What if Oscar didn’t have a gun?

Questions posted in the media asking whether Reeva could have had a better chance at living a long and healthy life, spells one notion – naivety. This is asking whether criminality would find its end if stricter laws were implemented. And with the upcoming legislation restricting the use of guns, the same question applies: are guns laws supposed to protect society, when it results in leaving them defenceless?

What if Reeva had a gun? Could she have defended herself and be alive today? It was well-known that Oscar had a volatile temper. Often, in domestic abuse cases, women have a difficult time confronting their abusive spouses and Reeva could have been in the same situation. Gun laws do not prevent abuse. Guns laws do not prevent rape. And guns laws definitely would not have kept Reeva alive.

Things could have turned out very differently if Reeva owned a gun. If she was fearing for her life then she may have carried the weapon everywhere she went. If she received adequate training in the correct use of firearms she may have been able to defend herself and she may still be with us today.

self protection

The Gun did it

Losing your only daughter in the way Barry and June Steenkamp did certainly seems like a good enough reason lose all hope and interest in life. There are no words of comfort when they know that her last moments were filled with fear and ended in pain. The media made mourning in private a little harder for Barry and June Steenkamp than expected; a long public trial followed the death of South-African model Reeva Steenkamp which resulted in jail time for superstar athlete Oscar Pistorious. The ever present media gave June Steenkamp the opportunity to raise her voice. She claimed to be speaking out only prevent this happening to someone else.

This would have been admirable if not for a few uneducated statements. At the launch of her book about Reeva’s life, death and legacy June reportedly stated that “If Oscar didn’t have guns Reeva would be alive today. She would be here with me – if Oscar didn’t have guns.” This immediately raised concern to her intentions. If Oscar had shot an intruder and saved Reeva’s life would she still be trying to spark discussions on gun control or rather use her five minutes of fame to encourage private gun ownership. June further stated “she would have walked away from a situation.

That is a point factored. Why would somebody have ten guns? Why should they? It’s too easy” She also raised the issue of gun control at the University of Johannesburg. Reeva was shot dead with one gun. The decision to pull the trigger was made by a scared man fearing for his life. Even if this was not the case, the gun was consciously used for protection.

There for guns don’t kill people, people kill people. A selfless act or basking in the spotlight, either way June should not be making erroneous statements about gun control when she clearly has not clue what she is talking about. South-Africa has the highest murder rate per capita in the world. Relying on the excellent service of the police to protect our loved ones has certainly proved to be working.

Private gun control has become essential to our safety. June Steenkamp should rather try to do some good with the media attention that has been thrown her way then go around making wild irresponsible claims.