http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/briefing/nw20000726/12.html
GUN-FREE ZONES INVITE ATTACKS: SAGA
CAPE TOWN
July 25 2000
Sapa
Once gun-free zones became part of the landscape of South African law, there would be a hundred-fold increase in attacks on citizens in those areas, SA Gunowners Association (Saga) national secretary Jerry Dolman said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a wreath-laying ceremony marking the seventh anniversary of the St James Church massacre in Cape Town, he said criminals knew their intended victims would be powerless to defend themselves in gun-free zones.
Eleven people died and 58 were injured when Apla operatives attacked the church during an evening service.
"The people who paid the highest price on July 25, 1993 would have died in vain if we allow ourselves as law-abiding citizens to be disarmed by unjust and criminally flawed legislation," Dolman said.
During the attack "one courageous person" carrying a gun had made a difference, and scores of the 1400 people gathered there on that day owed him their lives, Dolman said.
"His actions have proven that one person suitably armed can save the lives of many, for were the attackers not stopped within minutes of launching their cowardly attack, many more would have died.
"The St James Church, for all intents and purposes, was considered a gun-free zone by the attackers that perpetrated the atrocity here in 1993.
"In their misplaced belief, they carried out an attack on an institution where they considered to be safe from retaliation."
Saga has been at the forefront of protests against draft legislation now before Parliament aimed at severely limiting citizens' rights to carry and own arms and ammunition.
In a statement on Tuesday, African Christian Democratic Party MP Steve Swart said the ACDP wanted to thank the St James congregation and its bishop, Frank Retief, for the remarkable example of Christian forgiveness it had been to the world.
"The decision to forgive is an active decision, on the part of the victim, not to harbour revenge or bitterness.
"By letting go of the rage and the pain, the victim can live a positive life without fear or anger.
"This does not mean that the perpetrator does not take responsibility for his actions and face the consequences of them."
The ACDP believed restorative justice, with a strong emphasis on restitution to the victim by the perpetrator, was the answer to South Africa's problem of criminality.
GUN-FREE ZONES INVITE ATTACKS: SAGA
CAPE TOWN
July 25 2000
Sapa
Once gun-free zones became part of the landscape of South African law, there would be a hundred-fold increase in attacks on citizens in those areas, SA Gunowners Association (Saga) national secretary Jerry Dolman said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a wreath-laying ceremony marking the seventh anniversary of the St James Church massacre in Cape Town, he said criminals knew their intended victims would be powerless to defend themselves in gun-free zones.
Eleven people died and 58 were injured when Apla operatives attacked the church during an evening service.
"The people who paid the highest price on July 25, 1993 would have died in vain if we allow ourselves as law-abiding citizens to be disarmed by unjust and criminally flawed legislation," Dolman said.
During the attack "one courageous person" carrying a gun had made a difference, and scores of the 1400 people gathered there on that day owed him their lives, Dolman said.
"His actions have proven that one person suitably armed can save the lives of many, for were the attackers not stopped within minutes of launching their cowardly attack, many more would have died.
"The St James Church, for all intents and purposes, was considered a gun-free zone by the attackers that perpetrated the atrocity here in 1993.
"In their misplaced belief, they carried out an attack on an institution where they considered to be safe from retaliation."
Saga has been at the forefront of protests against draft legislation now before Parliament aimed at severely limiting citizens' rights to carry and own arms and ammunition.
In a statement on Tuesday, African Christian Democratic Party MP Steve Swart said the ACDP wanted to thank the St James congregation and its bishop, Frank Retief, for the remarkable example of Christian forgiveness it had been to the world.
"The decision to forgive is an active decision, on the part of the victim, not to harbour revenge or bitterness.
"By letting go of the rage and the pain, the victim can live a positive life without fear or anger.
"This does not mean that the perpetrator does not take responsibility for his actions and face the consequences of them."
The ACDP believed restorative justice, with a strong emphasis on restitution to the victim by the perpetrator, was the answer to South Africa's problem of criminality.
