Responding to 2017/18 National Crime Statistics – Urgent action to reduce gun availability key to curing SA’s violent crime epidemic
The latest national crime statistics show that guns are overwhelmingly the weapon of choice to kill, injure, threaten and intimidate: A shocking 41.3% of murders and 59.5% of aggravated robberies in 2017/18 were gun-related. The vast majority of these crimes involve handguns: Between 1999/2000 and 2013/14, handguns were used in 94% of murders and 97% of aggravated robberies.
4 Key Factors for a Successful Firearms Amnesty in SA
Gun Free SA welcomes Police Minister Bheki Cele’s announcement to parliament of his intention to declare a 6-month national firearms amnesty under Section 139 of the Firearms Control Act (2000). The primary objective of an amnesty is to remove illegal guns. There are 4 vital factors which determine how successful the proposed amnesty will be in mopping up illegal guns […]
Welcome Constitutional Court ruling that regular gun licence renewals are constitutional
Gun Free SA welcomes today’s Constitutional Court ruling, which upholds the constitutionality of regular gun licence renewals. Under section 24 and section 28 of the Firearms Control Act (2000), all gun owners are required to renew their firearm licences on a regular basis. The Constitutional Court ruled that gun ownership is not a fundamental right under our Bill of Rights, […]
Know the law, use the law, save a woman’s or child’s life this 16 Days of Activism
Three women and one child will be shot and killed today. By the end of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, 48 women and 16 children will have been shot dead; while a further 192 women and 64 children will have been shot and injured, possibly permanently disabled. These deaths are preventable: The removal […]
Response to loss of 2000 guns by police in 4 years
The Minister of Police has admitted that 2027 guns were stolen from police armouries in the last four years. These guns are now part of the illegal pool of guns, and outside of any control. There are two ways to get rid of illegal guns: Mop up illegal guns and close the tap leaking guns into the illegal pool.
Response to 2016-17 crime stats: Guns fueling violent crime – 18 to 21 murders committed with guns every day
Poor enforcement of gun control laws is leaking guns from the legal to the illegal pool and driving South Africa’s year-on-year increase in violent crime. STATEMENT: Guns fuel crime: 18 to 21 murders committed with guns every day Gun Free South Africa’s response to 2016-17 crime stats
