In intrastate conflict, the majority of the fighting factions do not have state support for high technological military equipment and are forced to use cheap small arms. Small arms and light weapons are weapons of choice in most internal conflicts because they are widely obtainable, relatively cheap, plentiful, deadly, simple to use and easy to transport. Cost is a crucial factor in the demand for small arms. Many hostiles in these internal battles are poor and have often been barred from the legal arms market. As a result, they consider cheap small arms and light weapons, perhaps traded illegally, to be their only option.
Armed societies are insecure societies.
Once certain members of society begin to resolve disputes and secure a livelihood through the use of violence, then others are obliged to protect them in the same manner. In Colombia, for example, small arms have become a defining feature of the country s current civil strife. Change will not occur as long as the disaffected believe violence is the mechanism to achieve their goals. There are demands because there are political problems that have not been resolved. And we need, therefore, to put a lot of effort to focus also on the root cause for that demand.