Focusing on Firearms:

Attitudes Towards Ownership And Use

The use of weapons in crime in South Africa continues to grow. The violence associated with their use, and the threat of injury or death, have prompted government to act to reduce the number of illegal weapons in the country. In order to effectively control illegal weapons, however, a look must also be taken at the controls exercised over legally owned firearms.

In late 1997 the Institute for Security Studies conducted a survey in the Lekoa/Vaal region south of Johannesburg to learn more about how peoples’ attitudes towards firearms. Surveys provide an important way to gain additional information for the creation and implementation of policy initiatives. While crime statistics and official data provide specific information, often it is difficult to get a clear understanding of peoples’ attitudes and perceptions towards an issue without the use of surveying and polling.

From the survey data it is possible to get a fairly clear picture of how residents in this area feel about firearms, who should be allowed to use them and what types of controls should be implemented. The majority of respondents (68%) said that they had noticed an increase in the number of firearms in their area since the elections in 1994. When asked to suggest reasons for this increase, easy availability, increase in crime, corruption and unemployment were the most identified reasons.

Who should have a gun?

Respondents were asked a series of questions related to who should be allowed to carry a gun and under what conditions. In response to whether or not someone drinking in a bar should be allowed to carry a gun, 86% of respondents indicated that this should not be the case. Similarly, respondents felt that someone with a criminal record should be banned from owning a weapon (80%). In response to the question "do guns cause more violence than they prevent", 88% of respondents answered in the affirmative (Figure 1).



Figure 1 Firearms possesion

Source: ISS Firearms Survey

When asked whether or not a woman should carry a gun for protection, the responses were more varied. Forty-six per cent of respondents "disagreed" or "strongly disagreed" with the statement, while 43% "agreed" or "strongly agreed". In analysing the question more closely, men were more likely to agree that women should carry a gun (26% versus 23%), while women were most likely to strongly agree (20% versus 18%).

Who would own a gun?



Figure 2 Would you own a gun?

Source: ISS Firearms survey

In the survey, 52% of respondents said that they would not own a gun (Figure 2). Fifty-six percent of men said that they would own a gun against 38% of women. Whites are most likely (62%) followed by Indians (43%) and Africans (42%) to consider owning a gun. Sixty per cent of rural dwellers would consider owning a gun while only 46% of informal and 44% of formal urban dwellers would consider the same. Thirty-seven per cent of hostel dwellers said they would own a gun.

Respondents were asked to give the main reason why they would or would not own a gun. Of those who said they would own a gun, the prime reason for doing so was for personal protection or safety (44% of total responses). Other reasons for owning a firearm include family tradition and hunting. The reasons people gave for not owning a firearm are more varied. Fourteen per cent were worried that the firearm might cause an accident while 9% each said there was no need for a firearm or that they were afraid of guns. Eight per cent of respondents thought that a gun would only make trouble (Figure 3).



Figure 3 Reasons to not own/own a firearm

Source: ISS Firearms Survey

Men were more likely than women to cite safety as a reason for owning a firearm (55% against 37%) as were whites, respondents between 21—40 years of age and those living in rural areas. Of those who would not own a gun, women were more worried about having an accident and more likely to be afraid of guns or think they "make trouble" than men.

Should gun control be improved?

When asked whether there was a need for increased control over firearms in their area, 73% of respondents answered that there was. Men (72%) and women (73%) were almost equal in favouring greater controls. Measures identified to improve control included more police, more laws/regulations, greater community involvement, licensing, destruction of weapons, a ban on all guns, education of people and age restrictions on possession.

When asked who should be responsible for improving control in the short-term, respondents suggested the police (33%), defence force (8%) and residents (7%) while in the long-term, those responsible for improving control were identified as the police (20%), defence force (16%) and national government (16%) (see Figure 4) .



Figure 4 Who should be responsible for increased controls over firearms (short and long term)?

Source:ISS Firearms Survey

Sarah Meek,
Institute for Security Studies