New laws: Air gun sales soar

2002-01-11 11:53

Marenet Jordaan

Cape Town - Pellet guns are popular purchases in the new year as these can be bought without the person having to have a gun licence. But, not everyone is happy about this.

In accordance with the new gun laws which came into effect on January 1, number one pellet guns that use bullets of 2.97mm or smaller can be bought without having to get a gun licence. Other pellet guns, shooting gunpowder powered bullets, still require a licence.

City council regulations can, however, prevent people from firing their pellet guns at will. Les Barchard of the municipality's legal office said the firing of pellet guns could be deemed a public nuisance and could lead to criminal prosecution.

The city council's written permission is required to discharge a pellet gun in a suburb, except if it is at a sports meeting.

These guns are more of a nuisance

Hannes Burger, manager of Consumer Wholesale, said their supply of pellet guns was sold out. "Parents buy pellet guns, in particular, to teach their children how to shoot."

An employee at City Guns says about 50% of the enquiries are about pellet guns. Most people use the air guns at shooting ranges.

Provincial police spokesperson, Captain Rod Beer, said he did not expect the new legislation on pellet guns to lead to more crime. "Pellet guns are more of an annoyance than a danger," he said.

Red Cross Children's Hospital trauma head Dr Sebastian van As is not happy about the new legislation. He said he often had to treat children injured by pellet guns. The eyes, in particular, could be damaged by pellet guns.

"I'm absolutely against it," van As said on Thursday. "A pellet gun is not a toy."

- Die Burger