1,200 a Day Seek Gun Permits in S. Africa
South Africans are seeking gun licenses at a rate higher than 1,200 a day, police said Friday.
They gave the figure in a statement responding to complaints of delays from people wanting to buy guns for self-defense in the face of a widespread crime wave.
“We would like to emphasize that the number of applications received so far this year is not significantly greater than for the same period last year,” the statement said.
About 1.2 million South Africans, mainly whites, own just over three million licensed firearms. Many more illegal weapons, including combat rifles like AK-47s, are in circulation.
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