Firearm Licences : Categories of Firearm Licences
Categories of Licences
In the ACT there are 9 categories of licences and permits firearm owners can apply for. For purposes of this Guide the 4 more important categories of licenses are:- additional licences (section 12 of the ACT)
- licences for self-defence (section 13 of the ACT)
- licences for occasional hunting and sport-shooting (section 15 of the ACT)
- licences for dedicated hunting and sport-shooting (section 16 of the ACT)
Additional licences: additional licence can be issued to every person in the same household (living on the same premises) in respect of a specific owner of a licensed firearm also living in that household. Additional licences are valid for as long as the additional licensee lives on the same premises as the licence holder. Every holder of such an additional licence must comply with all the requirements for the issue of a licence in respect of the firearm in question.
This is an important category to contemplate when applying for a licence if one has one or two firearms in the household which are only licensed to one person.
The non-owner of a firearm may only use a licensed firearm in the presence of the licensed owner (section 22 of the ACT). If a pistol is licensed to the husband and the wife should use the firearm in self-defence when the husband is not home, such use could constitute illegal use of that firearm.
Self-defence: firearms which can be licensed in this category is a shotgun which is not fully or semi-automatic, or a handgun which is not fully automatic (compare with sections 14 and 16 of the Act). A licence in this category is issued to a person who needs a firearm for self-defence, and provides a good motivation why s/he cannot reasonably satisfy that need by other means.
No person may hold more than one licence issued in terms of this section. A licensed firearm for self-defence may be used where it is safe, and in a lawful manner.
Note:
It has become quite clear that the SAPS (CFR) will not easily award firearm licences for self-defence only. There has to be another reason why one would need a firearm additional to self-defence - such as participating in the NSA's Annual Postal Handgun Shooting Competitions. Consult with the NSA's Firearm Licensing Helpline before you apply for a licence for a handgun only on grounds of self-defence.
Occasional hunting and sport-shooting: firearms in this category is any handgun (only one is allowed), any rifle or shotgun which is not fully or semi-automatic, or barrel, frame or receiver of a handgun, rifle or shotgun which is not a restricted firearm (see section 14 of the ACT).
A licence can be issued in terms of this section to a person who is a proven occasional hunter or occasional sportsperson (maintained membership of an accredited association is suggested, with proof from the association or from hunting and or sport-shooting colleagues as part of your motivation for application of licences). One may not hold more than four licences under this section. If a person holds a licence issued in terms of section 13, s/he may only hold three licensed firearms under this section.
Dedicated hunting and/or sportsperson (sport-shooting): firearms for which application for licensing can be submitted in this category is any handgun, rifle, or shotgun which is not fully automatic, or a semi-automatic shotgun that cannot fire more than five shots in succession. More than 4 firearm licences can be issued to a person under this section once such a person has been declared to be a dedicated hunter or a dedicated sportsperson by his/her accredited hunting or sport-shooting association organisation).
The Regulations of the ACT determine that a member of an accredited hunting or sport-shooting
association can only acquire dedicated status once such a member has complied with training
requirements in accordance with the Skills Development Act. However, there is slow progress in
registering the unit standards for dedicated hunters and for dedicated sportspersons with SAQA.
Interim measures have been agreed upon between the accredited hunting associations and the CFR,
which entitle these associations to award dedicated status to those of their members who comply
with a strict criteria set by the specific association. Only SAPS (CFR) accredited hunting or sport-shooting associations may award dedicated status to their members who comply with the criteria set by the relevant association / organisation to acquire such status in this interim measure.
An individual may hold dedicated hunter (sport-shooter) status with more than one hunting or sport-shooting association. It is not true that this will allegedly cause administrative problems for the CFR. The CFR registers licence holders per their ID numbers on their database, and not per their dedicated status.
Applications for licenses in this category have to be accompanied by a sworn statement from the chairperson of the accredited hunting association or sports-shooting association of which the applicant is a member. The sworn statement must declare that the applicant is a registered dedicated hunter (sport-shooter) in good standing in that association.
Every accredited hunting association and sports-shooting organisation must keep a register of dedicated hunters (sport-shooters) in the association, and must report their ID, and their name, as well as their standing in that association to the CFR, annually.
Dedicated hunters who do not maintain their membership of the association where they are classified as dedicated hunters (sport-shooters), loose their dedicated status in terms of their firearm licences. They also loose the advantages to be had under that status (i.e. they may hold more than 200 rounds of ammunition - important for shot gunners ? and 2,400 primers, apart from the fact that s/he may apply for licensing of more than 4 firearms ? in comparison with applicants who qualify as occasional hunters (sport-shooters) ? see section 15 of the ACT).
A dedicated member who let?s his/her membership of an accredited association transpire, is required to inform the CFR of his/her ?changed circumstances? (form SAPS 521(c)) in terms of which s/he required his/her licences. As this person?s status has dramatically changed s/he might be required to re-apply de novo for his/her firearm licences.
Section 4(1)(e) of the Regulations stipulate that an accredited association may in only allow dedicated membership in the association to a registered member for as long as (i) the dedicated member is a person in good standing with the association; and (ii) provided that an association will no longer register a person as a Dedicated hunter and/or Sport shooter if that member conducts business in hunting on the strength of a licence issued to him/her as a Dedicated hunter/Sport shooter.
EXCEPT FOR PERSONAL USE BY MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION, NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE COPIED, REPRODUCED, SCANNED, DIGITISED OR DISSEMINATED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE NATIONAL SHOOTING ASSOCIATION, 34 MINNI STREET, CLYDESDALE, PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA. THIS FACT SHEET IS AN ADVISORY SERVICE OF THE NSA FOR ITS MEMBERS AND IS PRODUCED IN GOOD FAITH BASED ON AVAILABLE INFORMATION. NEITHER THE ASSOCIATION NOR THE COMPILERS ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FOR THE VERACITY OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED OR NOT-PROVIDED. NO GUARANTEES REGARDING FIREARM LICENSING ARE GIVEN OR IMPLIED.