Gun licences: 17 000 appeal

2005-06-13 21:57

Christel Raubenheimer

Pretoria - The police have received more than 17 000 appeals so far against their rejection of applications for firearm licences.

Director of the communication division of the police, Phuti Setati, said that, from the time the appeal board had begun its activities up to the end of May, it had finalised 2 005 of the appeals. In 371 of the applications, the decision to refuse a licence was set aside.

"I must emphasise that the appeal board has in a position to finalise all the appeals submitted so far.

"As each case is judged on its merits, the time that it takes to finalise an appeal varies," said Setati.

He gave the lack of sufficient motivation and criminal offences as the main reasons for turning down applications for firearm licences.

Applicants did not submit adequate motivation and supporting documentation to justify their need for a particular firearm, he said.

'What motivation do they want?'

But a frustrated member of the police thinks the decision to turn down his application for a hunting gun is absurd.

"If I wanted to shoot my wife dead, I have access to anything from a light machine-gun to a hand grenade.

"The licence for the gun I want to use for hunting was rejected because there was not sufficient motivation," said the policeman.

"I want to hunt. What kind of motivation do they still want? Should I list and draw all the kinds of buck for them?" he asked.

"Must I go hunting with my 9mm pistol? I'll have to sharpen a knife and go hide in the bushes to stab the buck to death.

"I don't think the people who handle the applications even read them through properly," he said.

He already has appealed against the rejection of his licence.

Setati said if a firearm owner's licence lapsed while it was being examined by the appeal board, such a person would not be guilty of a criminal offence. The licence was effective until an appeal had been handled.

Up to May 30 this year, 4 000 applications had been received for the renewal of licences.

The appeal board did not receive these applications, but had the competence to consider the refusal or renewal of licences.

- Beeld