CAFI -Control Arms Foundation of India

[hvj1]

Dear Friends,
For quite some time, it has come to my notice/hearing, that CAFI is an organisation which is anti-guns. That CAFI is against 'proliferation of arms licences' also that it is against 'lifting of ban on import of firearms'.
As an extremely strong supporter of RKBA, I looked up their site (CAFI). Though I need to read up many more sections of information on their sites, the initially surprisng results that I have come across are as follows;
1. There is NO mention of CAFI supporting a Ban on Import of firearms.
2. There is no mention of CAFI supporting a 'cap' on issuing legitimate gun licences.
3. Nor have I come across any article which points towards a total confiscation of LEGAL firearms and their destruction as has been done recently in Australia.
CAFI is completely for the CONTROL OF UNREGULATED/NON LICENCED firearms, which I FULLY AGREE. I agree,because these unlicenced and unregulated weapons are the primary reason for PREVENTING LEGITIMATE and LAW ABIDING citizens in obtaining firearms licences .
I look forward to IFGians who have done more reading than I have and could be kind enough to point me to any specific article originating from CAFI which goes contrary to what I have stated above.

[Sakobav]

hvj1

Just conduct a search on IFG for CAFI related discussion you will get some idea. On their website check for a comic with ridiculous narration of dara like ammo sale they also cherry pick and distort stats to portray as India is one of the most armed nations may be but in reality with the most outdated guns or antiques.


http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6901
http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5312
http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3177


Best

[hvj1]

Dear Ngrewal,
Thank you for pointing me towards some useful information. Apart from the ridiculous posters on a Delhi Police Office which has dubious connotations, I am basically following what Sun Tzu has said, which goes something like this -'Know your enemy, study him well, study the terrain, then formulate your own plan". Today we can call it a SWOT analysis. iT IS MY MOST SINCERE REQUEST GENTLEMEN, that the very least we can do, is to conduct our own individual level SWOT analysis, please do back up your analysis with facts as this will enable us to collectively arrive at a realistic strategy.
STRENGTHS
1. Impressive Boards of Directors who are savy enough to obtain funs from abroad.
2. Professional looking Website:
3. Based in N.Delhi, which helps in being able to rub their chic shoulders with the powers that be and privy to goings on in the corridors of Power.
4. Internationally connected.
Weaknesses
1. It is next to impossible for any state to eliminate illegal firearms leave alone an NGO. Its one thing to collect data, can they plug any sources, Ha!

I have penned down a few points, but I reserve my comments on Opportunities and Threats,
Believe me gentlemen, we have only to look into our own backyard and within ourselves to come up with action which protects our interests.
Regards

[mundaire]

CAFI besides being funded in a large part by IANSA (the chaps responsible for the curbs on gun ownership in Australia and other nefarious anti-gun campaigns), does not give a damn about legal gun owners - all of their protestations to the contrary notwithstanding... they would like nothing better than to see all forms of civilian gun ownership completely banned, this can easily be inferred from the material on their own website.

I have (very briefly) corresponded with one of their chief people (she had written in to protest some things that were said on this forum), and from my interaction I was left with absolutely no doubts as to their eventual goals and objectives.

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[nagarifle]

well for one

"1. There is NO mention of CAFI supporting a Ban on Import of firearms."

they do not have to mention what is already banned.

[cottage cheese]

And lo behold the CAFI has made its grand appearance (in the predictably disjointed manner) in Nagaland... this appeared on our local rag this morning....

http://nagalandpost.com/ShowStory.aspx? ... tBLfMAo%3d

In case the link goes dead...

