POLICE have again issued an appeal to all firearm owners who fall in the first birthday category to apply for the renewal of their firearm licences before Friday, March 31.

Some, however, say the proposed new amendments to the Act by the Minister for Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula, have clouded the issue.

Police spokesman Superintendent Priscilla Naidu said all gun owners whose birthdays fall between January 1 and March 31 have until Friday to submit their application to renew their licences under the new Firearms Control Act.

œFailure to renew a firearm licence, permit or authorisation within the set extended period may result in a criminal offence and anyone who applies after Friday™s deadline may be prosecuted for failing to renew their firearm licences within the stipulated period, she said.

Naidu said anyone found guilty of contravening the Firearms Control Act could be sentenced with up to one year imprisonment, or fined, or both. She said a conviction could also lead to the person being refused the right to possess a firearm in future.

œThe person cannot be charged with being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, as the current licences will remain valid until June 30, 2009, she said.

Gun shop owners in the Bay have added their voices to the police in urging gun owners to renew their licences. Director of Aquila, Chris Evans, said he was concerned at the number of people who had begun the renewal process, but had simply not completed it.

œI have a number of gun owners who have come to me for assistance in renewing their firearms licences, but who have simply not completed all the processes required, he said.

Evans attributed the apparent apathy to the draft Firearms Control Amendment Bill which was gazetted on February 24.

œMany gun owners seem to be under the impression that these amendments have come into effect already, but they haven™t. They are simply proposals put forward by Nqakula and were published for comment. They are not yet law, he said.

Evans said there were a number of issues in the amendment Bill which would seriously and substantially effect firearms owners and users, and the firearms industry both detrimentally and drastically.

œAt a cursory glance, those most affected by these proposals are those who are to re-license their current firearms, those who use suppressors or what is commonly known as œa silencer, collectors of firearms and ammunition and œblack powder shooters.

Naidu said firearm owners who fell in the first birthday category were urged to simultaneously apply for their competency certificates as well as for the renewal of their firearm licences, permits and authorisation. She said police were also accepting training certificates issued by accredited training providers as a competency certificate.

œIf a firearm owner decides not to renew his or her firearm licence within this extended renewal period, then they can opt to dispose of their firearms before their existing licence expires in 2009, she said.

Naidu said this included having the gun de-activated, selling it to a licensed firearm dealer, selling the firearm to someone in possession of a legal firearm licence, voluntarily handing the firearm over to the police for destruction or selling the firearm to an accredited legal entity.

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