Glut of unwanted guns

2004-06-21 09:23

Christi Naude

Pietermaritzburg - Second-hand firearms are no longer welcome in South African gun shops.

Several dealers have stopped buying second-hand weapons, since supply exceeds the demand as more South Africans are trying to get rid of their guns, rather than renewing their licences, as required from July 1 under the strict new Firearms Control Act.

"We are now advising sellers of second-hand firearms to hand in their unwanted guns to the police to have them destroyed," said Solomon Shange of Kings Arms and Ammunition in Pietermaritzburg.

Rather than paying R570 (per firearm) for proficiency and competency certificates, many gun owners don't want to go through the costly and lengthy procedure of renewing their licences.

Shange said most new applicants who have bought firearms at the shop have been turned down by the Central Firearms Registry in Pretoria.

"We have had to refund most of the buyers and are now sitting with safes full of unsold firearms."

The applicants have been turned down because the owners failed to provide sufficient motivation as to why they need a firearm for self-protection. Many are security guards who fear intimidation and revenge attacks when they return home, after having handed in their companies' firearms at the end of a shift.

Sources at local police stations confirmed that about 90% of all new applications have been turned down because they were too vague.

"One can't just say he or she needs it for self-protection. Case numbers proving that the person has been robbed at gunpoint need to be included, as well as evidence that he works late hours in isolated areas. And if the security guard quits his job tomorrow, what is he going to do with the gun?" a midlands policeman said.

While processing seems to be running smoothly at local police stations, a bottleneck has been reported in Pretoria, where the applications are finalised.

Strict requirements

"This will triple when South Africa's existing 3 654 434 gun-owners start applying for renewals from July 1. This delay will put dealers out of business, as they simply can't wait for six to nine months before an application is approved," a gunsmith said.

All licences must be renewed every two years for guns owned for business, five years for self-defence weapons and 10 years for hunting or sport guns - even that old shotgun you inherited from your grandfather.

Re-licensing will be a five-year phased process, similar to the driver's licensing process.

Besides a proficiency certificate, issued by an accredited trainer to prove the gun-owner's knowledge of the act and his weapon, the applicant, who must be at least 21 years old, must also pass a competency test before he can apply for a licence.

Potential gun-owners who drink too much, have beaten up family members or friends, or pointed a firearm at someone, will not make the grade, as neighbours, employers and the courts will be consulted before a licence is renewed.

- The Witness