Letter From A South African
Gun Owner
June 2001
by Pierre
van der Walt
Submitted by a friend of his
Also published in OffGuard Magazine
Dear
American Hunter,
My name is Pierre van der Walt; my homeland is South Africa.
I am from Afrikaner stock. Since
1985 when the gun grabbing started in our country, I have been intimately
involved in the pro gun cause. I have served and still serve on many of the
associations leading our struggle. In the past I have practiced law, and served
in our national defense force in Armored Infantry and Military Intelligence
Corp, eventually attaining the rank of captain and Unit S-1.
I come to you today at the request
of my dear friend Bradley Rolston, an excellent Professional Hunter and pro
gunner to the core. Last year Bradley hunted with one of your Washington Arms
Collector members, Mack Wilcox, and they became friends, as always happens with
people meeting Bradley.
As sportsmen and hunters, Bradley
and Mack had much in common, foremost, their concern over the continuing
encroachment of our right to bear arms which extends into the whole issue of all
civil rights. Mack�s wife suggested that a letter from the South African gun
owners to the gun owners of America might be appropriate at this time. I trust
you are aware the weekend of July 7th, 2001 will kick off the UN�s
meeting on small arms. It is their desire to disarm citizens worldwide! I know
that as I personally attended their West African meetings in Accra, Ghana, as an
observer.
I would like to tell you some of
what took place in our country and hope that you will recognize on a personal
level the danger that threatens you and your countrymen, and the heartbreak that
lies ahead, if you fail to resist.
When Africa was truly dark, the
law of the jungle naturally prevailed. From a socio-political perspective it
mostly meant that the king with the largest army held life and death in his
palms. Later the Arabs came with their guns.
In 1652, the first white colonials
permanently settled the southernmost tip of Africa. They came with their guns
and their traditional right to keep and bear them, much as it was in your
country.
One of the first things the
settlers did to ensure domination and supremacy was to impose a ban on the
possession of firearms by indigenous peoples (the blacks). It is not
coincidental that this ban resulted in the colonial subjugation of the
indigenous peoples until the twentieth century. Indigenous peoples then began
armed revolts and national liberation followed. Those who had been suppressed
for centuries used firearms to ensure that the political will of the masses
prevailed in the absence of democracy. Democracy was instilled through the
barrel of the gun. Apartheid came to a formal end in 1994.
As a result of the so-called
�armed struggle�, amongst other things, South Africa experienced its second
national liberation. The liberation was not the sole result of the armed
struggle, as the fight for freedom had been fought on many fronts, but it was
crucial. The threats of democratic will being enforced violently caused the
elite to bow to democracy. It is an irresistible force that you as Americans
must never loose sight of as protectorate of the world�s freedom. You are the
last front of the �armed struggle� � the struggle not for national
liberation, but for the preservation of personal freedom.
National liberation has rarely
equated in advances of personal freedom. For once look outside America to
evaluate my words. THEN OPEN YOUR EYES TO YOUR OWN PREDICAMENT!
I want you to think for a moment.
As the twentieth century aged, the political cry for increased freedoms became
the rallying cry for political correctness and liberty. The plight and rights of
the individual were seemingly put on the forefront. The so-called flag bearers
of these rights and liberties screamed and shouted �"LIBERATION" and
it only seemed reasonable to increasingly recognize the stature of the rights of
the individual.
IN AMERICA, you are
that individual.
In truth, have your rights
increased or decreased as a result of this alleged increased liberation? Be
frank, do you feel less restricted or not? Are you as private as you used to be?
Did you believe an armed BATF invasion into your home possible 25 years ago? Do
you believe it possible today?
Despite the many wars, some
victorious and some not, we in South Africa had the right to keep and bear arms,
in the absence of a constitution until 1994. That right has constantly been
eroded by our colonial regimes with the sole purpose of clinging to power.
Fortunately we experienced the joy of national liberation in 1994. . .we were
free at last! OR SO WE THOUGHT!
A COUNTRY�S CONSTITUTION AND
ITS CIVIL RIGHTS ARE JUST AS STRONG AS THE PEOPLE�S ABILITY TO RESIST THE
GOVERNMENT RAPING THAT CONSTITUTION. WE GUN OWNERS FORM 5% OF THE SA
POPULATION. WE LOST, BUT OUR FELLOW CITIZENS DO NOT EVEN REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE
LOST THE CORNERSTONES OF THEIR RIGHT TO PROPERTY, THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE
AND THE BASIS FOR THE RIGHT TO LIFE IN THE PROCESS.
In a country:
- Where we have fewer policemen
per capita than most countries, more policemen per capita are killed
annually than virtually anywhere in the world.
- Where more than 500 of the most
brutal violent attacks conceivable have been launched against farmers.
- Where in excess of 800 farmers
have been killed since national liberation.
- Where the police are in the news
on a daily basis for their role and participation in crime.
- Where less than 0.25% of all
crimes are committed by owners of registered firearms.
- Where the ruling political party
has failed and/or refused to surrender the firearms it brought into the
country for the armed struggle and which firearms are now illegally in the
hands of party faithful. These party faithful are not prosecuted for illegal
possession and the ANC can not account for the firearms it�s supporters
have but if a lawful firearm owner has 1 grain of powder in excess of the
1-lb limit he can spend a life in jail. I SAID: A LIFE IN JAIL!
- Where incredible numbers of
firearms are lost by the government�s security forces, the government
thought it liberating and in the interest of personal freedom to clamp down
on lawful firearm ownership but the party faithful are happily cruising on
� unaffected.
The message I am bringing you is that your
civil rights are being eroded, rather than expanded. All the while propaganda
claims the contrary. If that does not wake you up to straighten your back and
make a stand while you have some leverage, you deserve the consequences. You
cannot make a stand once you hang on with only your fingernails. Stand together
now, or hang together later! Freedom lost is seldom ever reclaimed. The world is
watching you, America. You are the hope and inspiration of every freedom loving
man, woman and child in this world. Are you worthy of the sacrifices of those
that went before you? Are you willing to do as much for those who will follow?
Are you truly brave enough to remain free? Then why are you not as free as you
used to be?
WHAT HAVE YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL DONE TO SAFEGUARD AMERICA�S FREEDOM?
Those of us in South Africa, Australia, England, Canada and many other countries
around the world offer to you our friendship, prayers and encouragement. STAND
FAST! BEHAVE LIKE YOUR FOUNDING FATHERS. BEHAVE LIKE A TRUE AMERICAN!
GOD BLESS
Pierre van der Walt
