December 16 – National Firearms Amnesty
As South Africa marked its first democratic elections on 27 April 1994, the country’s death profile resembled that of a nation at war – with more people shot dead than died on our roads. In this context, and under the leadership of Bishop Peter Storey, religious and community leaders organised South Africa’s first national firearms amnesty on the Day of Reconciliation. With endorsement from President Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and leaders across all faith communities, this historic event put gun control on the national agenda and planted the seeds for GFSA’s formation.