Licensed firearm holders have taken issue with government’s proposal to remove self-defence as a valid reason firearm ownership. In response to the ongoing debate over gun control laws in South Africa, Civil Society South Africa has launched a legal challenge aimed at uncovering the evidence behind the country’s proposed Firearms Control Amendment Bill.
The organisation has submitted PAIA applications to both the Police Ministry and the Presidency, seeking access to research, crime data, legal opinions and impact assessments used to justify the proposed changes. Supporters of the bill argue that tighter gun controls save lives and reduce firearm-related violence.
Civil Society South Africa spokesperson, Reece Clark explained that when it comes down to the loss and theft of a firearm, licensed firearm holders have to follow a clear process to recover it.
“License holders have gone through every single legal step required to own that firearm, from competency checks to background checks to safe storage requirements. Plus, those firearms are registered on the Central Firearm Register (CFR). So, those firearms are easily recoverable and the recovery rate of lost and stolen firearms is approximately about 60%,”
Clark noted that illegal firearms, however never enter the system. He added that South Africa is completely unaware of how many illegal firearms are actually inside the country.
“Those firearms stem from us having porous borders with illegal trafficking networks across borders, from corruption within SAPS, where firearms are being sold, surrendered firearms and confiscated firearms being sold to criminal networks. It all stems from thefts within SAPS and our military armories.”
