Posted on 10/28/2004 7:35:42 AM PDT by blam
S Africans 'armed to the hilt'
South Africans own more guns than the police and army
South African civilians own more guns than the police and military combined, according to a study by Gun Free South Africa and Cape Town University. Some 8.4% of the population own a gun, which amounts to 3.7 million firearms, the researchers found.
In the region, on average 2.27% of the population own guns, while Mozambique has a rate of 0.04%, the study says.
South Africa has one of the world's highest incidences of gun-related crime which has led to new fire arm laws.
Apartheid legacy
According to the legislation, which came into effect in July, gun owners now have to reapply for their licences, undergo stringent checks and sit an exam.
South Africa's high rate is a result of the legacy of apartheid where members of the white community were encouraged to own a firearm
The act also raised the legal age for owning a firearm from 16 to 21.
"South Africa's high rate is a result of the legacy of apartheid where members of the white community were encouraged to own a firearm," report author, Guy Lamb, from Cape Town University's Centre for Conflict Resolution, told BBC News Online.
He said South Africans widely regard their environment as dangerous and so are looking for ways to protect themselves.
Additionally, members of the security forces were previously allowed to keep their firearms when they left the force.
He said that gun shops reported that black South Africans now accounted for most of their customers.
There are some 500 gun shops in the country.
Strict laws
In spite of its 16-year civil war, Mozambique has the lowest level of gun ownership - at 0.4% of the population, the study says.
In Swaziland 0.95% of the population owned firearms, in Botswana 1.9% and in Zambia 0.86%.
GUN OWNERSHIP RATES
South Africa 8.4%
Namibia 5.4%
Zambia 0.86%
Swaziland 0.95%
Mozambique 0.04%
Malawi 0.26%
Botswana 1.9%
Zimbabwe 0.32%
"Colonial laws in some countries... were very strict on firearms. These laws were maintained after independence," said Mr Lamb.
"In some countries, people don't feel the need to carry guns."
He also said gaining access to a gun in many countries was difficult, especially as guns are often not made locally.
"Many people do not have the capital to buy a firearm," he added.
The report, Hide and Seek: Taking Account of Small Arms in Southern Africa, was published this week.
If the BBC is that worked up about South Africe then Texas must give them a heart attack.
BTW, how about this pic accompanying the story? Not too infammatory is it?
Any white person in South Africa who does not own several guns is either (a) insanely naiive or (b) a crime victim (rape victim if female).
If I lived in South Africa I'd have belt-fed weapons around my property.
There appears to be a cartridge in the chamber.
The photographer was not too bright.
I wonder why? </sarcasm>
You call that a gun? That's not a gun, that's a little pistol.
This is a gun 
Ownership of one in 12 people hardly constitutes "armed to the hilt".
Translation: This is part of the UN's Eliminate all guns from the planet campaign headed up by that commie skank Rebecca Peters.
GET OUT OF THE UN NOW!
"Did you see the size of that gun? It's bigger than him!"
"South African civilians own more guns than the police and military combined..."
Hooray! Now if the good guys can just get organized...
Murder rates fall in South Africa
Regardless, I would observe that South Africa with its piddly 8.8% gun ownership rate has a 45/100,000 homicide rate. The US, with a gun ownership rate of 50%, has a 9/100,000 homicide rate.
Hmmm...maybe something else is at work other than gun ownership rates...y'think?
If you get shot while taking this shot, can you call it a "dummy round"?
According to the book THE WASHING OF THE SPEARS the author tells how in the late 1800's Blacks in South Africa would work a full year to get a flintlock trade musket.
The British were so alrmed they instituted a thing called GUN REGISTRATION for Blacks. When they brought in their privatly owned muskets the firearms were confiscated or damaged beyond use, then returned to the natives.
Could that be because South Africa's insanely high crime rate tends to impact the poorer segments of the population more? Duh.
Do you justify racial oppresion for a perceived sense of security???
Is that a M-25 .45 Colt?
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