Faulty gun injures shot
2005-04-28
SOME of the firearms handed in at police stations in the Paarl and Wellington area not in a good condition.
Recently a policeman doing ballistic tests on a firearm handed in during the amnesty period, injured his fingers when the rifle exploded.
The tests on firearms handed in are all done at the Drakenstein Prison. The firearms are then destroyed.
During the first three months of the amnesty period 78 firearms were handed in at the Paarl police station, as well as 1218 rounds of ammunition and 23 magazines.
The amnesty period for the surrendering of illegal firearms and ammunition has been extended until June 30 this year.
Those taking advantage of the amnesty will not be prosecuted.
Police have warned owners not to tamper with the firearms or to try and destroy it themselves.
“It can be dangerous, to themselves and to the officers doing the ballistic testing,” Insp Marchel Rhode said.
People who know of individuals or organisations with illegal firearms or caches and who fail to report this, are liable to prosecution.
At the end of the extended amnesty period the police will pursue those unlawfully in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Contact the firearms control officer at your nearest police station.
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