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Ownership or possession of a light weapon has never been easier, or more widespread, and step by step the international community is losing control over these weapons. Once the armouries have been looted or the covert shipments have arrived, there is little that can be done to prevent weapons from entering networks that are beyond the control of the stateif indeed the state continues to exist. Africa is flooded with illegal weapons: $12 will buy an AK47 and two clips of ammunition on the Mozambique border. The same can be bought for $20 in downtown Johannesburg, a chicken in northern Uganda, a goat in Kenya, and a bag of secondhand clothes in Angola.6 The ubiquitous AK47 first manufactured in 1947and other less well known weapons are tough and durable, with few moving parts to malfunction. They last forever and their owners require no real trainingeven a child can become a part of the "Kalashnikov culture."7 "
Chris Smith  director, conflict, security, and development group, Who gets hurt by all these weapons? Non-combatants outside formal conflicts 14 August 2005

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