Faizel Patel – 24/05/2021
Gun law expert Martin Hood says the newly revived legislative proposal that will prevent South Africans from getting a firearm licence on the basis that they need the weapon for self-defence is radical and will have far-reaching consequences.
There is widespread anger over the legislative proposal drawing condemnation from a number of groups.
The Civilian Secretariat for Police Service on Friday opened public comment on a 2021 version of the long-dormant draft Firearms Control Amendment Bill.
The secretariat says the planned legislation will demand a valid reason when applying for a firearm licence and self-defence does not count.
Speaking to Radio Islam, Hood says the prevention of firearms for self-defence affects not only gun owners but also the security industry.
“We in fact got a double whammy here because they are going to take away self-defence firearms if these proposals are accepted. At the same time, they are going to limit our ability to rely on private security because private security won’t be allowed to have firearms. In fact what we are doing is we are being asked to surrender all legal practical means that we have to defend ourselves be it with our own firearms or by using private security companies arms. These are very, very serious proposals.”
Hood says there is no doubt that South Africa’s crime situation dictates that people must have the means to protect themselves.
“The police are very strained in their resources. There was an example today where two policemen were murdered. Now policemen with firearms are being murdered than how can you expect civilians without firearms to protect themselves.”
Hood says the legislative proposal will remove 80% of licenced firearms from circulation.
Listen to the interview with Martin Hood
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