Strict New Firearms Law in South Africa

New firearms regulations have been passed in South Africa, which requires all gun owners to apply for new licenses and undergo proficiency training. Licenses will also have to be renewed every five years. The minimum age for holding a license has been increased from 16 to 21. While the act is to be welcomed in a country with such a high degree of gun-related crime, the issue of illegal firearms still needs to be addressed. According to BBC News estimates of the number of illegal weapons ranges from 500,000 to four million, while there are some two million registered gun owners. According to the Gun Control Alliance, more people are killed by guns in South Africa than in car accidents.
• Read BBC News report on new legislation
• Significant features of the new Firearms Control Act from the SA Gun Control Alliance
• Statistics on gun-related violence in South Africa
• Gun training institutions accredited with the SA Police Service