Infantry Weapons

12-gauge shotgun

The 12-gauge shotgun is a shoulder-fired smoothbore firearm used worldwide for hunting, security, and close-range urban violence. In the Haitian Gang Conflict, armed gangs were reported bearing pump-action shotguns in Port-au-Prince, reflecting the weapon's short-range role in intimidation and assault.

Haitian Gang ConflictArmed gangs

Conflict side: Armed gangs
Built by: Mossberg, Remington, Akkar, and other manufacturers
Built in: United States, Turkey, and other countries

12-gauge shotgun, Shotgun, Infantry Weapons

Image source: Maverick 88 pump action shotgun.jpg

Profile

Type: Shotgun
Conflict side: Armed gangs
Origin: United States and other countries
Service note: 19th century-present

shotgunsmall armspump-actionurban violence

Service History

In service: Common civilian, law-enforcement, and military use since the 19th century
Used by: Armed gangs, Police and security forces, Hunters and civilians
Wars: Haitian Gang Conflict

Production History

Designer: Not attributed to a single designer
Designed: 19th century
Built by: Mossberg, Remington, Akkar, and other manufacturers
Built in: United States, Turkey, and other countries
Unit cost: Varies widely by model
Produced: 19th century-present
Number built: Millions
Variants: Pump-action, Break-action, Semi-automatic

Specifications

Gauge: 12-gauge
Action: Pump-action, break-action, and semi-automatic variants are common
Ammunition: Shotshells, buckshot, birdshot, or slugs
Use profile: Shoulder-fired smoothbore firearm optimized for close-range shooting

Conflict Usage

Haitian Gang Conflict: Side: Armed gangsRole: Close-range urban intimidationstrike
In the Haitian Gang Conflict, armed gangs were reported bearing pump-action shotguns in Port-au-Prince streets, showing the weapon used by gangs for close-range intimidation and assaults.

12-gauge shotgun Images

12-gauge shotgun, Shotgun, Infantry Weapons - view 1 — Source: Maverick 88 pump action shotgun.jpg

12-gauge shotgun, Shotgun, Infantry Weapons - view 2 — Source: Remington M870 12 Gauge.jpg

12-gauge shotgun, Shotgun, Infantry Weapons - view 3 — Source: Double Barrel Over & Under Shotgun.jpg

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Sources

Get help registering a firearmPublisher: Firearms Safety Authority New Zealand | Note: Supports the general shotgun definition, 12-gauge gauge classification, shoulder-fired use, and common action types. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Guns and weapons trafficked from US fueling Haiti gang violencePublisher: The Guardian | Note: Supports the Haitian Gang Conflict direct-use context: armed gangs were reported bearing pump-action shotguns in Port-au-Prince, showing the weapon used by gangs during the conflict. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Maverick 88 pump action shotgun.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Department of Justice photograph of a Mossberg Maverick 88 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Remington M870 12 Gauge.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Army photograph of a Remington Model 870 12-gauge shotgun. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Double Barrel Over & Under Shotgun.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a CC BY-SA 4.0 photograph of a double-barrel over-and-under shotgun made by Akkar Arms Industry in Turkey. | Accessed: 2026-06-21