2015-2016 Voorsittersverslag / Chairman's report
On the occasion of the Pretoria Arms and Ammunition Association’s 21st birthday celebrations, I wish it well and express my sincere gratitude to you, its members, for your sterling and unwavering support and your uncompromising attitude towards promoting responsible and safe private firearm ownership for lawful purposes, such as collecting, hunting, sport shooting, recreation and self-defense. We have the right to rejoice and be proud of ourselves, our right as free, law abiding and responsible citizens to keep and bear firearms and an Association without equal. It is up to people like us to ensure, through legitimate and constitutional means, to protect our rights. In this southern-most part of Africa we have fought for freedom and liberty since time immemorial. We are equal before the law and accordingly we demand equal treatment by government. Free, law abiding and responsible people have the right to expect that their language, culture, history, liberty, employment or occupation, and to participate in activities that do not constitute a threat to government or society, shall not be infringed. As a non-political and non-racial organization, with no allegiance to anyone but God, our Constitution, the laws of our country, and our Association, we shall continue to strive for the protection of our rights. God bless South Africa and God bless the PAAA.
I wish to commence by telling a story about the use of guns – a story with a few lessons – and I trust these lessons will serve you well.
An old woman prospector shuffled into town leading a tired old mule. The old woman headed straight for the only saloon to clear her parched throat.
She walked up and tied her old mule to the hitch rail. As she stood there, brushing some of the dust from her face and clothes, a young gunslinger stepped out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other.
The young gunslinger looked at the old woman and laughed, saying "hey" old woman have you ever danced". The old woman looked up at the gunslinger and said, "No, I never did dance... never really wanted to."
A crowd had gathered as the gunslinger grinned and said, "well, you old bag, you're gonna dance now," and started shooting at the old woman's feet.
The old woman prospector - not wanting to get her toe blown off -started hopping around. Everybody was laughing.
When his last bullet had been fired, the young gunslinger, still laughing, holstered his gun and turned around to go back into the saloon.
The old woman turned to her pack mule, pulled out a double-barreled shotgun, and cocked both hammers. The loud clicks carried clearly through the desert air. The crowd stopped laughing immediately.
The young gunslinger heard the sounds too, and he turned around very slowly. The silence was almost deafening.
The crowd watched as the young gunman stared at the old woman and the large gaping holes of those twin barrels.
The barrels of the shotgun never wavered in the old woman's hands, as she quietly said, "son, have you ever kissed a mule's ass?
The gunslinger swallowed hard and said, "no ma’am... but... I've
always wanted to."
In this story we learn the following lessons:
1 - Never be arrogant.
2 - Don't waste ammunition.
3 - Alcohol makes you think you're smarter than you are.
4 - Always, always make sure you know who has the power.
5 - Don't mess with old women; they didn't get old by being stupid...
Die hoof oogmerk met die 2016 Voorsittersverslag is om, soos gebruiklik, ons geëerde lede in te lig oor die afgelope jaar se aktiwiteite, die strewes en doelstellinge van die Vereniging en die die besteding van u geld. Vir lidmaatskap bydraes verwag lede teenprestasie. U moet besluit of u goeie waarde vir u geld kry. U moet ook besluit of die leierskap die Vereniging in die regte rigting lei en of ons voldoen aan die vereistes van “good governance”. Alhoewel die Uitvoerende Bestuur, insluitende myself, van mening is dat die Vereniging se doelwitte nagestreef word, is dit egter u wat die besluit moet doen. Dit is u wat trots moet wees om lede van die Pretoria Wapen- en Ammunisievereniging te wees. Ek is trots op die Vereniging en ek is trots op ons lede. Die PWAV is ‘n geakkrediteerde vuurwapen- en ammunisie versamelaarsvereniging. Ons is nie ‘n klub nie en indien ons jag en sportskiet voorstaan doen ons dit omdat dit van sekondêre belang is vir die Vereniging maar dikwels baie belangrik is vir baie van ons lede. Die Praktiese aktiwiteite wat ons aanbied is om lede die geleentheid te bied om hul versamelbare vuurwapens te gebruik en te kyk waartoe dit in staat is.