Domestic violence and guns

Gun violence can be part of the cycle of intimidation and aggression that many women experience from an intimate partner. Domestic violence is a feature of every nation, irrespective of social, economic, religious or cultural preferences and settings. At least one in every three women is physically abused at least once, usually by an intimate partner, with most experiencing multiple instances of abuse.
For every woman killed or physically injured by firearms, countless more are threatened. Most women who are victims of gun violence experience various types of abuse beforehand, including sexual, psychological and/or physical attacks. Patterns of attack are similar across cultures and often involve shooting family pets as a warning or bringing guns out for cleaning during an argument. Women are emotionally involved and economically dependent on those who abuse them, so it can be extremely difficult to escape the situation.
In intimate partner violence, legally held guns are just as dangerous as illegal ones. Despite the emphasis among law enforcement on illegal handguns and crime, legal firearms are the primary weapons used in domestic homicides. A recent Canadian study found that 40% of women killed by their husbands are shot to death; most (80%) are killed with legally owned guns. Indeed, a legally held gun in the home is much more likely to be used to intimidate or physically injure members than to be used against an outside intruder.
While gun related domestic violence occurs in peaceful settings as well as in conflict zones, domestic abuse increases during and after conflict. After a conflict officially ends, guns circulate in the community. Post-conflict stress, combined with economic prospects and a reduction in basic services, contribute to the dynamics of domestic violence after war. In Cambodia in the mid 1990s, as many as 75% of women in one study experienced domestic violence, often at the hands of men who had kept the small arms they used during the war.
On the night of 25th March, 2009, men armed with guns broke into a home at Dimapur, Nagaland and gang raped the daughter at gun point after tying all the family members up. The five miscreants attempted to kill the mother when they opened fire twice but miraculously she escaped. The trauma, the nightmare did not end there. They ransacked the house, looted cash and tortured the victims mentally and physically.
In another incident years back, a man in Wokha town of Nagaland shot his wife dead after a marital dispute. This created shock and furore in the state. But public memory is short lived.What happened next? I really don’t know. Did they have children? If so, do they live with a father who killed their mother? Did the law bring justice to the family or is it the rule of the jungle that reigns supreme?
Rape and domestic violence are on an alarming rise in Naga society. How do you explain the trauma and pain a mother goes through seeing her daughter being raped at gun point? These scenes are not out from movies but from real life situations in Nagaland. Rape of a pregnant mother, an 8 year old orphan child, rape in a moving vehicle etc were things unheard of earlier but not anymore.So much so to a point that people are becoming immune to such news of yet another statistical account in the newpapers.
For women, the greatest risk of gun violence is in their own home. The statistics are shocking. Women are three times more likely to die violently if there is a gun in the house. Usually the perpetrator is a spouse or partner, often with a prior record of domestic abuse. For every woman killed or physically injured by firearms, many more are threatened. Women are indirectly affected by gun possession in the home as it can be misused for violence and intimidation.
The 3rd National Family Health Survey (NFHS) in India found that among women age group of 15-49, 35 per cent have experienced physical or sexual violence, and that four in ten ever-married women have. In Nagaland, the case of ever- married women who have experienced spousal violence stood at 15.4%. This was a marked increase from 10.3% of the NFHS 2 of 1998/99.
Disarming Domestic Violence is the first international campaign aimed at protecting women from gun violence in the home. The main goal is to ensure that people with a history of domestic abuse are denied access to firearms, or have their licenses revoked. Of the nearly 900 million small arms in the world today, more than 75% are in the hands of private individuals – most of them men. Given this, women are paying a disproportionately heavy price for the multi-billion dollar trade in small arms.
The ongoing conflict in Northeast India is one of the reasons for the increased proliferation in small arms in the region which has indirectly lead to increase in the violence against women in the society. Having a gun in the house does not necessarily mean security for the family but it could also be a provocative weapon of torture against the women.
In the words of Professor Anuradha Chenoy of JNU, New Delhi, “In 99 per cent of the world’s wars, the decision to wage them has been taken by men; women have only supported “men’s wars”. Women are used by the state and non-state actors in different ways during conflict and in the practice of militarism without being conscious of it”.
According to the Naga Women Hoho presentation at Dimapur on Monday, 15th June, 2009- women’s role in decision making is minimal and irrespective of their role in conflict situation, women are still discriminated while instances of rape and domestic violence are on the rise. Yet in the NFHS 3 report on Nagaland, currently married women who usually participated in household decisions stood at 86.4% in the urban areas and at 86.3 % in rural areas.
Men’s violence to women is clearly a form of power; it arises from and is underwritten by men’s domination of women as a social group and it persists as a form of power in individual situations. Violence or at least the fear of violence is a part of every woman’s life. Each woman knows someone who has been a victim of a violent episode if she herself has not been involved in one time or another
A study by the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that domestic violence by an intimate partner is the most common form of violence in women’s lives- much more than assault and rape by strangers and acquaintances. It says abused women were twice as likely top have poor health and physical and mental health; and its effects are long lasting. Over the past few decades, gender based trauma has emerged as one of the most serious public health problems facing women in this country. For most women, the greatest risk of physical, emotional and sexual violation will be from a man they have known and trusted, often an intimate partner.
Justice systems have historically overlooked violence against women, and human rights standards have tended to perceive the ‘private sphere’ as outside the scope of state interventions. While legal protections for women experiencing domestic violence exist in 45 countries, many of these laws are not regularly enforced, especially during periods of conflict where domestic violence incidents are likely to be seen as irrelevant to the broader issues of conflict.
The government should recognise that family killings are the only category of homicide in which women outnumber men as victims, and pledge to protect women in their homes. More initiative towards recognizing and rehabilitating the victims is needed, starting with provisions of basic psychological counseling services which are very rare in the present public health system of the state.
Elizabeth Imti.

A rather sad copy-pasted hotch-potch of disjointed drivel meant to connect guns, domestic violence, feminism, war etc...

