The Guardian: Paris attacks highlight France's gun control problems
- Nov 14, 2015
- 1 min read
Originally reported by The Guardian, the aftermath of the 2015 Paris attacks exposed the growing challenge of illegal arms trafficking in Europe. Despite France's strict gun laws, investigators found that the attackers had obtained military-grade weapons through black market networks believed to stretch across the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Arms trafficking expert Kathi Lynn Austin, Executive Director of the Conflict Awareness Project, noted that surplus Soviet-era weapons and evolving trafficking routes have made assault rifles increasingly accessible to criminal and extremist groups. The investigation highlighted how international smuggling networks continue to undermine national gun control efforts.
