WESTERN PROVINCE SMALL BORE RIFLE ASSOCIATION

FIREARMS CONTROL BILL : Government Gazette 20688 dated 3/12/99 as replaced by Government Gazette 21193 dated 19 May 2000

The Western Province Small Bore Rifle Association is a shooting discipline which practices 50 meter target shooting with ,22 Rimfire rifles. This shooting discipline is an Olympic sport, which is practiced Nationally and Internationally.

This Association supports the proposed legislation, which is aimed at combating crime. However, from the point of view of Small Bore Rifle sport, there are limitations contained in the Bill, which are impractical/impossible to comply with. Because of the unique nature of ,22 Rimfire ammunition, the limitations are probably due to the fact that the Drafting Team may not have been aware of some of the technical aspects of, 22 shooting.

Shooting competitions normally comprise a combination of competitions where 225 rounds of ammunition are fired in an event. Practicing for such competitions obviously consume many more rounds of ammunition. This sport is usually practiced on a weekly basis for recreational purposes.

From the nature of the sport it can be seen that the consumption of ammunition is very high and it is common practice for a shooter to fire in excess of 10000 rounds of, 22 Rimfire cartridges per year.

Not all lots of ,22 ammunition are suitable for target shooting and this necessitates that once a suitable lot is identified, rimfire ammunition is bought per case usually in quantities of 5000.

The major difference between the use of Rimfire ammunition as opposed to centrefire ammunition is that centrefire ammunition can be reloaded when required but Rimfire ammunition can not be reloaded at all.

Although the above situation exists for 50 meter Small Bore Rifle shooting, similar problems will occur with shooting disciplines like long range (100 m 200 m) ,22 Rimfire or pistol target shooting where ,22 Rimfire ammunition is used.

The limitation of 200 rounds set in Section 94 (1) will make ,22 shooting as it is done at present , totally impractical, if not impossible. As I am sure that this unrealistic limitation came about more because of an oversight regarding the practical/technical situation, it is requested that the limit of 200 rounds not be made applicable to ,22 Rimfire ammunition used for sporting purposes, but that it be considered on the same lines as air rifle pellets or subject to the same concession provided for in Section 94 (3) (a)

As Section 94 of the Bill is the only section which is addressed by this Association, it is an indication of the seriousness with which the restriction is viewed and relief by excluding ,22 Rimfire ammunition from the restrictions in Section 94 (1) and 94 (2) will be appreciated.

I can not recall ever reading in the media of a firearms crime being committed with a single shot ,22 rimfire target rifle.

As all dedicated Sport Shooters, I trust that the Legislation will achieve the objective of combating crime, without creating situations where it will be impossible to participate in the sport of shooting for recreational purposes.

J J le Roux
Chairperson