South African anti-gun politicians soft sell the new laws, but as Sheena Duncan, a spokeswoman for the anti-gun lobby admitted on camera, “Our ultimate goal is no guns in private hands at all.”

That is, except for the criminals. Today, despite South Africa’s already-strict anti-gun laws, 25,000 murders and more than 40,000 rapes are committed each year. Nearly 1,300 policemen have been killed in the line of duty since 1994. All who obey the law—black and white, rich and poor suffer, while criminals thrive, all in the name of “global disarmament.” -- Charton Heston, The President's Column, The American Guardian, March 2000

It is a sad fact that on the issue of crime our government and some of the worlds governments are extremely economical with the truth. Invariably the crime rate is a reflection on the soundness of government policies and willingness to tackle the very real problems of crime control and the economic wellbeing of citizens and the country. No amount of rationalisation and pleas from government will change this truism.

"the test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, and not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with them."-- Sir Robert Peel (1822), Charles Reith, A Short History of the British Police, London: Oxford University Press, 1948.

The control of criminals is the duty and responsibility of government. The degree or amount of crime in any country is a direct reflection on governments ability and willingness to control crime. By the introduction of sound reasonable laws which can be implemented and enforced, education and the fostering of good social behaviour from citizens. There is little point in the introduction of any law if it is to expensive or difficult to police, not understood by all, or is seen by the public as unreasonable, expensive or an invasion of rights.

Governments are not to be trusted in the making of laws as they have far to much power and ability to influence the making of laws. The desire and willingness to subvert the legislative process is far to great a temptation. In particular when a government is losing popular favour or has performed badly in the administration of public trust.

The function of our Constitution is to prevent our politicians from exceeding their authority and becoming tyrants. Politicians do not wish to impose limits on themselves.

There are many examples of governments gone bad, far to many to ignore when there is no system of denying governments the tools of tyranny. Many will believe that a constitution or bill of rights is sufficient. This is not the case as government ignores these rights and will remove them is small stages for the good of the people or expediency.

The desire of governments power to control and legislate every element of life is great and can only be controlled by citizens not subjects. Citizens who are free and willing to stand up for their rights to remain free.

The words of Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi express the fears and expediency of governments and serve as a warning to those who would disbelieve.

"The people of the various provinces are strictly forbidden to have in their possession any swords, bows, spears, firearms, or other types of arms. The possession of these elements make difficult the collection of taxes and dues, and tends to permit uprising. Therefore, the heads of provinces, official agents, and deputies are ordered to collect all the weapons mentioned above and turn them over to the government." -- TOYOTOMI HIDEYOSHI, Shogun 29 August 1558

There are three arms for the control of crime and criminals.

1. The police: Investigation of crime and capture of criminals
2. The judicial system: Trial and sentencing of criminals
3. Correctional services: Punishment of criminals

It is every citizens constitutional right to be free of crime and live in safety. It is the responsibility of government to ensure that this is possible. It is your right to expect that government takes notice of the current sad state of affairs and put its house in order.

One would also expect that this is a common goal of all citizens, government and organisations. Sadly this too is not the case. Self interest, fear and the aims of zealots subvert the emotion of crime to their own purpose. The Firearms Control Bill is a good example of ideological thinking and governments abdication of its duty to protect the safety and security of citizens. Simply to gain more power at the expense of citizens lives.

We can look at the results of other governments refusal to heed history and the known results of ideological gun control.

• The politics of distraction are designed to keep public interest and attention from the real issues and problems.
• The ideology of the Firearms Control Bill Unsound in the extreme.
• The implications of the Firearms Control Bill What it means to citizens.
• The cost of the Firearms Control Bill The monetary cost of gun control is by no means cheap either. One can but wonder what the police could do with an additional R2 Billion in their budget.
• The Canadian firearms register An expensive monument to ideology.
• Criminal firearms
• The death penalty

Copyright © 2001 Crimefree South Africa, all rights reserved.