Article: "Botswana experiences sharp decline in civilian gun licence applications"

[JhbBoy]

https://www.news24.com/news24/Africa...tions-20220728

There was a sharp decline in the number of civilians applying for gun licences in Botswana this year compared to 2021.

"This year, the Botswana Police Service (BPS) received 7 274 applications for licences to acquire shotguns and 6 490 for rifles, compared to 19 528 for shotguns and 15 954 for rifles in the previous year. The results show a decrease in the number of applicants this year," the BPS said.


Despite receiving thousands of applications, less than 300 people were granted licences after a publicly held raffle system.
The Arms and Ammunition Quota Board held the raffle draw in Gaborone, "where 270 applicants were awarded permits for shotguns and rifles. Each category was awarded 135 permits," the BPS said.


Board chairperson Phemelo Ramakorwane said the raffle draw was held in public for accountability and transparency.


"Ramakorwane emphasised the need for firearm owners to follow the proper procedure for exchanging and transferring firearms. He said this would prevent them from being used in criminal activities. Furthermore, the acting commissioner advised owners to keep firearms under lock and key to avoid mishandling that may result in casualties," the BPS said.

A notice on the government website stated that gun licences were valid for five years. Gun owners should be 18 years or older and not have a criminal record.

According to media reports in Botswana in December 2021, there had been a spike in gun crime in the country.
Claims were made that armed robberies were on the increase due to the widespread availability of guns allegedly smuggled from South Africa.

In early February, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube was quoted in the media as saying that the guns used were smuggled into the country.

He said:
It is very hard to know where these arms of war come from because we don't issue licences to individuals in Botswana for these types of firearms. If you see these types of firearms not possessed by a member of one of the law enforcement agencies, it should raise eyebrows.

In late June, armed men robbed the Goodhope police station of 14 AK-47 rifles and ammunition.


On Monday, the BPS said Thato Gaopatwe, 30, was identified as the mastermind behind the attack on the police station.
The police described him as a seasoned cash-in-transit robber who operated between Botswana and South Africa.
According to the Criminal Intelligence Bureau of Botswana, Gaopatwe was currently in a South African jail for crimes allegedly committed there.

[CorditeCrazy]

Guess their gun control isn’t working out for them

[GAZZAMCK]

At least Botswana still hangs bastards

[Miami_JBT]

Still sounds better than New York City's gun permitting scheme.

[Dick]

Still sounds better than New York City's gun permitting scheme.

No it isn't. It is extremely restrictive, but the key point that tends to be seldom mentioned, is that nowhere should my ownership of firearms be subject to the prohibitive mindset of politicians and policemen. At least in the US you have the means of resisting it, and I'm keen to see the effect of the recent supreme court decision on New York's Sullivan law.

[bodhi_]

Sullivan's law, isn't that the one which was paid for by the mob so their victims would struggle to get guns.

[Spliffcat]

News 24 The biggest BS.
Only way to get a licence in Bots was to hand in a licenced fire arm then get issued a new licence for the fire arm you wanted. Or maybe I'm living under Noahs Ark.