1. Crime Prevention is essential to reduction of armed violence
• No legislation however fine, can perform as well as it should in an
environment where there is a very high rate of armed violence.
• Armed violence also intensifies the burden of crime on the Criminal
Justice System. (burden of investigation, minimum sentences, etc).
• Where there is a high rate of crime and violence the CJS is
considerably less capable of delivering confidence in justice or the
rule of law
• Poor performance threatens perception about the value of legislation
in addressing the problem.
• Citizens often don’t differentiate between the quality of the
legislation, regulations, implementing agency and government as a
whole.
• The objectives of the legislation are not supported by gun owners; see
it as punishing them , not convinced about/obstructive to the view
that legislation protects the vulnerable
Laws need to be linked to/measured against increased safety;
pro-gun research is compelling to pro-gun lobby; only
improved safety will change mindsets .
2. National Legislation and Policy
• The National Crime Prevention Strategy of SA (1996) provided excellent
theoretical insights into a multi-sectorial view of vulnerability, crime and
violence
• An attempt to understand the actual experience of unsafety in communities
• Governments are resistant to systemic analysis and solutions, sectors must
deliver against their objectives, heath to health, social services to
welfare, education to education – if they don’t, who will?
• Cluster system aimed to coordinate approaches
• Lacked effective implementation framework and capacity
• Transformation a time of constant uncertainty & change
• We all underestimated the impact of crime and violence on communities
and thus the perpetuation of violence
• The strategy had no capacity for dynamic or organic change and flexibility
• At the time of the FCA (2002) questions asked about capacity to implement;
this has proved a stumbling block
• Pro-gun lobbies well financed - and powerful in the face of the perceived
failure of the state to deliver safety and security
Lack of justice fuels anger, violence, self-protection
4. Crime prevention for reduction of armed violence
Firearms legislation is deeply politicized and divisive.
Crime prevention interventions need to be local
Reduction of firearm violence needs to be integrated with prevention of
alcohol abuse, building of community cohesion, support for families
(reduction of domestic violence), gun free schools, zones, etc
The difference must be felt and understood rather than perceived as
propaganda
Security: protection against known or perceived risk or threat. This often
results in increased numbers of men with guns on streets, an escalation
of armed violence
Responses to increased security result in increased aggression
Safety: the need for less security, the outcome of crime prevention
interventions
