The good people at CHASA have again come out supporting the rights of firearm owners. You may be aware of the fact that some malls and shopping centres have implemented policy that effectively bans legal firearm owners from carrying their weapons on them, as allowed by law. CHASA have issued a press release in which they support conceal carry rights without reservation, and challenge the malls to come up with a workable policy that does not infringe on our rights and privileges.
CHASA is a fantastic organisation, and I herewith recommend that any firearm owner signs up for membership at their local governing chapter ASAP. Yes, that includes those of us who do not hunt. Firearms rights are not about hunting or CCW alone, and any organisation that will stand up for us deserves and needs our support.
Without further ado, here is the press release:
PRESS RELEASE
RE: CANAL WALK BOYCOTT BY CONFEDERATION OF HUNTING ASSOCIATIONS OF SOUTH AFRICA (CHASA)
CHASA has been made aware that the owners and/or management of Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Cape Town have taken steps to ban the carrying of firearms into Canal Walk Shopping Centre.
The management and/or owners of Canal Walk Shopping Centre are well within their legal rights to determine whether they will or will not permit persons to enter their premises with a firearm. This would fall under the rights of the lawful occupier of any premises to determine who and on what conditions persons enter their premises. This is why many premises have right of entry reserved signs.
No owner or lawful occupier of any premises has the right to search any person if that person does not consent to such search. This extends to that person’s personal possessions. If you are therefore subject to a demand that you be searched prior to entering any premises, you have the right to decline to be searched but in turn in the owner of the premises can prevent you from entering the premises.
No security officer has any right to search you or your possessions without consent and does not have any lawful right to take possession of a firearm and to store it. CHASA respects the democratic right of any organisation or individual to have their own views on firearm ownership. However CHASA, as an organisation that represents legal firearm owners and hunters cannot allow the decision of Canal Walk to go unchallenged.
CHASA cannot see any benefit in preventing legal firearm owners from carrying licenced firearms in a lawful manner in a shopping centre.
There is ample evidence to support the argument that the presence of legal firearms is a deterrent against criminals and that gun free areas present better opportunities for criminals because there is less risk to criminals in being stopped from conducting criminal activities.
CHASA therefore calls upon all of its member organisations and individual members, their family, friends and all legal firearms owners not to shop at Canal Walk and to boycott not only Canal Walk but all other shopping centres owned by Hyprop and/or Ellerine Brothers (Pty) Ltd
Issued by CHASA Spokesperson Martin Hood on behalf of CHASA.
Kind Regards,
Martin Hood
