Brian Sokutu Government risks becoming a paternalistic toxic enabler and promoter of GBV against the most vulnerable members of society – women. Proposed changes
would be a huge step
back for women empowerment in
South Africa, said Gun Owners SA. Photo: iStock
Against a background of soaring crime statistics, with an average of 19 500 firearms reported stolen or misplaced each year in South Africa, including numerous service pistols being taken from police officers and break-ins at some military bases – government is mooting amendments to the Firearms Control Act.
The draft Firearms Control Amendment Bill of 2021, still due to go through a process of public comment before being passed by Parliament, proposed key amendments contained in the Government Gazette including the:
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NATIONAL NEWS - The proposed amendments to the Firearms Control Act has caused an uproar among South Africans with a number of organisations raising their concern on one particular issue.
A draft of the Firearms Control Amendment Bill was published in the government gazette on Friday.
The bill could see applicants looking to get a firearm licence for self-defence and hunting purposes being prohibited if it is signed into law.
While the bill was been labelled as draconian by some organisations, others believe that the bill will hinder the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the country.
Anger over gun ownership law amendment proposal
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Cape Town - Gun owners are fuming over the newly revived legislative proposal published on Friday by the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service (CSP), which could see changes to the law that would remove self-defence as a valid reason to own a firearm.
Gun owners said the proposal must be struck off in the new draft Firearms Control Amendment Bill, because it would leave people vulnerable against crime and create a paradise for criminals.
Damian Enslin, the chairperson of the SA Gunowners Association (Saga) and an attorney who specialises in firearm-related issues, said there seemed to be a complete lack of understanding on the part of the government about the risk of rape, murder and violent crime that ordinary South Africans had to deal with daily, with the police being unable to control the tide of violent crime.
Gun Owners of South Africa says draft bill on firearm ownership ban idiocy Various groups, including the South African Arms and Ammunition Dealers Association and the Democratic Alliance (DA), have criticised the proposal. Picture: SAPS
8 days ago
CAPE TOWN - The organisation Gun Owners of South Africa said that a proposed ban on firearm ownership for self-defence was the peak of idiocy.
The Civilian Secretariat for Police Service on Friday called for public comment on a draft of the Firearms Control Amendment Bill.
Various groups, including the South African Arms and Ammunition Dealers Association and the Democratic Alliance (DA), have criticised the proposal.
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