Firearm bill a smokescreen to divert attention from failed police force

HAVING just read a report in the Cape Argus about a 76-year-old pensioner in Knysna who was murdered in his home by two assailants, I am driven to anger.

Had the victim possessed a firearm he would have at least been in a position to defend his life. He was defenceless and was slaughtered like a sheep with a rag in his mouth, hands bound and stabbed to death.

My anger is driven by Minister of Police Bheki Cele’s absurd and ridiculous attempt to have a new firearm bill passed rejecting personal defence as a reason for owning a firearm.

In terms of our Constitution and in line with common law the public is entitled to protection from the very person driving this new unrealistic bill.

Clearly, this is not happening and the public have no option but to defend their own lives.

Suggestions by the minister and his ear whisperers including Gun Free SA, that issuing gun licences for self-defence purposes is the cause of escalating gang violence, murder and mayhem is a work of fiction and but a smokescreen in order to divert attention away from the real issue that being a failed police force which is undertrained and underresourced – and unlike London Police and the New York Police Department where policing is a noble calling – the SAPS is simply filled with jobseekers.

Furthermore, the mind boggles when looking at police statistics which reflect that out of 10 000 police officers nationally who have been charged with rape, murder and assault, just 50 have been suspended.

Something is very, very wrong and the buck must stop at the police minister’s desk.

COLIN BOSMAN | Newlands