Wapenbeheer: die posisie van die wapeneienaar in Suid-Afrika

Abstract

English: The position of the gun-owner was changed drastically when the Firearms Control Act60 of 2000 took effect on 1 July 2004. This Act repealed the Arms and Ammunition Act75 of 1969; the latter Act had regulated the possession of arms and ammunition since 1972. The Firearms Control Actis strict and detailed, and was amended a number of times by ministerial regulations before it came into force. It is obvious that an arms license is not easily obtainable, and gun-owners are concerned about these strict provisions. This article deals, first, with the position of the gun-owner in terms of the Arms and Ammunition Actand possible reasons for repealing this Act are indicated; secondly, the position of the gun-owner under the Firearms Control Actis scrutinised. Both the benefits and disadvantages of the new legislation are examined and recommendations are made.

Afrikaans: Die posisie van die wapeneienaar in Suid-Afrika is ingrypend verander met die inwerkingtreding van die Wet op Beheer van Vuurwapens60 van 2000 op 1 Julie 2004. Die Wet op Wapens en Ammunisie75 van 1969 het, sedert 1972, die besit van wapens en ammunisie gereguleer, maar is in geheel deur die Wet op Beheer van Vuurwapensherroep. Eersgenoemde Wet is streng, breedvoerig en 'n paar keer by wyse van ministeriële regulasies voor inwerkingtreding gewysig. Dit is duidelik dat 'n wapenlisensie nie maklik bekombaar is nie en wapeneienaars is bekommerd oor hierdie streng bepalings. In hierdie artikel word eerstens verwys na die posisie van die wapeneienaar onder die Wet op Wapens en Ammunisieen moontlike redes vir die herroeping van hierdie Wet word aangetoon. Tweedens word die posisie van die wapeneienaar onder die Wet op Beheer van Vuurwapensin oënskou geneem. Die voor- en nadele van die nuwe wetgewing word ondersoek en voorstelle word gemaak.