Are Blank Guns Legal in South Africa for Self-Defense?
Yes, the sale and purchase of blank guns are legal in South Africa. Due to the high crime rate in the country, many individuals seek ways to protect themselves. The government has made it permissible for citizens to own blank guns for self-defense. As a dealer in blank cartridges, we operate under a permit to trade in explosives. This permit is issued by the Chief Inspector of Explosives, and our operations are monitored by the Madibeng Explosives Department. Without this permit, selling blank and pepper cartridges would be a violation of the Explosives Act.
Do You Need a License for a Blank Gun?
According to the Explosives Act, the end user does not need a license or permit to buy or carry blank or pepper cartridges. Anyone can use a blank gun for self-defense without a firearm license. Blank guns are not regulated under the Firearms Control Act (FCA). These guns are considered flare guns. A blank gun becomes a flare gun when an attachment is added to the barrel that can hold and launch a pencil flare. Front-firing blank guns are capable of triggering these flares.
Are Blank Guns Legal in South Africa?
Blank guns are non-lethal alternatives to traditional firearms. They look, feel, and sound like real guns, and they function similarly too. Blank cartridges are typically used to fire warning shots to scare off intruders. Pepper cartridges are meant purely for self-defense and are most effective within a range of six meters. The contents of a pepper cartridge consist of a fine synthetic powder, not a ball or pellet, to ensure safety and compliance with the law.
The Truth About 9mm Blank/Pepper Pistols
If a blank gun is capable of firing any kind of projectile—such as lead, pepper balls, nylon balls, ceramic balls, or rubber balls—it would be classified as a firearm in South Africa because it uses a 9mm P.A.K. cartridge. In such cases, it’s no different from a real firearm, and obtaining a licensed firearm might be more appropriate. Even though blank guns are safer, they can still cause injury or even death if fired at close range. Therefore, they must still be used responsibly.
Attempting to convert a blank gun to fire live ammunition is highly dangerous. These guns are manufactured with different materials and processes than real firearms and are not designed to handle live rounds.
Important Legal Clarifications
Blank guns are intentionally manufactured to be weaker than real firearms. Under the Firearms Control Act (FCA), a device must be capable of firing a projectile with a force of at least 8 joules using a burning propellant through a barrel to be classified as a firearm. Flare guns, which are essentially blank guns with a muzzle attachment for pencil flares, do not meet this requirement.
Additionally, blank guns often have barrels partially made from magnesium. This material is chosen for its limited strength and specific use, making it unsuitable for live firing. The barrel is typically narrowed to prevent it from being used to shoot projectiles, ensuring that blank guns remain non-lethal and legal for personal defense.
