(1)Occurrence
  As shown in Table IV-17 ,data obtained from the Community Safety Bureau of the National Police Agency indicate that28persons(up by9from the previous year)were killed in firearm incidents in1999. (For the purpose of this section, firearms include handguns, rifles, machine guns, cannons, and shotguns as well as other loaders and air guns with the function of projecting metal bullets. )The ratio of ordinary citizens, that is, civilians excluding members and quasi-members of organized crime groups(collectively referred to as organized crime group members for the purpose of this section), declined from42.1%in the previous year to35.7%(including those killed by stray bullets). However, the actual number increased from8to10. In1999,162illegal shots were fired, up by8(5.2%)from154in the previous year, pointing to the increasing seriousness of firearm offenses.

Table IV-17 Number of Persons Killed in Firearm Incidents(1995-1999)

(2)Clearance
  Fig. IV-26 shows the number of cases cleared in the last five years involving the use of handguns or other firearms by organized crime group members or ordinary citizens. The total number of firearm cases cleared has been decreasing from the previous year since 1996,with the exception of1998. In1999,the number stood at106,down by19(15.2%)from the previous year. The ratio of cases involving the use of firearms by ordinary citizens to the total number of cases cleared has remained over30%, except in1995and1997. It stood at33%in1999.

Fig. IV-26 Trends in Number Of Firearm Cases Cleared(1995-1999)

  Fig. IV-27 shows the number of persons referred by the police for Firearms and Swords Law violations involving handguns in the last five years. The number of persons referred for Firearms and Swords Law violations involving handguns stayed in the range of900in1995and1996but has declined since 1997,falling to646in1999(down4.2%from the previous year). By type of violation,308persons were referred for multiple possession of handguns in1999,down4.0%from the previous year.

Fig. IV-27 Trends in Number of Persons Referred for Firearms and Swords Law Violations Involving Handguns(1995-1999)

  In May1995,a partial revision to the Law Controlling Possession, etc. , of Firearms and Swords(referred to as"the Firearms and Swords Law"for the purpose of this section)established the new offense of firing a handgun.32persons were referred for the offense in1999,down5.9%from the previous year(see Appendix IV-11 ).

Fig. IV-28 Trends in Number of Seized Handguns(1995-1999)

(3)Seizure of handguns
  Fig. IV-28 shows the number of handguns seized from organized crime group members and ordinary citizens in the last five years. The number of handguns seized from organized crime group members continued to drop substantially from1996but increased by4(0.7%)from the previous year in1999.
  By country of production, the U. S. A. accounted for265of the837real handguns seized in1999(31.7%), followed by the Philippines with93(11.1%)and China with90(10.8%). In1999,15persons were cleared for illegal import of handguns, up by4from the previous year, and19handguns were seized in connection with offenses, up by10from the previous year(source:Community Safety Bureau, National Police Agency).