Chapter 16

POINTING OF FIREARM

Incidents where a firearm is pointed by one person at another is a punishable offence in South Africa.



Between 1996 and 1998, reported incidents of the pointing of a firearm increased from 22 742 to 25 375 annually.



In this research, conclusions are drawn from 92 incidents analysed, which comprised 11.7% of the docket sample.



It was found that 20% of the firearm-pointing of firearm incidents occurred between 08h00 and 24h00 with a peak recorded between 16h00 and 24h00 (47.8%).



In this sample, 44.9% of the of firearm-pointing incidents occurred in the inner city or central business district. There were a number of other significant locations where firearm-pointing incidents occurred, such as private residential properties (15.7%) and public residential spaces (19.1%).



The victim of the crime (84.8%) usually reported the crime to the police.



It was found that 35.9% of all firearm-pointing incidents are undetected, representing an acceptable rate in comparison with the other major firearm-related crime types. What was significant, was that 57.6% of cases were withdrawn.



Out of the 92 cases, a fine was imposed in three cases (at a value of less than R1 999) and two prison sentences were handed down (both for less than a year in duration).



In the 92 firearm-pointing incidents, 210 people were involved: 107 offenders, 99 victims and four intervening third parties. On average, 2.28 people were involved in each incident. For every one incident, 1.16 offenders and 1.08 victims were involved. The ratio of victims to offenders is 1:08.



In 76.1% of the incidents, victims and offenders did not know one another, while 15.2% knew one another well and 8.7% considered the other as acquaintances.



Of the 92 firearm-pointing incidents, 106 firearms and one other weapon (referred to as other sharp object) were involved. Of the firearms involved, 88 were held by offenders, 15 by victims and three was in the possession of a third party intervening.



It was found that 97.2% of offenders were male. The race profile of the sample of offenders was as follows: 14% white; 29.9% Asian; 37.4% coloured; and 18.7% African. There was insufficient information to provide a valid profile of the age, vocation or employment status of offenders.



It was found that 82.8% of victims of firearm-pointing incidents were male and 17.2% were female. The race profile of victims was as follows: 17.3% white; 27.6% African; 37.8% coloured; and 17.3% Asian. In terms of age, 14.4% of victims were between the ages of 16 to 20 years, 47.4% between 21 to 30 years, while 24.7% were between the ages of 31 to 50 years. Overall, 71.9% of victims were employed.



It was found that 82.2% of offenders had firearms and 16.8% had no weapon. Of those offenders with firearms, the majority carried handguns. The type of firearms included pistols (76.3%), revolvers (18.6%), shotguns (3.4%) and rifles (1.7%). It was found that 23.9% of offenders used licenced firearms.



It was found that 15 (15.2%) of the 99 victims carried firearms. These firearms were all handguns.



In 12.6% of cases, violence was used and, in 82.8%, of cases only threats were necessary to perpetrate the crime. Of the 99 victims, 21.2% were injured. Of the 107 offenders, 3.7% were injured. One offender sustained a firearm injury and one victim was seriously injured, while 18.2% of the victims were slightly injured.



In 2% of firearm-pointing incidents, property was stolen.