A Brief History of Guns in South Africa
Police crime scene tape marks off the home of South African “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria February 14, 2013. Pistorius, a double amputee who became one of the biggest names in world athletics, was charged on Thursday with shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home. REUTERS/Andrea Ettwein (SOUTH AFRICA – Tags: CRIME LAW SPORT ATHLETICS) – RTR3DS9N
South Africa has among the highest rates of shooting deaths in the world.
The country passed legislation in the year 2000 to curb gun ownership, The Firearms Control Act, and has since seen a significant reduction in gun deaths. But gun violence remains a major problem there.
Anchor Carol Hills spoke with Adele Kirsten with “Gun Free South Africa” about the history of guns in South Africa and the current challenges, in the wake of murder charges against Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius for the alleged shooting of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.
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