Namibians, You Are On Your Own
HAVE the Namibian Police really issued about 150 000 gun licenses in the past 14 years? That’s over 10 000 licenses [the actual number of guns could be more as one person can have up to four] a year.
Add to this shocking arsenal of private arms, licenses that were issued before 1998, guns that belong to the police, the military and not to forget illegal firearms, then the not-so-hidden danger facing the country becomes a palpable and imminent threat to peace and security. Several years ago it was estimated that the number of guns held by civilians is 260 000. That figure may well be understated.
If Namibians are not getting cold chills at the facts reported in this newspaper today about this present and ominous danger, then we may well consider ourselves firmly held in the clasp of anarchy.
Earlier this week we reported on a rare release of police statistics showing that incidences of rape topped other crimes like murder and housebreaking – 122 rapes and 83 murder cases were recorded from January to 15 April. With so many firearms in circulation, it won’t tax the brain to imagine what percentage of crimes involve firearms. In fact, it may very well be that most types of crimes, and accidents, in Namibia have a substantially high involvement of guns.
Just how do we expect to reduce and, hopefully, end the crime wave when there are so many testosterone-boosting and life-threatening weapons around?
It is criminal that in a country that has been through bitter wars and its people suppressed by the might of the gun we have come to embrace rather than shun these weapons.
Their easy availability perhaps explains why Namibians seem to generally show a low regard for lives lost through crime.
Why does it remain so easy for people to acquire firearms? In many cases people who terrorise societies are believed to legitimately own weapons despite having had brushes with the law.
Why should 18-year-olds and many youths be allowed to buy and own firearms? With peer pressure certain actions become a trend and youngsters will simply acquire weapons as a fashion statement or to be seen to fit in with others, and to have ‘bigger and better’.
That many people feel the need to apply for firearm licences to “protect” themselves and their property while lawmakers as well as law enforcement agents oblige the applicant seemingly so easily, should raise concerns. It is testimony that the state has become ineffectual?
What use is the state if it cannot provide sufficient guarantee for safety and security? In many parts of the world governments collapse because of failure to provide such basic needs of society. Namibians should be worried that our government, through the action of allowing ‘private armies’, is admitting civilians are on their own.
At this rate, it appears the government is not even concerned about the economic cost – not only of lives lost – but also its population shot out of the productivity loop by guns. In 2009, it was estimated that Namibia imported small arms and ammunition worth about US$2.4 million (nearly N$20 million). Thus, money is flowing out of the country for harmful products that we don’t even produce.
Namibians should have no reasons to advocate for gun ownership. Guns only kill and maim, intentionally and accidentally. It is time peace-loving Namibians intensified their campaigns against gun ownership.
The police last week spent precious time searching for people who bought guns to collect their licenses. They should be discouraging civilians from owning firearms and instead improving their work to make people feel secure enough not to even think of owning a gun.