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http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=10583,1,22
November 23 2005
From South Africa, The Citizen reports:
Gun owners in for a shock: Report
JOHANNESBURG – Owners of firearms are set for a rude awakening early next year, News24 reported on Tuesday.
According to the Central Firearms Register, those failing to comply with firearms control legislation would be arrested, have their weapons confiscated and would have to appear in court.
The latest figures indicated that more than 500 000 firearms licences still had to be renewed before December 31.
Abe van Tonder, an accredited firearms trainer in Cape Town, doubted whether this target would be reached.
“There is a small increase in people turning up for training but it isn’t nearly as many as I expected. I ordered more manuals because I expected hundreds of gun owners to come to me for training during the next month of two,” he said.
“This is not happening. I suspect the red tape with paperwork puts people off. Gun owners hand in their firearms at police stations instead of going for training.”
Van Tonder said gun owners were afraid of the law and “for what could happen if they fail to comply with it”.
Owners of firearms had to fill in numerous forms and make statements.
They also had to submit motivating statements and a number of certified copies of their identity document, arms licence and proficiency certificate.
“The paper war is just too much for the older gun owners in particular,” said Van Tonder.
Another accredited trainer, Faan Gerber, also reported only a small increase in the applications for training but not nearly enough.
“People in rural areas have woken up to some extent but people in the cities are ignoring the fact that there are only 40 days left,” he said.
“If they wake up now, there won’t be enough trainers in the country to train them all,” he said.
National police spokesman Director Phuti Setati said firearm owners who refused to renew their licences could be sentenced to up to 12 months in prison.
News24 quoted him as saying: “Gun owners who don’t want to renew their licences can also sell their guns to arms dealers or hand it in at a police station.”
TIZ
More stories and news like this at
http://www.theinfozone.net/salw1.html
November 23 2005
From South Africa, The Citizen reports:
Gun owners in for a shock: Report
JOHANNESBURG – Owners of firearms are set for a rude awakening early next year, News24 reported on Tuesday.
According to the Central Firearms Register, those failing to comply with firearms control legislation would be arrested, have their weapons confiscated and would have to appear in court.
The latest figures indicated that more than 500 000 firearms licences still had to be renewed before December 31.
Abe van Tonder, an accredited firearms trainer in Cape Town, doubted whether this target would be reached.
“There is a small increase in people turning up for training but it isn’t nearly as many as I expected. I ordered more manuals because I expected hundreds of gun owners to come to me for training during the next month of two,” he said.
“This is not happening. I suspect the red tape with paperwork puts people off. Gun owners hand in their firearms at police stations instead of going for training.”
Van Tonder said gun owners were afraid of the law and “for what could happen if they fail to comply with it”.
Owners of firearms had to fill in numerous forms and make statements.
They also had to submit motivating statements and a number of certified copies of their identity document, arms licence and proficiency certificate.
“The paper war is just too much for the older gun owners in particular,” said Van Tonder.
Another accredited trainer, Faan Gerber, also reported only a small increase in the applications for training but not nearly enough.
“People in rural areas have woken up to some extent but people in the cities are ignoring the fact that there are only 40 days left,” he said.
“If they wake up now, there won’t be enough trainers in the country to train them all,” he said.
National police spokesman Director Phuti Setati said firearm owners who refused to renew their licences could be sentenced to up to 12 months in prison.
News24 quoted him as saying: “Gun owners who don’t want to renew their licences can also sell their guns to arms dealers or hand it in at a police station.”
TIZ
More stories and news like this at
http://www.theinfozone.net/salw1.html
