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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System --------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 16 Mar 2006 Title: Gun owners urged to continue renewing licences --------------------------------------------------------------- By Thapelo Sakoana, tel: (012) 314-2287 Government has moved to dispel claims that the state has done away with the process of the renewal of firearm licences. Safety and Security spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi told BuaNews that legal firearm owners born between 1 January and 31 March ought to continue renewing their licences, as the deadline draws close. The initial deadline was 31 December 2005 but had since been extended to 31 March 2006. Mr Mulaudzi said the draft amendments to the Firearms Control Act published recently, which sought to do away with the re-licensing process, among others, ought not to be misinterpreted as saying that the process had been halted. As part of the draft amendments, people would not be required to renew their licences but would get competency certificates after every five years. This will then mean that people will just get their competency certificates and authorities will then check if owners know necessary rules that govern the use and ownership of firearms. Mr Mulaudzi said the amendments would not affect the current licence renewal process as was yet to be passed into an Act by Parliament after public comments. "People should not be confused by reports that the process has been done away with. These are just draft amendments that have not been passed into an Act yet, so people must go and renew their licences as announced before," he said. He urged those who wanted to renew licences to visit their nearest police stations should they experience any problems. Although statistics were not available yet, Mr Mulaudzi said reports indicated that people were responding well to the call. "This is a very interesting issue for gun owners, every one of them wants to know how the process unfolds," he said. Mr Mulaudzi said the final deadline for all gun owners to renew their guns licences was 30 June 2009. - BuaNews |
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