The discussions highlight the initiatives of organizations ranging from the United Nations to local community groups regarding solutions to the prevalence of weapons in societies and to their negative potential for increasing the lethality in existing areas of violence. Individual articles review international initiatives related to small arms, examine the gun control efforts of the United Nations, and discuss the recent convention signed by members of the Organization of American States in illicit firearms trafficking. Additional chapters discuss the structures the structures of the Organization for African Unity and the type of areas in which they might have a leading role in future efforts to stop weapon flows. Further papers focus on the structures and mandates for action for action at the subregional level of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the SADC's Inter-State Defense and Security Committee, and the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization. Other chapters consider how to find points of leverage and areas for action in the international agenda on small arms, the availability of weapons in Southern Africa, and the development of an early warning system for the flows of small arms. Chapter reference notes