Omdat vuurwapen en ammunisie versameling ons primêre altiwiteit is wil ek graag drie aspekte in meer detail bespreek.
In die eerste instansie verwag ek dat lede se belangstelling in versameling sal toeneem. Lede wat bloot aansluit om ‘n geleentheid te kry om te skiet of ‘n klomp wapens te lisensieer gaan binnekort agterkom dat dit nie so maklik is om ‘n lid in goeie naam te bly nie. Ons het telkemale aangetoon dat blote betaling van fooie onvoldoende is en dat ons aktiewe meelewing vereis. Dit gaan waarskynlik eerste ingestel word ten opsigte van verbode en beperkte vuurwapens (Kat A & B versamelaars), waar ons gaan vereis dat die applikant ook moet bewys tot welke mate hy meelewend is en inderdaad ‘n lid in goeie naam is. Ek streef werklik daarna dat die PWAV bo alle verdenking is en nie deur die owerhede gesien word as ‘n dekmantel vir sportskiet of iets dergliks nie. Baie van ons lede spandeer baie tyd, moeite en geld om hul versamelings uit te bou. Ek verwag dit nie van almal nie want almal is nie noodwendig daartoe in staat om gereelde toevoegings tot hul versameling te doen nie. Wat ek wel verwag is deelname aan aktiwiteite en om bydraes, van welke aard ook al, te doen vir die Vereniging.
In the second instance I wish to deal with Fields of Interest and themes.
It must be borne in mind that any applicant who approaches the Association to become a member or to be declared a collector or to be categorized or to have firearms certified as collectable, must convince the certification committee of her or his bona fides as a collector and her or his knowledge of and interest in collecting in the relevant fields of interest or themes and in the particular firearms he wishes to add to his collection. Section 17 (2) of the FCA provides as follows: “The Registrar may issue a licence in terms of this section to a private collector if the application is accompanied by a sworn statement or solemn declaration from the chairperson of an accredited collectors association, or someone delegated in writing by him or her, stating that the applicant is a registered member of that association and qualifies to collect the firearm, prohibited firearm or restricted firearm.”
Regulation 5(1)provides that (a) “A collectors association that applies for accreditation must, in addition to the relevant information required by regulation 2, submit proof to the satisfaction of the Registrar that the association-
has a dedicated procedure in place to evaluate its members for their bona fides to be a private collector in a particular category in respect of their interest in, and knowledge of, the historical, technological, scientific, heritage, educational, cultural, commemorative, investment, rarity, thematic or artistic value of the firearms and ammunition in a specific field of interest or theme or both and that the relevant documentation pertaining to such evaluation is kept on record by the association;
(b) will only allow membership of a person to the association as long as the person is in good standing as a member of the association;”
A person in good standing means a person who “(a) is and remains acceptable to an accredited … collectors' association as a dedicated … collector, … ;
(b) complies with the aims and objectives of the Act in respect of his or her status as a … collector,
It will be noted that the aims and objectives of the Act are contained in section 2, the Purpose of Act. “The purpose of this Act is to -
(a) enhance the constitutional rights to life and bodily integrity;
(b) prevent the proliferation of illegally possessed firearms and, by providing for the removal of those firearms from society and by improving control over legally possessed firearms, to prevent crime involving the use of firearms;
(c) enable the State to remove illegally possessed firearms from society, to control the supply, possession, safe storage, transfer and use of firearms and to detect and punish the negligent or criminal use of firearms;
(d) establish a comprehensive and effective system of firearm control and management; and
(e) ensure the efficient monitoring and enforcement of legislation pertaining to the control of firearms”.
Since there is no clear definition of the meaning of “person in good standing”; “bona fides to be a collector”; and “interest in and knowledge of”, the meaning must be found n the constitution and rules of the accredited association. Accordingly, applicants need to comply by ensuring that they consider themselves collectors and not mere gatherers or users of firearms; that their collection fits into a particular field of interest and/or theme and that their firearms and/or ammunition are in fact collectible because they comply with the collectable criteria - historical, technological, scientific, heritage, educational, cultural, commemorative, investment, rarity, thematic or artistic value of the firearms and ammunition.
