By: Rodney Pienaar
The love for guns has gripped Namibians so much that the safety and security ministry has, in the last two years, received an estimated 5 000 fire-arm applications.
It was observed with concern that 50% of the applications were for handguns, pistols and revolvers and the justification has always been self-defense, deputy minister of safety and security Daniel Kashikola said in parliament on Wednesday.
The minister cautioned that this trend is likely to continue in the near future.
“Therefore there is a need to improve on arms and ammunition control mechanism by promulgating enabling legislations. The Arms and Ammunition Amendment Bill therefore aims to bring about better control of firearms and related materials.”
“Cases of stolen or lost firearms have increased at an alarming rate. 80% of those firearms reported stolen or lost are handguns. Some of these firearms are the ones being used in committing crimes. I therefore wish to call up all those who have been issued with licenses to possess firearms to make sure that your firearm is always locked up, if not on you, so that it does not fall in the hands of criminals,” he said.
Kashikola also said that the lack of control systems was the reason many firearm licenses were issued to people who could possibly be unfit to possess them.
“To be specific. the Performance Audit Report on the issuance and control of firearm licenses in Namibia presented by Auditor General to the Parliament of the Republic of Namibia recommended to the Ministry of Safety and Security to develop a policy to determine the competency and fitness level of firearm owners prior to the issuance of licenses, a subject which can no longer be prolonged.”
“It is suggested that all persons in Namibia aspiring to either possess a firearm, trade in firearms, manufacture firearms or to carry on business as a gunsmith must be competence-tested by an accredited training facility. The idea behind competency is to ensure that only those people who are competent of handling and/or dealing with a firearm will be issued with a firearm license,” he said.
