The Draft Dangerous Weapons Bill, published recently in the government gazette, has been taking heavy criticism this morning. With a bit of luck, the badly worded document, which seeks to ban things like toy guns, will have statements like this removed: “…any object that can cause injury or have the ability to take a person temporarily ‘out of action.'”

A report in Die Burger newspaper today claims that the bill will outlaw toy guns, pepper spray, knives and other “dangerous weapons” in public places.

As it stands, you could face up to three years in prison if you’re caught with something like the above-mentioned items in “suspicious circumstances”. That would include pepper spray and tazers.

The proposed bill also doesn’t include a self-defence clause – a major issue that Parliament will need to look at if we’re to take this seriously.

Take a look at these tweets:

@PikeyJim im stuck with a 16″ 1kg khukuri knife, and i will carry it for the massive stuk biltong that is in my backpack, want [sic]

@cobusfourie <utter BS! I jog with pepperspray (for dogs), arrest me!> Dangerous weapons Bill on way to parliament

Freedom Front Plus MP, Pieter Groenewald, was quoted in Die Burger’s article:

The fact that you will not be able to use self-defence as a defence also makes the Bill unconstitutional.

A woman walking late at night with pepper spray in her purse could also be rounded up because she might not be able to argue that the spray is for self-defence.

We, the public of South Africa, have until this Sunday to comment on the bill. You can do that by emailing: jacobspc@saps.org.za.

[Source: TimesLive]