The same principals are applicable when a certified collector applies to elevate to a higher category, such as Category B or A, and when he or she wishes to add additional fields of interest or themes. Unless he had paved the way, so to speak, for such elevation or additions, he would find it very difficult to do so.
In the third instance I wish to discuss the certification, as collectables, of Category A & B firearms.
Section 17 (1) of the Firearms Control Act, No. 60 of 2000 provides: “A firearm which may be possessed in a private collection is any firearm approved for collection by an accredited collector's association, based upon such historical, technological, scientific, educational, cultural, commemorative, investment, rarity, thematic or artistic value determined by the association”; (1A) “Despite section 4, such prohibited or restricted firearm as may be prescribed may be licensed under this section.”; and (3A) “Before a prohibited or restricted firearm is stored in terms of subsection (3)(a), it must undergo such reversible non- damaging procedure as may be prescribed in order to ensure that no cartridge can be loaded into or discharged from that firearm.”
Section 4 provides for prohibited firearms –
“(1) The following firearms and devices are prohibited firearms and may not be possessed or licensed in terms of this Act, except as provided for in sections 17, 18 (5), 19 and 20(1)(b):
(a) Any fully automatic firearm;
(b) any gun, cannon, recoilless gun, mortar, light mortar or launcher manufactured to fire a rocket, grenade, self-propelled grenade, bomb or explosive device;
(c) any frame, body or barrel of such a fully automatic firearm, gun, cannon, recoilless gun, mortar, light mortar or launcher;
(d) any projectile or rocket manufactured to be discharged from a cannon, recoilless gun or mortar, or rocket launcher;
(e) any imitation of any device contemplated in paragraph (b), (c) excluding the frame, body or barrel of a fully automatic firearm, or (d);
(f) any firearm -
(i) the mechanism of which has been altered so as to enable the discharging of more than one shot with a single depression of the trigger;
(ii) the calibre of which has been altered without the written permission of the Registrar;
(iii) the barrel length of which has been altered without the written permission of the Registrar;
(iv) the serial number or any other identifying mark of which has been changed or removed without the written permission of the Registrar.
(2) For purposes of subsection (1)(f)(iii), the incidental alteration of the length of the barrel of a firearm by a gunsmith in the ordinary course of a gunsmith's work which does not have as an objective the alteration of the length of the barrel of that firearm must not be regarded as an alteration contemplated in that subsection.(3)
(a) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare any other firearm of a specified type to be a prohibited firearm if it is -
(i) in the interest of public safety; or
(ii) desirable for the maintenance of law and order.
(b) A notice contemplated in paragraph (a) must be tabled in Parliament at least 14 days before publication thereof if Parliament is then sitting, and if Parliament is not sitting, within seven days after the commencement of the next sitting.
(c) A notice contemplated in paragraph (a) is of full force and effect until withdrawn by the Minister or by a resolution of Parliament.”
Regulation 15 provides for prohibited firearms and devices or restricted firearms that may be licensed in a private collection:
“The following prohibited firearms, devices or restricted firearms may be licensed under section 17 of the Act:
(a) A prohibited firearm and device contemplated in section 4 of the Act or restricted firearm that may be possessed in terms of the transitional provisions in Schedule 1 of the Act;
(b) A prohibited firearm and device contemplated in section 4 of the Act or a restricted firearm which does not fall under paragraph (a), which must not be less than 50 years old, calculated from the date of its manufacture, together with an attribute of its collectivity regarding its historical, technological, scientific, heritage, educational, cultural, commemorative, investment, rarity, thematic or artistic value or any other aspect, as may be deemed appropriate by the accredited association and agreed to by the Registrar: Provided that if the prohibited firearm or device or restricted firearm does not readily conform to the said combination of age and attribute of collectability, one or more of the following further considerations may apply-
(i) that its production has been discontinued for at least 10 years with the real likelihood of it becoming of collectable interest from a historical, technological, scientific, heritage, educational, cultural, commemorative, investment, rarity, thematic or artistic perspective;
(ii) that it is part of a commemorative issuance or limited edition;
(iii) that it will fit in as part of a demonstrable theme of future value, where a real likelihood of such future value can be sufficiently demonstrated or motivated;
(iv) its proven or generally accepted association with famous or infamous people or events;
(v) its current national or international scarcity or rarity based on an acceptable reason;
(vi) its unusual or unique design, materials or method of manufacture of historic interest;
(vii) custom or one-off building by a well known gun maker or gunsmith, with significant value;
(viii) that it is a prototype or part of a limited production run;
(ix) that it is a replica of a well known historical firearm; or
(x) that it is an investment grade firearm or device of significant value.
