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The firearm Control act 60 of 2000 allows the possession of firearms by civilians in South Africa. There are reasons for wanting to own a firearms, one which is valid and makes you eligible from the authorities to own a fire arm is self defence. The South African country is one of the country high with violent crimes, one which would require none other but a firearm to defend and protect yourself.

The Great News for you is that, you can legally own a fire arm in South Africa but as we are talking legal things here, they have their own processes to go by.

If you want to own a firearm in South Africa there are few things that you are required to abide by, from the license, Competency certificate, the type of firearm you are allowed to carry, Storing and, are you allowed to carry it with you? Let's take a look..

First you have to get a firearm competency certificate and then the firearm license.

The firearm arm license will be issued for you at the South African Police Service.

The Firearm competency certificate is issued to you from an accredited training provider, after they made you complete competency tests.

For you to be eligible to begin with this process you have to be:

- 21 years old or older

- A South African citizen or holding permanent citizenship

In obtaining your Comptency certificate which you required to apply for firearm licence, you need to be:

- Older or 21 years of age

- Be A South African or with permanent Citizenship if you are foreigner.

- Successful after background Check (alcohol, drugs, Psychological, Personality Check.etc )

- No Crime record

- Not addicted to drugs and alcohol

- Mentally Stable and fit

- know how to use a firearm.

All this will be done for you at the acredited training center, if you make it through the tests, you are one step to legally owning your firearm.

For you to apply for the Competency certificate, the SAPS will provide you with a form to fill and also provide you the list of accredited training centers.

There is a competency certificate for each firearm type you want to own.

So, You have applied, tested and obtained your competency Certificate, you have to now apply for the firearm license, to apply for the license you are required to:

- Submit your application form( you will be provided with application form after you told you want to apply for license)

- Provide a Certified ID copy or passport

- Submit your motivation for why you want to own a fire arm

- Submit two colour passport Photo which are not older than three month

- Provide certified copy of your permanent residence permit if you are not an SA citizen

If your application is successful then you will have to make all necessary payments,

You are required to install a safe in your house in 14 days

Your house will be inspected to see if it meet the requirements for the safe storage of a firearm.

The firearm license expires in 5 years, this is for the firearm license for self defense use.

This article provides firearm license information for self defense with no much focus of hunting or business firearm possession but some of the processes are similar

You have now completed everything and it's time to get your firearm.

You can only buy your firearm from a registered firearm dealer.

Report your firearm if it's no where to be found or damaged documents within 24 hours

You are limited to obtaining 200 rounds of ammunition

No one should be in possession of a fire arm but you unless authorised by the police.

Ensure that your firearm is not used in crimes, keep it safe, because it will point to you after investigations.

No drugs or alcohol

Comply with Domestic violence act.

The ammunition you own is limited to your type of firearm

This is what takes for you to own a firearms in South Africa, if I didn't give all the information, if you simply visit the South African Police website, everything will be there for you.

The type of firearm that you own determines the time of it's validity, in this case for a self defence home weapon, it's about 6 years or less

Source:

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/service/getting-firearm-licence

Thank you for reading

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