Court ruling on firearm licences – Minister of Police gets a bloody noseThe FF Plus welcomes the Constitutional Court’s judgment that lawful firearm owners whose firearm licences have expired and who did not apply for renewal within 90 days are indeed allowed to apply for a new licence.The Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, has always been opposed to the private possession of firearms.
He held the view that persons would unlawfully be in possession of their firearms if their licences had expired and they had not applied for the renewal of such licence within the three-month deadline.With the judgment, the Constitutional Court gives the Minister a bloody nose and confirms the property rights owners possess in respect of their firearms.
The judgment not only proves Minister Cele wrong, but also shows that the Minister abused his powers by offering his own interpretation of the relevant legislation.My suggestion was that when a firearm licence expires, it should be eligible for renewal as in the case of a motor vehicle licence. The person remains the legal owner of the vehicle, or the firearm, and pays a fine for the period that the licence is overdue.The FF Plus encourages all firearm owners to immediately apply for a new licence if their old licence has expired.
In terms of the Constitutional Court’s judgment, the police will have no other choice but to process the application.
Carl_CE50 Excellent.