun models. Source: Firearms Reference Table (RCMP-GRC / Interpol)

Rifle or Carbine
Is a shoulder-fired long gun, with a series of spiral grooves cut inside the barrel ("rifling")
imparting spin to the projectile. Some rifles have a detachable magazine like the pistols
described above, and others have integral magazines. A carbine resembles a rifle but has a
shorter barrel.
Action: Single-shot, repeating, semi-automatic or fully automatic.
Figure 4: Rifle models. Source: Firearms Reference Table (RCMP-GRC / Interpol)

Assault rifle
Can be considered a subcategory of rifles and represent ' any of various intermediate-range,
magazine-fed military rifles (such as the AK-47 or M16) that can be set for automatic or
semiautomatic fire…' (Merriam-Webster).
Action: Semi-automatic or fully automatic.

Figure 5: Assault Rifle models. Source: Firearms Reference Table (RCMP-GRC / Interpol)

Sub-machine gun
It is a hand-held, lightweight short barrelled machine gun consisting of relatively low-energy
handgun-type cartridges and fired from the hand, hip or shoulder.
Action: Semi-automatic or fully automatic. Where the firing system is automatic, the firearm
would be classified as an automatic pistol or automatic sub-machine gun.
Figure 6: Sub-machine Gun models. Source: Firearms Reference Table (RCMP-GRC /
Interpol)

Machine gun
It is a firearm that is capable of full automatic firing (more than one shot without manual
reloading, by a single function of the trigger) and that fires rifle ammunition. It is generally crew-
operated ('heavy machine gun'), but some forms may be fired by single individuals ('light
machine gun'). Most machine guns have the ammunition fed by belts, although some use
magazines.
Action: Semi-automatic or fully automatic.
Figure 7: Machine Gun models. Source: Firearms Reference Table (RCMP-GRC /
Interpol)
The above enumerated types cover the large universe of all legal arms. There are, however,
others that do not fall clearly under any of them, either because of their technical characteristics,
or because of the manufacturing process (craft or artisanal production, assembly of kits,
modifications, 3D printing, etc). They are all listed under the category "other".

'Other' types of firearms

In addition to the categories of firearms listed in this Module, this category encompasses various
types of firearms which may overlap with those mentioned but are deserving their own
classification.
Firearms in this last generic category may borrow characteristics from the commonly accepted
category, but their modality of production and/or modification makes them very difficult to be
identified and traced. Weapons in this category also represent a legal challenge, either not being
legally covered, especially in what concerns new technologies, or their transfer and possession is
at the edge of the law or takes advantage of the existing legal loopholes.
Craft Production and Rudimentary Arms
An area of concern highlighted by both the Small Arms Survey (2018)Links to an external
site. and the UNODC Study on Firearms (2015)Links to an external site., was that of 'craft
weapons'. Essentially, the practice consists of weapons and ammunition being fabricated by hand
in relatively small quantities. Artisanal in nature, they can range from pistols and shotguns to the
more advanced assault rifles, and also include very expensive design weapons used for example
in sport shooting or hunting.
In contrast to the craft or artisanal production, there are also the generically called rudimentary
arms. These arms are generally homemade and are more likely to be found in criminal contexts.
Rudimentary arms are essentially arms manufactured by parts or components that were not
originally designed to be parts of a firearm or made out of parts from other firearms.
Gunsmiths and handcraft production can be found in all regions. For example, the Small Arms
Survey highlighted some previous research carried out. 'The artisanal firearm industry is
especially widespread and developed in Ghana, with some gunsmiths reportedly able to produce
assault rifles' (Small Arms Survey, 2018). There are various state approaches regarding the
handcraft production. While Ghana is making efforts to forbid these artisanal activities, in
Burkina Faso, the state tries to regulate and record them.
'The Peshawar district in Pakistan (one of 22 districts in the North-West Frontier Province) is
reportedly home to some 200 workshops producing a wide range of inexpensive small arms,
including revolvers and shotguns' (Small Arms Survey, 2018).
In June 2018, Small Arms Survey released a briefing paperLinks to an external site., which
explored in some detail the wholesale market of craft production within Nigeria highlighting the
inherent technological limitations of firearms legislation.
The most famous craft production site is in the city of Darra in Pakistan as presented in this
video.