... by that rather amusing logic - Take away guns you'll see the end of Domestic violence ... also women need a fair share in warmongering.

The author is being mentored by the likes of Binalakshmi Nepram and "heads" the Nagaland extension of the CAFI...

regards,
cc

[hvj1]

Dear Cottage Cheese,
Thank you very much for the 'eye opener', all these articles only serve one purpose - IT MOTIVATES ME I promise all IFGians, by the end of this year we will GET ORGANISED with the help of all senior IFGians who can guide us through their experience. NK007 and the IFG Meet members are raring to go, we will definitely organise a National IFG to provide a platform to our collective voice.
The key to the whole issue (CAFI and other related issues) is not to fire single shots, but to organise ourselves and present a collective front. Thank you for your post and keep the faith...
Regards

[Rottmeister]

It sure does motivate; hammering knowledge into vacant brains is a noble thing to do, which also brings in some amount of - should I dare say - a perverse pleasure? I obtain that every time; be it with my cousins or with my neighborhood people. Most surprisingly, out of all the 20 people I tutored on the PIL, 13 have voted for the cause. Apologies if it sounded like bragging; I hope gentlemen here are going to forgive.

[goodboy_mentor]

When CAFI or anybody for that matter cannot find anything based on facts supported by statistics, has no other option, but to take refuge behind cooked up stuff to arouse emotional response rather than arouse a logical response based on facts.

Why only go after the guns, there are endless instruments, if used properly, can be used with deadly effect for life threatening violence, be it domestic or anything.

Blunt edged objects: heavy stones, iron rods, cricket bats, hockey sticks, baseball bats, glass bottles, hammers.........

Sharp edged objects: Kitchen knives, razors, shaving blades, scissors, screwdrivers, icepicks, axes, spears, shovels.........

Toxic substances: Insecticides/pesticides, overdose of prescription drugs.........

Electromagnetic: electricity from household power source.........

Inflammable: Cooking gas, kerosene, petrol.........

Corrosive: Battery acid, household acid.......

The list can continue.......

The main thing is that, the domestic violence or any type of violence and instruments of violence are two separate topics. It is humans that do the violence, not the instruments. In any case law breakers always get instruments of violence as per their choice regardless of the law.

[Rottmeister]

Anyone who posted there feedbacks to the CAFI Website? I did; I hope you guys shall as well, ASAP.

-- Sat Oct 10, 2009 2:58 --

This is my feedback:

Hi there, all you guys with no work and/or idea on what you really want. You have no idea on the difference between a registered firearm and illegally obtained weapons, so shut this farce. Before putting the stigma upon responsible, educated and logical firearm owners and their instruments of pride, do consider the regular household items mentioned at the end of this message. I can present an entire array of instances where guns, used responsibly, saved many-a-lives which would otherwise have met an untimely end. Do read up Mr. John Lott's book on that as well. Even Cooking gas, kerosene and petrol are potential weapons for murder and suicide, so let's ban them? Even better, let's ban fire and go back to the caveman lifestyle? Even the pump-variety of stoves; what about people setting themselves ablaze?

Grow up kids, for Dr. S. Freud wrote to Marie Bonaparte once:

"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity."

[Vikram]

Rottlord,

Points well made.Thank you.But,if I may say so, sounding angry and aggressive do not help in turning people to our cause.Either it makes them defensive or hostile.We may win an argument but we may not win a mind to our side.Please consider.Once again, that is a good post made there.Thank you.


Best-
Vikram

[Rottmeister]

Angry? No, I just wanted to throw a satire; if they have enough brains, they'll get the juice of it. Man, Vikram, the nation is running real low on testosterone and osteoporosis has set big time on the nation's spine; it's only the Indian Army guys and us at IFG that are keeping the endangered species called 'MEN' alive.

-- Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:58 --

But Vikram, only I voicing my opinion is not going to cut the cheese; what stops the rest from posting their own respective feedbacks to CAFI? How about this one: "CAFI Hua; aab bandh karo yeh tamasha?"

[Vikram]

Get your point. But, don't get it about hormones and men.Say we thump our chests and whoop around like Silverbacks?Sounds like a no-brainer to me.I thought it is about humanity, not just men.

"CAFI Hua; aab bandh karo yeh tamasha?"

That's a good one there .

Best-
Vikram

[Rottmeister]

A real man is someone who stands up for the right causes, to defend the weak and to look into the eyes of the opponent amidst a million adversities - that's humanity; how can the hormones be neglected? They provide the force for all that's aforementioned.

-- Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:52 --

Man, someday, if the law permits, I want to keep a silverback as a pet; I'm sure a Rottie and a SB shall make a deadly duo.

[goodboy_mentor]

"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity."

If someone has fear of weapons or fear of anything for that matter, it cannot be removed by just satire/sarcasm etc. It takes logical reasoning, slow and steady effort.