(c) A miniature canon of greater than 13 mm bore which is not a muzzle loading canon.
(d) A breech loading canon which must not be less than 50 years old and which is of significant Southern African historical or heritage value under the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act 25 of 1999).” [The emphasis in the quotations is mine.]
Far too frequently in the past has the emphasis actually been on “I want it licensed because I like it”, rather than it fits into my field of interest or theme for the following reasons; also far too often has an applicant been grasping for straws trying to “make it fit” under one or more of the collectable attributes. At NAACCSA we are in the process of preparing a policy aimed at dealing with these issues. It will not go beyond the law but it aims to interpret the law correctly with a view of ensuring that collectors retain the right to possess prohibited and restricted firearms in their collections. I for one would not like to see this disappear.
‘n Jaar of wat gelede het ek tydens ‘n Bestuursvergadering gevra of dit moontlik is om ‘n databasis van lede en hul wapens op te stel? Aangesien dit uiters sensitiewe informasie is het ek dit goed deurdink en wou ek seker maak dat die informasie nie kan uitlek en in verkeerde hande val nie. Sulke informasie sou egter vir my uiters belangrik wees indien ons versoek word om sekere parlementêre vrae te antwoord of statistieke aan die pers of die polisie wou voorhou. Ek is vandag trots om u mee te deel dat Dirk en Wentzel die bul by die horings gepak het en so ‘n databasis opgestel het. Sonder om enige person met enige wapens of getalle te verbind kan ek vandag informasie verskaf wat dikwels op kort kennisgewing benodig word, en die informasie is veilig. Ek wil veral vir Wentzel van harte bedank vir die werk wat hy in hierdie verband gedoen het. Hy sal later ‘n oorsig gee van die databasis.
The final version of the Firearms Control Amendment Bill has still not been approved, despite us having commented on it during January 2015. We are, accordingly, not in a position to enlighten you at all about what it currently contains and what effect our comments and recommendations might have had. One must guard against drawing adverse inferences from the fact that it takes government so long to publish the final bill, but skeptics could be forgiven if they think of some nasty intrusive and far-reaching provisions.
Dienslewering in die Sentrale VuurwapenRegister is nie ‘n goeie voorbeeld van effektiewe staatsadministrasie nie. Alhoewel sommige lisensie-aansoeke binne ‘n billike tydperk afgehandel word, is daar talle ander wat lank en selfs uiters lank uitstaande is. Appelle word ook nie binne ‘n redelike tyd afgehandel nie. Daar is verskeie vergaderings deur NAACCSA, SAGA en die res van die vuurwapen gemeenskap met die bestuur van die SVR gehou en alhoewel daar vordering gemaak is met sekere aspekte, is baie steeds onbeantwoord. Veral wat ammunisie versameling permitte betref het ek werklik gedink dit sou al opgelos gewees het aangesien ons hulle basies alles gegee het, maar helaas, sodanige permitte word steeds nie uitgereik nie. Ons sal egter voortgaan om hierdie aangeleenthede te hanteer en hopenlik sal ons weldra oplossings daarvoor hê.