3D Printed Firearms
An area of concern for policymakers and law enforcement officials is the 3D printed firearm. In
essence, the firearm is manufactured by building layer upon layer of plastic, for example,
creating various complex and solid objects.
The LiberatorLinks to an external site., a single-shot gun, is an example of such technology.
Policy discussions have intensified, at national and international level, around the use of modern
technology such as 3D printed arms, their potential impact on security, and the legal responses to
them.
In 2016, Armament Research ServicesLinks to an external site. explored both the feasibility and
capabilities of 3D firearms.
A 2018 3D Printed Gun ReportLinks to an external site. released by All3DP, the world's leading
3D printing magazine, concludes that the threat of these arms remains rather limited. But they
have some qualities that will make them more attractive to criminals. The material of these arms
is difficult to detect by current detectors and scanners. These firearms are easy to destroy after a
crime easy making almost impossible the recovery of the murder weapon. They are also
untraceable. By putting together all these characteristics 3D printed weapons fulfill all conditions
to become the perfect weapons for high profile crimes, once the technology will advance enough
to make them safer and more technologically advanced.
The technological development and the availability of cheap but performant CNC machines and
3D printers will make the production of 3D firearms far simpler and more difficult to regulate
against. 3D printers became very common and their use covers various fields. They are not per se
an object that requires to be put under control, especially because the real problem is not so much
the printer but the fact that the blueprint for the firearms can be easily and openly accessed
through the Internet.
As far as the legal regime for these arms is concerned, there seems to be a gap in both domestic
and international legislation, as in fact, no international legal instruments explicitly refer to them.
In the absence of a more specific provision, the definition of illicit manufacturing provided by
the Firearms Protocol can give some first indication. Clearly, 3D printed arms would fall under
the scope of this provision. In practice, however, there remains a need to further define and
legislate the phenomenon, especially as regards the issue of downloading or otherwise getting
access to the blueprints to actually produce these arms.
Predictably, states have acted accordingly in addressing these technological challenges. Some
countries have started to try to capture this new phenomenon in its domestic law: In the United
States, the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988Links to an external site. states that 'any firearm
that cannot be detected by a metal detector is illegal to manufacture…' In practical terms, 3D
printed firearms would need a metal plate inserted. Additional amendments to renew and expand
the legislation have been mooted ( H.R. 1474Links to an external site. & S. 1149Links to an
external site.).
In the United Kingdom, the Firearms Act of 1968Links to an external site. 'bans the
manufacturing of guns and gun parts without government approval.' Additionally, the 2016
UK Guide on Firearms Licensing LawLinks to an external site. states that 'the manufacture,
purchase, sale and possession of 3D printed firearms, ammunition or their component parts is
fully captured by the provisions in section 57(1) of the Firearms.'

Unlicensed Copies
The unlicensed copies are encountered in situations when manufacturers either:

 produce a larger number of firearms that they are allowed to produce under their license; or
they

 produce firearms, other than those they have a license to produce.

Small Arms SurveyLinks to an external site. estimates that '530,000 to 580,000 military small
arms are produced annually either under licence or as unlicensed copies.'
This is a form of illicit manufacturing. The unlicensed firearms are not registered, and they
usually end up on the illicit market, being sold at a fraction of the price of the original firearm.
Lack of registration or serial number duplication makes these weapons very difficult to trace
using the conventional tracing methods through identification of firearm type, serial number,
model and manufacturer.

Replica and Imitation Firearms

A replica firearm is a device that is manufactured to resemble an existing design of a firearm but
is not intended to fire. Typically, replica firearms are manufactured for firearm collectors,
especially collectors of antique firearms.
An imitation firearm is a device that is not a real firearm, but that was designed to look exactly or
almost exactly like a real firearm (some very realistic toy guns, some molded guns either in
rubber or metal). In some jurisdictions, imitation firearms are prohibited or are regulated in a
similar fashion to firearms.
Although technically unable to produce harm as a result of shooting, both replica and imitation
firearms have the capacity to intimidate since they can easily be mistaken for real firearms.
Although they are not real firearms, due to the reasons outlined above, they are defined and
specifically mentioned in various national legislations.

