Alf,

I agree with you completely, and as I said in my post, I fully understand if people don't want to have their rifles defaced in this way.

I'm not sure about RSA gunowners in general as I haven't studied that part of the act. I'm personally in the unusual position of having my firearms on a UK firearms certificate and then get a temporary RSA permit which just copies the UK calibres etc.... however, this means that I get treated like an overseas hunter every time I come into RSA with a firearm. Hence I've had all my firearms stamped just in case I run into an awkward cop.......but my rifles are not collectors items, just working rifles.......first time I've ever been glad I don't own a H&H double!!! :

.

Folks,



All the way through this fiasco, I've adopted a policy of just reporting what I'm told by the relevant parties. I won't try to interpret the act, as I'm not a lawyer, and it's such a stuff up. (Every time we get on top of what's happening someone changes something and we have to start again) Nor will I pass opinions other than to say that it might be an idea to use the services of Air 2K as it might help you to jump the queues. (which I guess will be horrendous). Nor am I trying to put you off of hunting South Africa.....just the opposite in fact. So here is the situation as reported to me by Insp Conroy who is the cop at JIA who is in charge of firearms import there. He tells me that:-



"The new firearms import regulations come into force on July 1st. There will be no exceptions. All rifles are to have serial numbers on bolt, action and barrel, the new import form is 10 pages long and although not available yet, will be available by July 1st. Details of the new act are on the SAPS website" yada, yada, yada.



The requirements go on and on, and although Insp Conroy is far too professional to say so, I get the idea that he's as sick of it all as the rest of us.



PHASA sent me an e-mail yesterday, which is copied below.



Dear PHASA Member:



The South African Police Service has announced that the Regulations to the Firearm Control Act of 2000 will be implemented from 1 July 2004.



For your foreign hunting clients, this will involve changes to the current requirements, procedures and allowances for the processing of temporary import permits for firearms.



Despite continuing attempts to obtain clarification from the Police on the exact requirements, and despite advising them of the critical nature of the matter, they have not been forthcoming, nor is there any one official document available from the authorities where all the official and confirmed information can be ascertained.



In addition to this, and after conversations with Police on the ground, we are of the opinion that they are not ready to fully implement the new procedures on July 1.



Due to these factors, we are doing everything possible to secure a postponement of the implementation date until such time as the Police are ready and clients have been duly and properly notified.



In the meantime, and with the implementation date looming, PHASA suggests that you advise concerned clients of the possible pending implementation, but assure them that it is business as usual with the current requirements for the temporary importation of firearms applying until notified otherwise



Any further news in this regard will be emailed to you and/or posted on the PHASA Website (www.professionalhunters.co.za), once the full correct information has been received from the authorities.



Please be assured that we are doing everything in our power to ensure that these new laws have minimal impact on our entire industry.



Sincerely,



Dieter Ochsenbein



President



Professional Hunters� Association of South Africa (PHASA)



Tel. 27 12 667 2048



Fax: 27 12 667 2049



Email: phasa@pixie.co.za or info@phasa.co.za



www.professionalhunters.co.za



So there you have it. Two sides of the official coin. What you actually do is up to you. Some of you might like to consider borrowing or hiring firearms from your outfitter or PH, some of you might like to get the engraving done and some of you might like to just come along and hope that the old act will still apply..... it's entirely up to you, but I'm sure that whatever happens here the vast majority will have a good hunt.



I'm in and out of RSA a fair bit in the next few months and personally, I've had my rifles unobtrusively engraved in the relevant places.......but mine are working rifles rather than collectors items, and I fully understand and sympathise with those that don't want to take this route. I'll also be using the services of Air 2000.



Cost of the engraving was R100 per firearm.



Have a good hunt, please don't be put off and please don't shoot the messenger. I'm only doing what I've done all through this which is to report the current situation as it is here.

Looks like I'll have to take my stamping tools and engraver to all the SCI monthly meetings, and have any members that need work done to just bring them to the meeting.

Question is.......... WHERE on the barrel does it need to be stamped? And is there a minumum stamp size?

Can it be under the wood? On Top? Or on the bottom just in front of the forend? ( Which is where I would put it)

What about those of us that just transit through to another country? I am heading to Namibia in Sept. This is crap and damned if I'm gonna hunt with someone elses rifle or have my M70's butchered Bob

Well, since I don't have any trips planned in the near future, I think I will just sit back and see what actually shakes out with this. Things sound so fouled up and confused there's no telling what will actually happen, IMHO.

-Bob F.

Terry, there is a minimum depth to the numbers. I can't remember where I saw this but I just read it somewhere. Maybe on the Sap's website. I cannot imagine where else I would have seen it. Maybe when I was in RSA earlier this month? I'm sure it can be under the wood (kevlar/fiberglass etc. etc.) But then you will have to remove the stock to show them.

