Public comment is now open on the Draft Firearms Control Amendment Bill. Among its aims is the removal of self-defence as a reason for applying for a firearm. This has caused an outcry from interest groups. They say should this go through, it would remove the right of a citizen to protect themselves. The draft was made public last week and comments can be made until the end of July.
The bill aims to provisionally suspend the processing of an application for a competency certificate where the applicant has been issued with an interim protection order in terms of the Domestic Violence Act. It also aims to provide for conditions under which a firearm licence for occasional hunting or sports-shooting may be issued.
But it is the provision that no firearm licences may be issued for self-defence purposes that is causing a stir.
Political parties are among those unhappy with this provision.
Freedom Front Plus leader, Pieter Groenewald and DA MP, Andrew Whitfield says, “The proposal to scrap the option to own firearm for self-defence will leave people vulnerable and create paradise for criminals. Murder rate in SA is five times higher than in rest of world. Also, there has been an increase in house robberies and people have the right to protect their loved ones. Every South African has a right to protect themselves within the law. Lives and livelihoods are under daily attack by criminals who seem to be given more license by crippling police service.”
Their sentiment is shared by ACDP Chief Whip, Steve Swart, says, “(We are) deeply concerned of proposal to remove self-defence as reason to own firearm. We have high levels of crime. Law abiding citizens have right to protect families. Authorities should rather be concentrating on those criminals that are terrorising communities. The ACDP will definitely oppose this in parliament.”
For the SA Gun Association, this is worrying draft legislation.
Spokesperson, John Welsch, says defending oneself is a fundamental right.
“The armed citizen in our view is the first line of defence in responding to crime because police can’t do that. So, they must be armed. We can assume police and president and ministers’ body guards won’t be disarmed. The private citizen is in this regard his own bodyguard. So, (they) should have the right, the means and ability to defend him or herself sufficiently.”
Gun Free South Africa says while they would support less firearms in circulation, they will respond to the bill in detail in a few days.
Attempts to get reaction from the police were unsuccessful.
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