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It is international Gun destruction day

Initiated by the United Nations in 2001, this day serves to remind us about the threat that excess, poorly secured, and illegal weapons pose to our everyday safety and security.

July 9, 2015
Clive Dorrington 1 minute read

In January General Riah Phiyega from the SAPS delivered a speech about gun control in South Africa leading up to international gun destruction day on July 9. In the speech he gave some astounding numbers regarding the amount of guns and ammunition that gets destroyed on a annually by the SAPS. He said, “Over the past four years, we have destroyed more than 110 000 firearms and about 1 million rounds of ammunition. We are currently processing a further estimated 15000 firearms which will be destroyed later in July during the International Gun Destruction Day.”

High numbers of confiscated guns actually comes from Mpumalanga, “We are taking some of our power back as we will be destroying 9 477 firearms today in line with the firearm legislation. Of these firearms, 2659 are from Mpumalanga, 2095 from Eastern Cape, 1146 from North West and 355 from Northern Cape. Supply Chain Management has cleared 3222 official firearms for destruction, He continued.

If is important to remember why destroying guns has such an impact on the ability of law enforcement to fight crime,

“Guns used to commit crime have become a common occurrence in our society and can never be acceptable or accepted as commonplace. Illegal guns give power to criminals and make us victims whenever used against innocent people or members of the South African Police Service.”

Other countries such as Russia and some European countries have also recognised gun destruction day today. According to europeandcis.undp.org Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have all committed to partaking in the 9 July activities.

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July 9, 2015
Clive Dorrington 1 minute read
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