Over 39 000 firearms licensed in four years

MORE than 39 000 firearms were licensed in Namibia between 2002 and the end of last year, according to Safety and Security Minister Peter Tshirumbu-Tsheehama.

Responding to a question from Congress of Democrats President Ben Ulenga, the Minister said 39 396 firearms were licensed by the Police in this period. The majority of the guns – 36 136 – belong to private people, 2 100 to security companies and 1 140 to businesses.Embassies are also armed, with 1 140 licences issued to them during the same period.Ulenga also wanted to know the total number of licensed firearms in Namibia, but the Minister did not respond to that.The CoD leader also asked how many gun-related crimes had been recorded between 2002 and 2006.Tsheehama replied that 2 544 crimes in which firearms were pointed at people were recorded during that period.In most cases, women were the victims – 1 595 women compared to 352 men.During the same period, 207 women and 43 men were murdered with firearms.About 2 130 robberies with a firearm were recorded, with 1 276 of the victims being women and 422 men.Nearly 1 000 thefts of firearms were recorded – 642 guns were stolen from women and 53 from men.The majority of the guns – 36 136 – belong to private people, 2 100 to security companies and 1 140 to businesses.Embassies are also armed, with 1 140 licences issued to them during the same period.Ulenga also wanted to know the total number of licensed firearms in Namibia, but the Minister did not respond to that.The CoD leader also asked how many gun-related crimes had been recorded between 2002 and 2006.Tsheehama replied that 2 544 crimes in which firearms were pointed at people were recorded during that period.In most cases, women were the victims – 1 595 women compared to 352 men.During the same period, 207 women and 43 men were murdered with firearms.About 2 130 robberies with a firearm were recorded, with 1 276 of the victims being women and 422 men.Nearly 1 000 thefts of firearms were recorded – 642 guns were stolen from women and 53 from men.