Police clarify rumours about new firearm licences
Owners of existing gun licences must remember that they must apply for renewals 90 days prior to the expiry date
THE police have debunked a rumour that claims the South African Police Service (SAPS), more specifically the relevant designated firearms officers, do not accept, receive or capture new competency certificate applications and/or new firearm licence applications.
The office of the Central Firearms Register (CFR) confirmed that the ‘baseless rumour…is not substantiated on any official instruction and is contrary to the provisions of the firearms control legislation’.
The CFR clarified that, in terms of the provisions of the firearms control legislation, it is a pre-condition that a potential firearm owner must first obtain a competency certificate before he or she may apply for a firearm licence. In terms of section 6(2) of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act no 60 of 2000), no firearm licence may be issued to a person who is not in possession of the relevant competency certificate.
It is thus expected of a potential firearm owner to firstly submit an application for a competency certificate. After receiving the certificate, they may submit an application for a licence. Where a potential applicant wishes to apply simultaneously for both a new competency certificate and a new firearm licence, the relevant designated firearms officer will only receive and capture the competency certificate application and not the licence application. After receiving the competency certificate, the potential firearm owner may approach the relevant designated firearms officer with a firearm licence application, which will then be received and captured on the system.
If a potential firearm owner already possesses the relevant competency certificate, they may submit an application for a firearm licence.
Importantly, owners of existing firearm licences are urged to note that the period for the renewal of existing firearm licences is 90 days prior to the expiry date.
Read also:
Don’t forget to renew your firearm license
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