Firearms are tied to the security and identity of governments, communities, and non-state actors in a way that few other commodities are. Within the anarchy of the international state system (and even within the borders of some countries), lifestyles are ultimately made and maintained by men with guns. Unfortunately, lifestyles guaranteed by men with guns can also be destroyed by tougher men with bigger guns. Reflecting this reality, almost every country in the world exerts some degree of control over the supply of firearms, yet small arms proliferation remains a problem of disputed importance. While some may differ on the reasons and the degree to which arms are necessary to maintain the international state system, none actually question their necessity.

The Importance of the Sulu Arms Market

There are an estimated 875 million firearms in existence today. This number, while not disputed, seems to be the only thing nations agree on in the counter-proliferation debate. With strong differences of opinion about every aspect of small arms policy, the world's governments have shown themselves to be incapable of making progress towards any viable control measures. Over 600 arms manufacturers in ninety-five countries around the world pump their products into world markets at a steady rate. Without international consensus on controlling the supply, it is a virtual certainty that stockpiles will continue to grow. Most countries that have arms manufacturing industries consider them strategic assets, meaning few are willing to close them down. Indeed, some states take extra steps to guarantee the profitability of these enterprises.

Meanwhile, the impact of small arms availability continues to undermine security in much of the world. An estimated half million people die each year from gunshot wounds; sixty per cent of whom are victims of armed conflicts in the developing world while the other forty per cent die as a result of homicide or suicide in industrialized countries.