Firearms control is an integral part of international arms control.
The internationalisation of the gun trade enables gun control measures in one country to affect the levels of gun-related crime and violence in other countries. For example, the United States government's laissez faire approach to the gun trade both within and beyond U.S. borders has led to the influx of thousands of cheap Brazilian handguns and Chinese assault rifles and the export of U.S. firearms to drug traffickers in regions of conflict. Just as the absence of domestic controls undermine international restraint efforts, the presence of domestic controls may increase the likelihood of successful international restraint efforts. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to control the illicit international market in light weapons without also monitoring and controlling domestic access to weapons. However this information is not collated in one place for easy access by governments or the general public.