Bill removes self-defence as reason to own a gun
POLICE Minister Bheki Cele has said the removal of self-defence as a reason for owning a gun – as provided for in the Firearms Control Act – would reduce proliferation of illegal firearms in the country.
Cele made the statement in a written response to a parliamentary question by the Freedom Front Plus’s Petrus Groenewald who wanted to know whether Cele intended to amend the Firearms Control Act to provide for self-defence to be deleted. He also wanted the reasons for the amendment and asked to be furnished with details of the proposed amendment.
This comes almost a month after reports surfaced that government wanted to scrap self-defence as a reason for owning a gun – in a draft amendment bill.
The bill, which originated from the Civilian Secretariat for Police, sparked outrage among lobby groups with some threatening to fight the new law up to the Constitutional Court.
At the time neither the SAPS nor Civilian Secretariat for Police have commented on the amendment bill.
In his written reply, Cele said the process of amending the Firearms Control Act was at an advanced stage.
“The draft bill provides for the consideration and approval process of application for a licence, inter alia, in respect of the category for self-defence to possess firearm to be strengthened. This is to ensure that the proliferation of illegal firearms in the country is reduced,” Cele said.
He also said a statement on the bill would be released once the Cabinet has approved the proposed amendments to the the bill for public comment.
According to the bill, the registrar of firearms may not issue a licence that authorises the possession of a firearm unless the registrar was satisfied that the application has a valid reason.
It deemed self-defence or protection of any other person or property as not valid reasons other than those outlined in the proposed legislation.
This has sparked outrage from Gun Owners South Africa (GOSA), which has described the draft bill as taking away a means to defend oneself.
This takes place as Groenewald has tabled a private member’s bill in Parliament which is aimed at protecting firearm owners’ right to possess firearms.
The bill will also seeks to ensure that firearm owners will not forfeit their firearms should their licences expire and/or they failed to reapply for a licence in time.