Deactivated and converted firearms

A deactivated firearm is any firearm that was modified in such a way that it can no longer fire
and expel any form of projectile. Usually, the deactivation process has to be permanent. Because
these deactivated firearms do not fall under the same regulations as the activated firearms, they
are often purchased by criminal organizations who either remove the deactivation systems or
convert the weapons with spare parts and the so reactivated firearms are entering the illicit
market.
Conversion is a process that modifies a non-lethal (e.g. blank or gas weapon) into a lethal
weapon that is further pushed into the illicit market.

Modular firearms
Modular weapons are produced with components that are interchangeable in a way that can
change or improve the characteristic of a firearm. In addition, changing essential components
like the barrel, extractor/ejector, firing pin etc. will make ballistic identification extremely
difficult, if not impossible.
One good example in this range is the Glock pistol, which, although not conceived as a modular
weapon, bears the modularity characteristics and can be easily transformed from a semi-
automatic pistol into a fully automatic sub-machine gun with 50 or 100 rounds magazine, scope,
silencer, shall recovery system and other modular parts.

Figure 8: Glock modular kit 100 rounds automatic.

Source: Pinterest under Fair Use PolicyLinks to an external site.

Figure 9: Full auto Glock silenced conversion kit.

Source: Pinterest under Fair Use PolicyLinks to an external site.

Concealable firearms
The term refers to firearms that have the resemblance of harmless items, but that can be lethally
fired. As an example, the pen gun, the phone gun or the flashlight gun. Concealable firearms can
be legally produced or can be crafted in an illicit way. Although those firearms that are legally
produced are registered and theoretically can be traced, the main danger resides in their physical
characteristics that makes them difficult to be recognized as a firearm, hence identification and
detection possibilities are drastically reduced.
 Figure 10: Ideal conceal phone gun.
Source: Ideal Conceal under Fair Use PolicyLinks to an external site.

Figure 11: Magpul FMG9 Foldable Machinegun.

Source: Pinterest under Fair Use PolicyLinks to an external site.

Firearms kits
A kit weapon is usually made from a series of parts and components. In most situations the kit
provides the components that require additional machining for full completion. Machining the kit
for a firearms completion not only requires a certain level of technological skills but also opens
an opportunity to build untraceable/unregistered weapons that can easily be diverted into the
illicit market.
 Figure 12: 1911 80% Build Kit 5″ GI .45 ACP. Source: American Weapons Components
under Fair Use PolicyLinks to an external site.

Lethal autonomous weapons

The accelerated development of artificial intelligence touched also the firearms realm. There are
already advanced technical machines that are equipped with firearms, like drones and armored
vehicles, that are not equipped with human personnel, but nevertheless their control and action is
exercised by humans.
 Figure 13: Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System (unmanned but remotely human
controlled). Source: QinetiQ North America under Fair Use PolicyLinks to an external site.
The new idea behind fully autonomous weapons is to use artificial intelligence (AI) to control
these weapons and eliminate the human control. Unfortunately, this idea brings a dark
perspective to the horizon, as long as we are not aware what will be the level of human control,
to what extent this human control will be effective over the AI systems and how AI may react in
various conditions and environments.
In 2015, over a thousand researchers co-signed an open letterLinks to an external site. urging the
United Nations to ban the development and use of autonomous weapons. Unfortunately, this
development of semi-autonomous or even autonomous weapons is mostly secretive and it is
unclear what part the humans will play in choosing and firing on targets, if any.
Although fully autonomous weapons do not officially exist, the idea itself created strong debates
between the main powersLinks to an external site., voices being raised pro and against this
concept.
In 2013, the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Meeting of State
PartiesLinks to an external site. decided that the Chairperson will convene in 2014 an informal
Meeting of Experts to discuss the questions related to emerging technologies in the area of lethal
autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). In 2016, the Fifth Review Conference of the High
Contracting Parties to the CCW established a Group of Governmental Experts (GGE)Links to an
external site. on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems
(LAWS) The United NationsLinks to an external site. is still considering imposing a ban on so
called "killer robots" but the discussions are ongoing and an agreement has not been yet reached.
To-Do Date: May 6 at 7:00am

