McKenzie report

The McKenzie report

An analysis of the McKenzie report and data by Richard Wesson

FIREARMS CONTROL BILL: PUBLIC HEARINGS

Advocate P Swart (DP) said an earlier presenter had informed the Committee that there has been no comparison made between Botswana and Namibia. Also there is no indication of statistics for Swaziland which has the strictest gun control with the highest violent death rate involving guns. On the other hand Zimbabwe which is said to have less stringent gun control has fewer gun-related killings.

Ms McKenzie emphasised that her research is not the final word on gun control in the SADC. She said she would encourage the government to do their own research regarding comparison between Botswana and Namibia. She pointed out that the statistics received from Botswana and Namibia are not of the same years and it would be dangerous to compare murder rates from say 1995 in one area with 1998 in another country. She said she did not feel the situation between the two countries is comparable. 1

[Ed note: The years for which data from Botswana and Namibia is presented in the McKenzie report are for the same year, 1995.

If Botswana and Namibia are not comparable then what makes South Africa comparable other than the preconceived ideas of gun control?]

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1 SAFETY AND SECURITY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE, 14 August 2000 FIREARMS CONTROL BILL: PUBLIC HEARINGS