Gunowners association chair champions the fight for the right to self-defence

Damian Enslin, a Cape Town lawyer and chair of the South African Gunowners’ Association (Saga), passionately defends the right to own firearms in South Africa. As a specialist in firearm law for over 15 years, Enslin aims to promote responsible gun ownership, personal choice, and the balance between state power and citizen rights. He believes citizens should be able to protect themselves, engage in sporting activities, and make individual choices within legal boundaries.

Enslin has dedicated his career to navigating the complex relationship between firearms legislation, constitutional rights, and public safety. Through Saga, he challenges what he perceives as unnecessary restrictions on responsible gun owners while emphasizing competency, education, and safe firearm handling. His leadership involves managing the organization's national network, fundraising, and fostering relationships with members and other groups.

However, Enslin faces a significant challenge as the government continues to propose restrictions on firearm ownership. He argues that these measures would fail to deter criminals who disregard the law, while imposing additional burdens on law-abiding citizens who follow licensing and competency requirements. Enslin emphasizes the need to differentiate between responsible gun owners and those who use weapons for criminal purposes.

Speaking from personal experience, Enslin recalls how carrying a gun provided him with a sense of security when a knife-wielding criminal attempted to rob him. Although he did not use his firearm during the incident, having it with him offered a means of protection. He emphasizes the importance of competency, safe handling, and understanding the legal responsibilities associated with firearm ownership.

Saga runs outreach and educational programs across the country to educate gun owners and the public about responsible firearm use in supervised environments under the guidance of instructors. The organization also distributes firearm safety information, guidelines, lectures, and educational videos to promote awareness of responsible ownership.

Enslin attributes mass shootings primarily to criminal activity, including gang-related violence and illegal mining, where firearms may be obtained illicitly or smuggled across borders. To address gun violence, he believes the government must improve crime intelligence and deploy specialized police units equipped to trace and disrupt illegal firearms networks.

While generally supportive of the Firearms Control Act and its regulations, Enslin proposes a shift in focus from licensing each firearm to assessing the person seeking to own one. He believes that competency should be the primary determinant of whether someone can responsibly possess a firearm, with firearms registered rather than individually licensed. Enslin argues that the individual behind the firearm is more important than the license and firearm itself.