Lisence predicaments in South Africa

[casspir]

To obtain a fire-arm license in South Africa, you really have got to have a vaild reason and the process will take between 6 months and 2 years. Most will be processed within a year. Therefore, to shoot F-Class Open - forget about those ultra fast calibers, as you will be able to compete one year and the next year you`ll be in the club house. Do other shooters all over the world experience the same predicaments or is it just in good old SA (South Africa)?

 

[aubrey]

Howzit Casspir
Here in Australia the licensing is pretty reasonable, and once you are licensed it's quite easy to get a permit for each firearm.
Sorry to hear how RSA has become so anti-gun - major politics in play on this issue.
Groete
Aubrey

 

[casspir]

Hi Aubrey,
Judging by the "GROETE" (Regards) word, I take it you are familiar with SA. It really is a pity that so much ignorance can govern a country to the ground so quickly. Guns are not the enemy, as all of us know. In fact with a murder rate of 20440 per year (56 per day) in a population of 60 mil people, it could very well safe your or someone else`s life.
See you in next years Super 14 Rugby...LOL!

 

[afy]

France is simpler... for most weapons a membership to a shooting club is adequate. For handguns and semi-autos it takes about 4 months to get the paperwork.
I have no issues with the laws. Thankfully they are much better than the nanny state of the UK.

 

[Robert]

France is simpler... for most weapons a membership to a shooting club is adequate. For handguns and semi-autos it takes about 4 months to get the paperwork.
I have no issues with the laws. Thankfully they are much better than the nanny state of the UK.

afy,

Let me express my great surpirse.. You forget quite a few things, I think...

Handguns need a permit, yes, BUT also longarms of military caliber, therefore .308 and .223? (not to mention the Lebel 1896 and Mauser 98, .303, etc Sameburden as for a semi auto pistol of a caliber over 32 ACP. Those are clsiified 1rst Category weapons, same as a MG42 or a.50 HB2!!!

Need not only a permit, but also three
controled shots at the club range every year, at a 2 monthes interval. A doctors certificate stating you are not mentally ill......

Every gun is under a separate permit. Each one is deliivered under a specific appkication and is valid for 3 years? If you possess a certain numbe of guns, you are constantly filling forms, visit tthe doctor, apply to the french shooting union for 'avis favorable'... not forget to renew your european firearms pass and you are at constant risk to see your guns confiscaed if, for isntance you are temporarily unable to do your regular ability tests...This also if you are late to renew, you are at risk to have the gendames coming to seize the rifles... I know I had them once, and it took a lot of burden to get rid of the problem..

Only consolation, all this is free of cost, but you can only wonder what it cost the taxpayer you are....


Elsewhere, the grass is greener!!!.
R.G.C.

 

[1000yardstare]

Except for the U.S., Canada is fairly lenient compared to the rest of the world. Minimum charges and one or two day courses to get a Personal Firearms Licence and a Transport Permit for a handgun. One week usually gets the pieces of paper into your wallet. PFL needed to buy ammunition but not reloading components. Handguns are done through a club strictly for paper punching. Can`t hunt with a handgun or an AR15 which needs a handgun Transport Permit.

No limit on number of firearms for an individual. No automatic weapons. Fifty cal has to be a single shot. Safe storage requirements for firearms and ammunition.

The Federal Conservatives are pretty close to getting rid of rifle and shotgun registration. Farmers, trappers, ranchers, rural shooters and aboriginals have been fighting registration since its inception in 2000 and looks like we have won. Handguns and AR15s will still have to be registered.

 

[Oryx]

Casspir was understating the license predicament in South Africa.
Before applying for any gun license, one needs to obtain a competency certificate. This process includes a written test and a simple target shoot for record keeping. Furthermore you need references from employer, spouse etc. The police will also conduct a home safe inspection. Then you apply for a competency certificate. All these must be conducted by an accredited facility. Eventually, when you receive a competency status from the Central Firearms Registry, then only you apply for the gun licence.
As general member of the public you are allowed to own 1 weapon for self-defence and 3 hunting rifles (occasional hunter). Unless you obtained dedicated hunter status, you cannot own more than this. More than one weapon for self-defence is impossible. The US gun legislation is liberty; SA's the restriction of your rights!!

 

[casspir]

Without wanting to go into too much specifics, I couldn`t state it better than Oryx. HI "GEMSBOK". It seems we are experiencing a disintigration of a sociaty and the clashing of cultural values in SA. (No politics intended). Law abiding citizens are restricted in their rights in SA. There are more stolen SA Police and SA Defence Force weapons on the street in SA - with wich violent crimes are being committed with - than lawfull licenced fire-arms (that is stolen for criminal intentions). Yet the law abiding citizen ends up paying the price by being restricted than the incompetent Government officials.