Arms trade is an international business. A few decades ago the arms business was in the hands of governments. Even though there's a group of private arms companies now, the arms business remains tied to today's international relations of the world. As countries make alliances with each other, as treaties are made, the arms industry plays an important strategic role in world politics. The present day's world politics can be a complex chess game, with the leaders of the world making the rules, and arms companies carrying out orders. However, some might argue that it's the other way around. That it's actually the arms companies which has an influence on the governments. There is now a global market for small arms which is harder to control and the impact caused by it is disastrous. Imagine the destruction caused by the revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, assault rifles, submachine guns and light machine guns, heavy machine guns, mounted grenade launchers and portable anti-tank and anti-aircraft systems. …
