Papua New Guinea's former military commander, Major General Jerry Singirok, says the use of illegal guns has become more widespread in the two years since a series of gun summits around the country.
Major General Singirok told an ethics seminar last week that police figures show that ten rapes a week are committed at gun point.
He says the use of guns in tribal fighting is more and more common, including current clashes in Enga.
Major General Singirok says apart from the security issues, the presence of guns has a huge impact on the country's reputation and the government needs to show the political will to deal with it.
"I am particularly concerned because it is within the control of any government to take measures to prevent or eradicate guns, for a better term - eradicate guns from the hands of perpetrators and criminals."
Jerry Singirok