Game ranch owners and ph's only have to relisence every 10 years from now on, the same as persons with a dedicated hunter status. It will help a little bit.

Problem area is still if you have a hunting bussiness and the firearms are in your company's name you must relisense every 2 years. Kind of silly.

I am not sure if this part was discussed or taken in consideration.

Jaco, how many rifles can you own under your own name?

Jaco, a hunting business firearms only has to be relicensed every 5 years, security and other businesses has to be relicensed every 2 years. All hunting rifles only has to be reliceensed every 10 years, not only PH and dedicated hunters licenses.

Karl,
It was on the news yesterday, but it is confusing as there are various interpretations of the law. The news line only said that proffesionals like gamefarmers and hunters now only have to renew every 10 years.

Karl you are right it is only the security companies that must renew every 2 years, sorry my mistake.

I will get all the details and then post it

Wink,
That is a million $ question. I am a dedicated hunter and a ph. That should lift the restraint of having 1 long rifle, 1 shotgun and a hell of a fight to get the 4th one. Technically I have no restriction on hunting rifles and shotguns, as long as I can motivate the use of them all. If they will issue the licences to me is another question.

Hi Jaco

What they actually mean is that Professional hunting/ game farming will be recognized as a motivation for a huntiung rifle, where prevoiusly you had to prove a need and prefarably a previous use.

Hi Karl,
I checked with Phasa, the whole problem came with ph's who wanted to use their ph certificates to get dedicated hunters status. Jaco Bothma apparently refused it. Two new categories for ph's and game farmers were established.

Once published, dedicated hunters/sportsman, ph's and game ranchers will get their licenses for 10 years, the rest will stay 5 years

This law, in Jaco Bothma's words, is aimed at reducing crime. Now I wonder how many cash in transit heists, bank robberies and the like have been pulled with a 500NE or scoped 30-06? How many stressed out policemen have comitted family murders with their CZ550s topped with a 6x45 scope?

In almost 30 years in the gun trade, every robbery and robbery attempt at a gun shop I am aware of, was made during business hours. They pretend to be customers, the gate is opened and trouble strikes. For decades the law has required gun shops to lock away all arms and ammunition in a category 2 strongroom after hours. Cat 2 is steel reinforced, 300mm thick, 30Mpa concrete, walls, floor and roof, with a 400kg 20mm reinforced steel door with at least two 8 lever locks. Criminals know that after hours break-ins are futile. What does the new law require of gun shops? Upgraded alarm systems and upgraded burglar proofing at the same level as a maximum security prison. All never to be used but costing tens of thousands of Rands. That illogical bit of legislation alone closed more than a hundred doors of businesses that were run by law abiding people with a love for firearms. I presume you are proud of what you have done, Director Jaco Bothma.