One Hundred Million

A minor celebration occurred this week that you probably missed. It was to mark the (estimated) production of the 100 millionth AK-47. Say the number slowly while you thinking about what it means. ONE HUNDRED MILLION, numerically;100,000,000.

It is reported as the most illegally traded weapon in the world. In central Africa you can pick one up for as little as US$2 (two days wages in that part of the world). During the cold was the USSR and China gave them away for free to communist revolutionaries (while the US provides similar deals to groups they liked). Cheap, accessible and deadly.

The AK-47, a weapon favoured by armies, revolutionaries and insurgence around the globe. A weapon estimated to kill an average 100,000 people per year. Favoured because of its simplicity – seven moving parts, its simplicity – a child soldier can re-assemble it in 2 seconds, its simplicity – it will work when badly abused, its simplicity – it is cheap to manufacture, its simplicity – pull the trigger and it fires at about 600 rounds per minute.

It’s all very simple, especially for 6,000,000 whose life ended after encountering a bulled fired by this weapon. The families and friends of these people may argue that point. Ponder for a while at what it was like when someone you loved died, if you have been lucky then imagine what it would be like. How much misery, how many tears? These have not been tallied.


Guns don’t kill people…..bullets do.