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Did you know that there are approximately 30 gun-related killings that take place in South Africa daily? According to the 2020-21 annual report by Gun Free South Africa, gun violence has become the leading cause of violent crimes in the country. From 2016 to 2021, there was a 54.8% increase in the number of people killed or who suffered gun-related injuries.

In March 2023, a family of three was killed in an alarming gun attack. Additionally, there has been an increase in high-profile shootings that have left the victims in critical and fatal circumstances. This article highlights the need for effective gun control measures, how gun violence affects communities, and how you must react in a gun-related emergency.

The Need for Gun Control Measures

The fact is that guns are used in most violent crimes nationwide. Statistics provided by the South African Police Services show a need to introduce strict laws for firearm ownership. Even though the Firearms Control Act has specific requirements and checks for people who wish to own guns, it’s still not enough.

Many illegal firearms plague the country and are used by criminals to commit contact crimes. A Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime report suggests that most of the issues surrounding the lack of data for illegal firearms in the country can be blamed on smuggling from neighbouring countries. Yet, emergency service providers such as iER see how gun-related crimes are still a cause for concern.

With better safety measures around gun control, tragic incidents such as hijackings, armed robberies and murders have the potential to be reduced. Moreover, community safety can become easier to achieve. iER has compiled these recommendations on why gun control measures must be put in place to ensure a safer South Africa to reduce violent crime emergencies.

•       It would reduce violent crimes and deaths.
•       Reduce the need for emergency units.
•       Keep communities safer.
•       Lower the burden on public health facilities.
•       Help minimise the intimidation of abuse victims.

The Effects of Gun Violence on Communities

In 2022, there was a high risk of tavern-related shootings that troubled various communities. These raised a series of concerns around community safety at large. The truth of the matter is that violent crimes affect communities. In most cases, women and children are the most vulnerable.

In fact, gun violence causes chaos and increases fear for many South Africans.  A study conducted by Amnesty International shows that gun violence is felt more in communities as it directly affects people’s rights to education and health care. When communities aren’t safe, and emergency response units can’t access these unsafe environments, unprotected people will likely suffer for the following reasons.

•       Gun violence undermines order and causes chaos.
•       It affects community unity and trust.
•       Increased health-related issues due to stress.
•       The slowing down of community development.

Addressing the problems associated with the rise in gun violence in South Africa is the first step towards making communities safer. The government must get involved in identifying what causes these criminal activities and the overall safety threats. Additionally, emergency service units and community services must work together to ensure effective ways to maintain security and prevent gun violence.

How to React in a Gun-Related Emergency?

If you find yourself in a place with active gun shooting, you must know how to react to reduce your risk of danger. You must use the iER App to alert emergency response units of your incident. If possible, you must move to a place of safety. However, if you can’t, ensure that you use the panic alert option from the app so that the appropriate emergency response team can locate you.

You must remember to stay calm so that you’re able to assess the situation. If moving to a safer space is impossible, you must ensure you’re hidden from the perpetrators. As much as dealing with a violent emergency situation can be challenging, you can manage it better when you know what to do.

In summary, more must be done to fight the rise in gun violence nationwide. While iER has the resources to dispatch the necessary emergency response units, further preventative measures are required to ensure that communities are safer. Additionally, it’s essential to download the iER App to ensure you have access to more than 12 000 emergency service providers, wherever you are.