PRESS RELEASE 7/04/2011

Arming guards is not the way to make Table Mountain safe.

PRESS RELEASE 7/04/2011

Dear Editor,

Armed Patrols on Table Mountain

Arming guards is not the way to make Table Mountain safe.
Gun Free South Africa (GFSA) understands the need to improve safety for all visitors to Table Mountain however research shows that the presence of guns increases levels of fear and gun violence.
1. To arm the guards on Table Mountain will not only place their lives at great risk but also expose visitors to an increased risk of gun violence and injury on the mountain.
2. The guards will become targets for their guns – because we know that the majority of firearms entering the illegal market in SA are from licensed gun holders as a result of loss and theft - be they private individuals or the State.
3. Armed patrols will increase the need and likelihood of the assailants being more heavily armed and even incentivizes them in the hope of acquiring a firearm.
The decision to more than double the number of guards as well as dog patrols will go a long way to improving the safety of visitors to the parks. The unintended consequences of arming the guards may be catastrophic.

Chairperson Gun Free South Africa
Alan Storey

Tel 083 654 8568