The Republic of South Africa is awash in guns. The country may only rate 17th in the international firearm ownership league table, but that’s the only the official tally. The RSA has more illegal guns than Sweden has beautiful blonds. And, get this, plenty o’ gun laws. True story; South Africa is down with civilian disarmament. Not that the government has the ability or interest in implementing the laws regarding purchase and possession. Or that citizens follow then. Actually, I lie. There are people who jump through the requisite hoops. Like . . . accused murderer Oscar Pistorious. Which is kinda funny peculiar, as the press has gone out of its way to portray the blade runner as JAGN (Just Another Gun Nut). To wit, our gun-crazed colleagues at the AP . . .
JOHANNESBURG — In his Olympic year, Oscar Pistorius steadily became an avid firearms collector, joining a gun-collecting club and purchasing a collection of firearms that included a .500 Magnum pistol dubbed by its manufacturer as “the most powerful production revolver in the world” and a civilian version of a military assault rifle.
At the end of 2012, in the first blush of his romance with Reeva Steenkamp, the model he later shot and killed, Pistorius got deeper into his hobby. It was known that Pistorius liked guns but only now, from Associated Press interviews with other collectors, is it becoming clear the extent to which he became a dedicated firearms aficionado in the 12 months before he shot Steenkamp.
Cut to the chase shall we?
Pistorius eventually applied for the licenses in January, according to the National Firearms Center. It listed his weapons as:
• A Smith & Wesson model 500. With a caliber of .500 Magnum, it is called “the most powerful production revolver in the world” by its manufacturer in Springfield, Massachusetts. “A hunting handgun for any game animal walking,” the company’s website says. Pistorius was “quite fascinated” with that particular weapon, Beare said.
• A Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver.
• Three shotguns: A Mossberg, a Maverick and a Winchester, all American makes.
• A Vektor .223-caliber rifle.
Not included on this list: the 9mm pistol Pistorious used to kill Reeva Steenkamp. Which would bring his firearms “collection” to a total of seven firearms.
The article concludes with a “debate” on whether or not the homicidal athlete’s firearms stash qualifies as a “collection.” The clear implication: possessing more than a couple of firearms makes the owner inherently suspicious. Potentially murderous.
Stuff and nonsense. The number or type of guns an individual owns does not indicate a predisposition towards crime. How many gang bangers and psycho killers own six guns? And even if the majority do, which I doubt, what difference does that make, exactly?
In fact, I reckon any law-abiding gun enthusiast who doesn’t own at least five firearms—a carry pistol, beside pistol, home defense shotgun, hunting or target shooting shotgun and a rifle—is denying themselves the range of tools they need to stay safe, gain expertise and have fun.
These journalists and gun grabbers really need to get out more.