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Due to mass adverse public reaction, the Police Portfolio Committee has decided to halt further talks on proposed revisions to the Firearms Control Act.
The proposed bill attempted to reform the Firearms Control Act of 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000), focusing on numerous elements of gun control. Specifically, no firearms would be granted for self-defence, and licenses allowing a private collector to gather and possess firearms and ammunition in a private collection would be revoked.
Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s campaign manager, said, “Although we welcome this decision, it is still too little. These ridiculously proposed changes need to be scrapped altogether. Bheki Cele, Minister of Police, should rather concern himself with the large quantities of firearms and ammunition that his department loses, or illegally sell to criminals, rather than focus on trying to disarm law-abiding citizens.”
According to the civil rights organisation, other important issues that need quick correction include the massive backlog at the central guns registrar when it comes to firearm license applications. The government needs to clean up its act.
In conclusion, AfriForum ends by thanking its members and other members of the public who contributed to this cause.
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