Gun-law consternation

2004-07-08 23:29

Lizel Steenkamp

Johannesburg - As gun owners frantically rush around for proficiency licences, training-centre employees are pulling out their hair because of a shortage of accredited shooting ranges.

In accordance with the new law on the control of firearms, all training centres, weapons instructors and shooting ranges have to be accredited by the police.

For someone wanting to apply for a firearm licence, or renew an existing one, they first need a certificate of proficiency.

This has to be issued by an accredited institution.

Practical training also has to be conducted at an accredited shooting range.

However, one shooting range in KwaZulu-Natal has been waiting for two weeks for accreditation.

"Hundreds of people have phoned me for training, but I can't help anyone," said Kennith Rightsford from Pietermaritzburg on Thursday.

Only 10 training centres in SA

"I am accredited, but I don't have a shooting range. It's extremely frustrating."

According to Ben Truter, from a Vaal Rand training centre, the lack of ranges is a serious problem.

He said there wasn't even one in each town.

But Danie van den Berg, senior auditor for the Bureau of Standards, said his organisation had approved 28 shooting ranges. However, he did not know how many had been give police accreditation.

He said that there were 350 registered ranges in the country.

Police superintendent Andrew Lesch said there were 10 accredited training centres in the country.

Contact details for these centres can be found on the police website: www.saps.gov.za

- Beeld