Regarding legal definitions, classifications and regulations regarding firearms and ammunition,
the most recent reference is this special law - RA 10591.
Click to view/download the codal provisions - Republic Act 10591.pdfDownload Republic Act
10591.pdf
Click to view/download the 2018 revised IRR - RA10591-Revised IRR-2018.pdfDownload
RA10591-Revised IRR-2018.pdf

Here are the definition of legal terms provided by this law.

Accessories: parts of a firearm which may enhance or increase the operational efficienc
y or accuracy of a firearm but will not constitute any of the major or minor internal parts t
hereof such as, but not limited to laser scope, telescopic sight, and sound suppressor or
silencer.
Ammunition: a complete unfired unit consisting of a bullet,gunpowder, cartridge case an
d primer or loaded shell for use in any firearm.
Main parts:
a. Bullet: the projectile propelled through the barrel of a firearm by means of the expansi
ve force of gases coming from burning gunpowder.
b.
Cartridge Case: the container, usually metal and cylindrical in shape, to be loaded with
a primer, powder charge and bullet. After loading, it becomes a complete cartridge, of w
hich the case is but one element. lt is commonly made of brass, although some modern
cartridge cases are made of steel, aluminum, or other materials.
c. Gun Powder: any explosive powder used to propel projectiles intended for firearms.
d. Primer: also called an "igniter'; a cartridge component used for the purpose of setting
fire to ignite the gunpowder.
Antique Firearm: any: (1) firearm which was manufactured at least 75 years prior to the
current date but not including replicas; (2) firearm which is certified by the National Mus
eum of the Philippines to be curio or relic of museum interest; and (3) any other firearm
which derives a
substantial part of its monetary value from the fact that it is novel, rare, bizarre or becau
se of its association with some historical figure, period or event.
Arms Smuggling: the import, export, acquisition, sale, delivery,movement or transfer of f
irearms, their parts and components and ammunition, from or across the territory of one
country to that of another country which has not been authorized in accordance with do
mestic law in either or both country/countries.
Assembling of Firearms: the fitting together of legally acquired parts or spare parts of fir
earms to create a complete firearm.
Authorized Bonded Firearm Custodian: the employee of the juridical entity who is cover
ed by bond to be accountable for the registered firearms under the name of the juridical
entity.
Authorized lmporter: any person, legal entity, corporation,partnership or business duly li
censed by the FEO to engage in the business of importing ammunition and firearms, or
parts thereof into the territory of the Republic of the Philippines for purposes of sale or di
stribution under the provisions of this Revised lRR.
Bolt Action: a
type of firearm action in which the weapon's bolt is operated manually by the opening a
nd closing of the breech.
Bond: the cash or surety intended as a
security and commitment of licensed citizens, dealers, and manufacturers to comply wit
h all the existing laws, rules and regulations.
a. Dealer's Bond: the bond duly issued by an insurer or insurance company with a valid
certificate of authority from the lnsurance Commission to a licensed dealer in such amo
unt as may be determined by the C, PNP.
b. Firearm's License Bond: the bond duly issued by an insurer or insurance company wi
th a valid certificate of authority from the lnsurance Commission to a licensed citizen for
Types 3 to 5 licenses.
c.
Manufacture/s Bond: the bond duly issued by an insurer or insurance company with a v
alid certificate of authority from the lnsurance Commission to a licensed manufacturer in
such amount as may be determined by the Secretary of the lnterior and Local Governm
ent (SILG).

(See the continuation in section 3 of RA 10591, IRR 2018 revision)