Fig.1-1-8-1 shows the number of firing incidents and the number of persons killed in these incidents in the last 5 years, according to the data provided by the Community Safety Bureau of the National Police Agency (in 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). In 2001, the number of firing incidents increased from 134 in the previous year to 215, and the number of persons killed in these incidents also increased from 23 in the previous year to 39. The rate of victims (including involved victims) excluding organized crime group members out of all victims killed in these incidents increased from 39.1% (9 persons) in the previous year to 51.3% (20 persons) in 2001.

Fig. 1-1-8-1 Numbers of firing incidents and persons killed in firing incidents (1997-2001)

   Fig. 1-1-8-2 shows a comparison of the number of cases cleared for firearm offenses and the number of cleared cases involving the use of handguns between the cases committed by organized crime group members (both regular and quasi-members; hereinafter the same) and by persons other than organized crime group members in the last 5 years. The number of cases cleared for firearm offenses reached 109 in 2001, down by 14 (11.4%) from the previous year. The number of cases cleared for firearm offenses committed by persons other than organized crime group members in 2001 accounted for 42.2%, higher than 31.7% in the previous year, of the total number of cases cleared for firearm offenses. The number of cleared cases involving the use of handguns was 80, accounting for 73.4% of the total number of cases cleared for firearm offenses. Of them, the number of cases committed by persons other than organized crime group members and by organized crime group members respectively accounted for 32.5% and 67.5%.

Fig. 1-1-8-2 Trends in the number of cases cleared for firearm offenses (1997-2001)

Fig. 1-1-8-3 Trends in the number of seized handguns (1997-2001)

   Fig. 1-1-8-3 shows the number of handguns seized from organized crime group members and from persons other than organized crime group members in the last 5 years. In 2001, the number of handguns seized was 922, up by 19 from the previous year, among which real handguns were 852, accounting for 92.4% higher than 89.9% in the previous year.
  By country of production, the U.S.A. produced the largest share of 181 (21.2%) in the total of 852 real handguns seized in 2001, followed by Russia with 105 (12.3%), the Philippines with 64 (7.5%), China with 47 (5.5%), and Belgium with 36 (4.2%).