Rallyagainst thefirearms Control Bill
THE looming stand-off between the government and citizens around civilian gun ownership is far from over. If the proposed Firearms Amendment Bill is a milestone in the strategy of the government to disarm civilians, then the orchestra (the public) are still tuning their instruments for the final performance.
In July the South African public and our government witnessed first-hand the complete inability of the police to give even modest effect to its mandate to protect and serve. The nation was shocked as graphic footage revealed widespread looting, violence, intimidation, and arson as more than 300 citizens died, and the economy shed 75 000 jobs and 50 billion rand.
It is widely recognised that it was lawfully armed private citizens, standing together to protect business property and homes who managed to contain the spread of the looting. The government later labelled the breakdown of law and order as an attempted insurrection. One thing is clear, and that is that if the looting and associated activity had not been stopped, it would in all likelihood have spread to other provinces until the entire country was directly impacted.
Private citizens were reportedly able to supply the police with ammunition and even assist the police to defend certain installations in KZN. It is unsurprising that this shocking lack of readiness and capacity by the authorities echoes the words of the National Commissioner of Police to parliament when he warned that the police were unable to fulfil their duties – and that was in times of relative normality. The famous quote of Bheki Cele to parliament in September 2018 in which he said, “We are living in a war zone, but we are not at war” is equally relevant. Cele was referring to the then national murder rate of around 58 a day – a figure that has since increased.
Against this backdrop it is challenging to imagine how any government might continue to push for the wholesale disarmament of the public. Despite protestations from the government that the intention of the Firearms Control Amendment Bill is not to disarm the public, it is crystal clear that that is exactly the aim.
The Minister of Police is on record as saying that it would be better if civilians were not allowed to own guns – and the opening paragraphs of the new Bill reflect precisely that sentiment. Many people are rightfully focused on the repeal of Section 13 of the current Act – the possession of a firearm for the purpose of self-defence.
Did you know that the new Bill seeks to outlaw sport shooting, that no person may possess reloading equipment and that import permits for any items from arms and ammunition to reloading components will be approved or denied (under the new law) by the Central Firearm Registry without the need to provide any reason and with no provision for appeal against an adverse decision? Simply put – if the government can’t take your guns they will simply shut down the importation of anything that can be used in a gun – and the local manufacturers will be lucky to even have permission to export. Oh, and the police will also make very specific regulations about when and where you may travel with a licensed firearm.
The shutting down of a multi-billion-rand industry that employs tens of thousands of people appears to cause no concern amongst leaders who have at best stood by while our economy has devolved to the point of implosion. We are facing the manifestation of a coordinated global campaign against lawful private gun ownership – and this just happens to suit the government’s ideology perfectly. How the government can possibly expect lawfully armed citizens to stand by and watch this take place simply beggars’ belief.
The overwhelming number of negative submissions around the Bill are simply a preliminary bout to the main fight, when the Civilian Secretariat and the Minister will face a multitude of court actions in connection with a draft Bill far-removed from a rational perspective.
Court actions may also be mounted in connection with the failure of the Secretariat to facilitate civilian oversight of the police service and the virtual breakdown of service in the Central Firearms Registry.
In essence, the government has made a legislative and political blunder, literally painting itself into a corner. If the government unconditionally withdraws the Bill it ‘loses face’ and if it insists on forging ahead it will face a barrage of court actions in connection with the Bill on procedural and substantive grounds.
Anti-gun organisations simply can’t defend their extreme view that there should be ‘no guns in South Africa at all’ and most especially that civilians’ guns are the source of the crime problem in South Africa. Responsible gun owners have never called for every person in South Africa to be armed – we recognise that a person must be competent and licensed to possess a firearm for any lawful purpose.
Finally, it is illogical to suggest that guns in criminal hands establish a reason to disarm law-abiding citizens and their families. Even as this opinion piece was being penned, there is news that another police station has been robbed of its weapons – including three R5 rifles capable of fully-automatic fire.
Even if you are not a gun owner, it is most important that you stand with all law-abiding citizens who may be concerned that a draconian, unwarranted, and illogical new law may deny you, your family and even your children at some time in the future the right to choose to apply for a license to lawfully possess a firearm. Our Constitution guarantees you the right to be free from all forms of violence. A government that can’t protect its citizens has no right to deny those citizens the means to protect themselves.
Stand together. Support your shooting and gun owners’ association and join Safe Citizen – for free. This fight is just getting started. – Jonathan Deal is the founder and national coordinator of Safe Citizen.