Die verhouding tussen die PWAV en beide NAACCSA en SAGA is kerngesond. Beide organisasies het toegetree tot die hofsaak wat deur die SA Jagtersvereniging teen die minister aanhangig gemaak is. Die belangrikste aspekte wat in die aansoek aangespreek word is swak dienslewering en hernuwing van lisensies, sowel as die die tussentydse hofbevel van 26 Junie 2009 ten opsigte van die geldigheid van die sogenaamde groen lisensies. NAACCSA en SAGA tree in beide gevalle toe as vriend van die hof en ons uitgangspunt is om nie in konflik met die polisie te wees nie maar eerder die hof by te staan om ‘n billike oplossing te probeer vind. In my hoedanigheid as NAACCSA voorsitter en voorsitter van die SAGA-Trust het ek verskeie persverklarings uitgereik en TV en radio onderhoude gevoer. Alhoewel die boodskap van veiligheid en verantwoordelikheid deurgaans goed ontvang is, is daar, veral in die liberale media, ‘n voortdurende negatiwiteit en dit blyk dat die omroepers en verslaggewers telkens reeds standpunt ingeneem het. ‘n Onlangse 1 uur-lange radio-onderhoud met Kaya FM was soos ‘n vars briesie. Die omroepers was professioneel en ontvanklik vir ons saak. Myns insiens was dit die objektiewe uitsending wat ek in baie jare gedoen het. SAGA moet steeds ondersteun word. Die waarde wat die organisasie toevoeg tot die reg van wetsgehoorsame en verantwoordelike mense om vuurwapens te besit is sonder vergelyk.
In my capacity as chairman of our Association I have identified a number of projects, which include the wine project launched at our twentieth birthday last year; the book project; and the custom rifle project that will be launched at our twenty-first birthday this year.
The book project is almost complete and in fact would have been completed by now had it not been for information received at a very late stage that also has to be researched with a view of possible incorporation in the book. This caused a delay in the publication of the book, which now is envisaged for November 2016, to coincide with the NAACCSA AGM. Other than these hick-ups everything is on schedule and we anticipate that the book will be ready for the launch in November. We recommend this book without any hesitation – it will be a collectors’ piece in itself and will be a great contribution to every firearm collector’s library. Buy one sooner rather than later since we intend publishing only 1200 copies, more than 800 of which have already been sold. You will be proud to own the book. Later on during the meeting Chas will talk more about the book, the challenges and his expectations.
At this year’s AGM we also launch the custom rifle project. Danie Joubert has excelled himself by building a custom rifle in caliber 9.3 x 62mm Mauser. This rifle could be viewed today, but not touched. The rifle is accompanied by a custom made knife, 40 custom cartridge cases, an elephant hide gun case, an elephant hide rifle sling and a cartridge pouch, also of elephant hide. You will agree that this is a world-class product, built by one of the best rifle builders in the country, if not the world. It is something that every collector would be proud to own, but it comes at a price. Since it is fairly expensive, it is not for everyone – only one person will own it – there will never be anything like it since it will not be reproduced. The proud owner will rightfully be able to claim that he owns a piece of South African culture, so unique that it will be collectable on the basis or rarity alone. This rifle will from today onwards until end July 2016, be on sale to the highest bidder. Sealed bids could be delivered to the chairman or the secretary. They will be opened only on I August 2016, where after the buyer will be notified. All bids above R125 000 will be considered with the highest bid above it taking it. In the event of a tie these bidders will be informed of the fact and that they could make a further bid, in which case the highest bid will win. In the event of a tie again an independent attorney or auditor will be requested to make a blind-folded draw to determine the winner. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Danie for the marvelous work he has done and for having contributed both material and time to the PAAA. When you consider whether or not to make a bid on this rifle I urge you to keep in mind what Coco Chanel once said, bearing in mind that she probably knew nothing about firearms: “The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive.” It is a matter of considering whether you wish to be the elite of the elite when it comes to collecting truly unique South African rifles.
We also have 20 cartridge cases for sale to collectors – at a mere R50 per case. Danie sal weldra sy indrukke oor die geweer met u deel.
Ten slotte bedank ek graag die lede van die Bestuurskomitee: Onder-Voorsitter Stef Grobler; Lede-sake Administrateur en Tesourier, Dirk Coetzee; Sekretaris, Hubert Wentzel; Vuurwapenversamelkunde fasiliteerder, Andrie Meyer; Praktiese Aktiwiteit fasiliteerder, Piet Winterbach; en Wentzel Muller, vir hul onbaatsigtige diens aan die Vereniging. Hulle hou my besig en die Vereniging aan die gang. Baie dankie aan ieder en elk wat opgedaag het om deel te neem aan ons 21-jarige feesvieringe – julle maak dat die PWAV die beste organisasie van sy soort is. Vir my is dit ‘n eer om jul van diens te wees.
Soli Deo Gloria
John I. Welch
Chairman
25 June 2016
