Revisiting the definition of a firearm in South Africa: a need for reform?

Abstract

South Africa‟s definition of a firearm is quite broad, yet it excludes various devices that have the same lethal effects as a firearm. This is informed by the various principles that have been developed by the courts in interpreting the said definition. It is argued that a good definition informs the extent to which other aspects like licensing and usage may be instructive. The central research question as regards the context of the definition of a firearm, leads to an examination of three interrelated questions. These include the definition of a firearm in South Africa, the relevance of experiences from other jurisdictions and the need for a new definition of a firearm.