Shakari,

Appreciate your timely post. Will be passing through SA to Zim on July 31-Aug 1 and will be concerned about outcome. Hope you can keep us informed so we can circumvent SA, if necesary. Can anyone think about anything more devestating to big game hunting? Shooting big game animals with my own rifle, which I have practiced with, is definitely part of the hunting experience.

Thanks for heads up!

Dak

FWIW, both parties tell me that the 'in transit permit' requiremnet has been scrapped for the foreseeable future, so at least no-one has to worry about that for a while.

Have a good hunt in Zim.

Gerald Conroy of Nomad Safaris called me yesterday and said that the whole cufuffle is crap and all you need is proof of ownership, i.e. the U.S. Customs form. As was said above, it may be that the whole thing will be put off until SAPS can figure out what to do . . . really.

And just to add my two cents worth:

(3) A firearm that is temporarily imported or in-transit< !--color--> through the Republic of South Africa which does < !--color--> NOT < !--color-->have a manufacturer�s serial number stamped on the barrel, frame< !--color--> OR< !--color--> the receiver< !--color--> of the firearm or which has a manufacturer�s serial number stamped on the barrel or the receiver of the firearm that duplicates with a similar make, model, type and calibre firearm that appears on the Central Firearms Register, must be allocated with a unique firearm identification number by the Registrar and such number must be affixed to the firearm < !--color-->in the form of a tag < !--color-->securely affixed to the firearm and that number must remain on the firearm for the period that the firearm remains in the Republic of South Africa.< !--color-->

In plain English: Temporarily imported or in-transit applies to visiting hunters. If the firearm does NOT have a pre-existing manufacturer�s serial number on the barrel, frame OR the receiver, then an identification number will be assigned to the firearm and a TAG affixed to it.

That's the way I read it. And it makes sense. I just don't see SAPS engraving/stamping serial numbers on guns at the airport. IMHO, anyone with any sense at all could readily foresee that that would be a totally unworkable requirement. Can you imagine the hue and cry that would result if the SA government required SAPS to permanently deface a visiting hunter's firearm? I just don't think the SA government would want to open that can of worms. Remember, tourism is important to the SA economy.

When reading laws, regulations, etc. it is very important to read it very carefully and to understand the difference between OR and AND, IF and IF NOT, THEN and ELSE, etc. and the context within which these terms are used.

I freely admit that I stand to be corrected. Maybe I'm totally wrong but that's the way I see it.

Opinions and comments are welcome. No flames please.

-Bob F.

As was said, things could have been added in the translation, or it is possible for a government agency to make regs that are this stupid just to test the waters for further regs. "If no one raises hell about this, let's ratchet down a little further" could very well be their line of thought. Much of this apparently is still up in the air. I do know however because of these assinine regs, I can no longer hunt in SA with my .475 Linebaugh revolver. Not the end of the world, but hunting in Africa was a main reason for buying it.

I hope PHASA and the other associations are successful in fighting this.

Bob, I tend to agree with your interpretation. However, the only flaw is that it makes too much sense and this is not a desirable trait in government agency policy. I know I'd be mad as hell watching someone stamp numbers on my guns.

.

Steve,

I thought the original SAPS or statue language read that the serial number had to be engraved on the action, bolt or barrel. Has the "or" been morphed to "and" somewhere along the way?

Manufacturers around the world do not even mark rifles thusly.

I would check that out before running off over the horizon to have every major piece of metal marked.

jim dodd

I believe this is what might happen !!!

You pays your money and you takes your chances

Peter
----------------

WE called another cop whom comfirmed that all hunting rifles will be stamped at JHB INT on arrival. They will have a person on duty who will do it in front of the owners. They will be using the existing serial number of the gun but just marking it on all the other loose parts or detactable parts.

I'll be passing through RSA on the way to Zim on 7/29 so this new law (whatever it is) will affect me. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the worse thing that could happen is that we have to engrave the serial number on the barrel, action and bolt and fill out a long form? Is there something I missed?

I understand the cosmetic objections to the engraving deal, but I'm taking a Ruger 77 all weather and so it's not the same as if I were bringing some custom rifle.

Stevie, I might be wromg, but I don't think these new regs will affect people in transit through SA. I have a big problem, as I'm supposed to go on a handgun hunt in SA in mid. August and have no clue how these new regs will affect my hunt. Hope it works itself out in the next couple of weeks!! what a clusterf$&@!!

Well, here it is July 1st. Let's hear some reports on what is actually happening to hunters arriving at JNB.

There are no guarantees, but I'm betting that somehow the rifles and shotguns are getting in with no engraving, and self defense pistols are also still coming in.