LETTER TO THE EDITOR RE FIREARMS CONTROL
CHERYLLYN DUDLEY MP
OCTOBER 2002

There is a tendency for many people to picture a gun-free society as a crime-free society. This, as wonderful as it may sound is a fallacy. We forget that violence was prevalent prior to the invention of firearms; that more South Africans are murdered by knives, sharp objects and clubs than guns; more people are killed in motor accidents and more children drown than are shot each year. The government should be striving for a violence-free and not a gun-free South Africa.

The ACDP believes that gun control is merely a “red herring”. What South Africans want is a government who is prepared to protect their law-abiding citizens and deal swiftly and justly with those who commit crime. Disarming law-abiding citizens does not address crime but in fact makes it easier for the criminal. International studies show that gun control laws are counter productive and lead to an escalation of violent crime – something South Africa cannot afford.

The ACDP believes that the Biblical right to defend oneself should not be interfered with (Exodus 22:2-3). In our crime ridden society, self defence is the primary reason for buying firearms. With stricter control the odds that victims will be unarmed increase giving criminals even greater confidence. Surveys on criminals show that they unanimously prefer unarmed victims and are more afraid of an armed victim than they are of the police.

Gun free zones are an open invitation for criminals as we are making our crèches, schools, shopping centres, churches etc defenceless soft targets.
Government should be targeting illegal weapons and criminals not legal weapons and law-abiding citizens.

Actually the greatest threat to life is not from firearm accidents or even criminals. The greatest killer in the 20th century has been secular governments, who have disarmed and slaughtered their own citizens. In the Soviet Union, China, Nazi Germany, Uganda and Rwanda hundreds of thousands have been killed by their own government and all have one thing in common…gun control legislation prior to the slaughter.

The far-reaching powers given to the minister in the firearms Control Act are cause for serious concern. The Act also grants sweeping powers to the police for search and seizures without a warrant and creates a situation whereby the accused is presumed guilty without a trial and the onus is on them to prove their innocence. The cost of implementing this Act was estimated at R500 million a year, money which would be far better spent fighting crime and improving education.

For these reasons the ACDP voted against Firearms Control Bill. The only valid reasons for a license to be revoked is if the owner has a criminal record; is mentally unstable; is a threat to society, especially in cases of domestic violence, or has shown him or herself to be incompetent in the storage or handling of the firearm. If government really want to prevent criminals from having guns and ammunition then tightening controls at military and police institutions, cracking down on illegal suppliers of arms in townships, and real punishment for offenders would be an excellent place to start. It is absurd to respond to crime by disarming law-abiding citizens.

Even Jesus commissioned his disciples in Luke 22:36 to arm themselves. I must say I never pictured the disciples as being armed even though it is common knowledge that Peter drew his sword when Jesus was arrested.



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For further comment please call Cheryllyn Dudley MP at 082 8906520 or ACDP Media Liaison Wesley Douglas at 082 4781037 or 021 403 3521