ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION

1.        Short title

2.        Interpretation

3.        Botswana Police Rifle Association

4.        Formation of rifle clubs

5.        Disbandment of rifle clubs

6.        Penalties

7.        Membership of rifle clubs

8.        President may make regulations

9.        Duty to enrol as special constable

10.        Saving

Proc. 32, 1956,
Cap. 64, 1959,
HMC Order 1, 1963,
Law 28, 1964,
L.N. 55, 1965,
L.N. 84, 1966,
L.N. 94, 1966.

An Act to provide for the formation of a Rifle Association in Botswana.

[Date of Commencement: 1st June, 1956]

1.       Short title

            This Act may be cited as the Police Rifle Association Act.

2.       Interpretation

            In this Act-

            "Association" means the Botswana Police Rifle Association;

            "rifle club" means an association of three or more persons for the purpose of indulging in target practice with firearms.

3.       Botswana Police Rifle Association

            There is hereby formed an association of rifle clubs to be known as the Botswana Police Rifle Association, which shall be controlled and administered by the Commissioner of Police.

4.       Formation of rifle clubs

            The Commissioner of Police may, on application by any person or group of persons, form as many rifle clubs to be affiliated to the Association as he shall consider necessary: Provided that refusal by the Commissioner of Police to form any rifle club shall be subject to review by the Minister, whose decision shall be final.

5.       Disbandment of rifle clubs

            The Commissioner of Police, with the approval of the Minister, may by order declare any rifle club to be disbanded from a date to be published in the Gazette.

6.       Penalties

            (1) Any person who organizes, or takes part as a member of any rifle club not affiliated in terms of this Act, shall be guilty of an offence, and liable to a fine not exceeding P200 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or to both.

            (2) In any prosecution for a contravention of subsection (1), if it is proved that the accused was taking part in the company of two or more other persons in a target practice with firearms, he shall be deemed guilty of such contravention, unless the contrary is proved.

7.       Membership of rifle clubs

            (1) Every person resident in Botswana over the age of 16 years who desires to join a rifle club may submit his application to the Commissioner of Police through the commandant of the rifle club to which he wishes to belong.

            (2) The Commissioner of Police, may accede to the application and attest and enrol the applicant, or may refuse the application without assigning any reason therefor:

            Provided that any such refusal shall be subject to review by the Minister, whose decision shall be final.

            (3) The Minister may prescribe the manner in which such attestations and enrolments shall be carried out.

8.       President may make regulations

            The President may make regulations governing the control and management of rifle clubs and the conduct of members, and may prescribe penalties not exceeding a fine of P200 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or to both, for offences against such regulations and for breaches of discipline.

9.       Duty to enrol as special constable

            (1) Any member of the Botswana Police Force of the rank of sub-inspector and upwards may direct any member of a rifle club to enrol as a special constable in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act relating to such enrolment.

            (2) Any member of a rifle club who fails forthwith to comply with a direction made in terms of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence, and liable to the penalties prescribed in section 6(1).

10.     Saving

            The provisions of section 13 of the Arms and Ammunition Act shall not apply to the Commissioner of Police in so far as the sale of ammunition to rifle clubs is concerned.