South Africa's Plan to Scrap Self-Defense Gun Licenses Offers a Warning
South Africa is considering legislation that would gut "self-defense" as a valid reason to legally own a firearm, even as the country's murder rate sits roughly ten times higher than that of the United States.
Snapshot
Bearing Arms reports on South Africa's Firearms Control Amendment Bill, which the Civilian Secretariat for Police reportedly aims to introduce in Parliament before March 2027. Depending on the draft, the bill could eliminate self-defense licenses entirely or restrict them to "exceptional circumstances," cap ammunition at 100 rounds per firearm, and hand the Minister expanded authority to deny applications.
Key points
- Self-defense on the chopping block: Firearms License Pro SA says earlier versions of the bill would have scrapped self-defense as a licensing reason outright.
- Gun control groups back it: Gun Free South Africa supports the changes, with executive director Dr. Stanley Maphosa telling The Witness that "we must consider the safety of everyone who may encounter" a firearm, not just the owner.
- Already a tough system: Bearing Arms notes South Africa currently runs a "may issue" process where applicants must prove a self-defense need and that no other option will suffice, with approvals taking months.
- Crime numbers tell a different story: South Africa's murder rate is about 39 per 100,000 people, compared to an estimated 3.5 per 100,000 in the U.S. this year, per the article.
- Illegal guns untouched: Bearing Arms points out South Africa already has millions of illegally held firearms in circulation that new licensing restrictions won't reach.
Quick take
Bearing Arms argues the bill targets the wrong people, making it harder for law-abiding South Africans to arm themselves while doing nothing to disarm criminals already operating outside the law. It's a useful data point for American gun owners who hear "more restrictions equal more safety" and want a real-world counterexample.
Read the full story: bearingarms.com