Top marksman is refused back-up rifle [S Africa]

Independent Online ^ | July 01 2004 | Tania Broughton

[Gun142]

Top marksman is refused back-up rifle

Tania Broughton
July 01 2004 at 03:33AM

South Africa's top skeet-shooter, Guy Merkel, has a major problem in leading a team to the international championships in Texas.

His application for a licence for his purposely modified Beretta has been turned down by the Central Firearms Registry.

It's just another example of the Registry's "arbitrary" licensing refusals, said his attorney, Jacques Botha.

Merkel, who is from Durban, is astounded at the refusal.

'This is like expecting a world-class tennis player to only have one racquet'

He already owned two guns that he used for his sport. They were both licensed. He sold one and kept the other, a Browning.

In October last year, he bought the modified Beretta for R40 000. It is still sitting at the gun dealers.

"I just didn't think it would be a problem," said Merkel, who is rated No 1 in skeet-shooting.

"The licence application was well motivated. You simply cannot use these guns for robbing banks - they are for sport."

He said in order to stay in top form - and to retain his Protea colours - he shoots between 20 000 and 30 000 rounds a year.

"You cannot do this with one gun. You need a back-up."

But after waiting six months for an answer to his application, he was told he had been turned down.

The reason? Because he already had a licence for a firearm that could be used for sport shooting.

"This is like expecting a world-class tennis player to only have one racquet," Botha said.

Botha said he has taken on eight licence appeals in the past four weeks, when he used to handle two a year in the past.

He believes that while the registry has never been competent, the recent spate of refusals is more of a "concerted effort" to refuse licences.

[Gun142]

Gun Control : Logic
Hate : Love

[Redcoat LI]

He shoots skeet with a rifle,he must be good.

[Renfield]

Damn right. I thought I was doing well to break 19 with my ancient Remington model 10 with a 26" cylinder-choke barrel....

[Redcoat LI]

Damn right. I thought I was doing well to break 19 with my ancient Remington model 10 with a 26" cylinder-choke barrel....

I'd be lucky to do that with one of those I-talian super guns.

[lawdog]

"His application for a licence for his purposely modified Beretta has been turned down by the Central Firearms Registry... ...It's just another example of the Registry's.."

Make a RIGHT a licensed privilege and this is what happens. This is the malicious truth of "Gun Control", "Gun Safety" and "Gun Registration".

[natewill]

He believes that while the registry has never been competent, the recent spate of refusals is more of a "concerted effort" to refuse licences.

Coming soon to a democrat-controlled United States of UnAmerica