Windhoek to introduce firearm competency test

The changes made to Namibia’s Arms and Ammunition Act of 1996 will require a prospective gun owner to go through a competency test before receiving a licence. The Ministry of Safety and Security held consultative meetings between 2008 and 2016 with government institutions, gun dealers, Namibian professional hunters' associations, traditional leaders and regional governors to ensure that the proposed amendments take into consideration a wide range of public views. During these meetings, shortcomings and loopholes in the law were identified, discussed and changes proposed, notes The Namibian. Deputy Minister of Safety and Security Daniel Kashikola said it was recognised that the current law does not make provision for competency tests to ensure that only people who are capable of handling and dealing with firearms receive a competency certificate and licence. ‘Competency, which constitutes the starting point in applying for a firearm licence, is determined by a combination of factors, of which training is the most important,’ he said.