You have a right to self-defence

You have a right to self-defence

Our view at Marksman’s Nest has always been that you have a right to self-defence.

We strongly condemn violence and criminality. But we feel that prohibiting citizens from owning guns to defend their lives denies them a basic human right.

Look at the animal kingdom

Geoffrey Coetzee, Marksman’s Nest chief ranger, likened human self-defence to the animal kingdom. “Most animals have built-in self-defence systems. Snakes have venom, porcupines have quills, bulls and buck have horns and dogs have teeth. We can’t simply remove their self-defence systems thinking that it will make the animal kingdom safer. That would be absurd.”

Defensive uses exceed criminal uses

It’s a known statistic world-wide that knives kill more people than guns do. A 2013 review of the literature by the US National Research Council found that “almost all national survey estimates indicate that defensive gun uses by victims are at least as common as offensive uses by criminals.

Estimates of annual uses range from about 500 000 to more than 3 million. And it’s a fact that firearms prevent countless violent crimes a year. In the US, this number stands at 800 000 to more than 2 million violent crimes per annum.

Geoffrey continued, “The answer is crime control and not gun control. Because at the end of the day, firearms are the most practical and effective way for citizens to secure their lives, liberty and property. So yes indeed, ‘You have a right to self-defence’”.

Relieve your loadshedding stress at the range!

Relieve your loadshedding stress at the range!

We invite you to relieve your loadshedding stress at the range. No worries about power cuts at Marksman’s Nest because you’ll be out in the open air.

Nevermind the important fact that shooting teaches you how to protect yourself, it also happens to relieve stress. And we’re all rather stressed right now – what with more than 100 days of continual power cuts and all.

Both experienced shooters and beginners can benefit from this stress relief at the range.

Killing stress

Stress is a chemical reaction in the brain. But the excitement of shooting a gun at Marksman’s Nest will soon nip your stress right in the bud.

It works like this: shooting targets requires intense focus. So, no time to dwell on all the other stressors in your life. Better yet, this focus increases your mental clarity.

You may not have thought so, but target shooting is quite a physically demanding skill. When standing and aiming, you engage stabiliser muscles that you’ve never used before. In particular, your lower back and abdominal muscles will get a workout during a shooting session. And as you know, this type of physical workout is a first-class stress reliever.

Also bear in mind that shooting forces you to breathe deeply, because only then will your shot be accurate. Therefore, when your breathing slows, your concentration becomes pin-sharp. That means, no time to think about stress.

Social support

Apart from all the foregoing, the interaction with other shooters and your instructor is simply a top-notch social experience too. With all this hobnobbing, there’s no time to be a bore venting your anger and frustration about loadshedding. Instead, you can relieve your loadshedding stress at the range and have a laugh about it.

Join now

If you’ve never been to a shooting range before, there’s no time like the present to visit and join the range. And those who already have guns, will feel even more confident after learning the skills to use it correctly and effectively.

Loadshedding has led to a crime wave in SA

Loadshedding has led to a crime wave in SA

Sorry, more bad news: loadshedding has led to a crime wave in SA.

According to insurer Auto & General, reported burglaries in the first two weeks of 2023 are 40% higher than the same period in 2022. Businesstech, quoted security experts speaking at a National Press Club briefing on loadshedding security risks on 24 January. They said that crime levels in South Africa had been exacerbated by the ongoing power crisis.

Auto & General said, “From murder to hijackings to burglaries, all levels of crime in South Africa stand to rise when the lights go out.”

Protect yourself

Geoffrey Coetzee, chief ranger at Marksman’s Nest, said that this underlined once again the fact that private citizens should be able to protect themselves and their loved ones.

“When the power fails, alarm systems, gate motors and electric fencing stop working. This makes it easier for criminals to not only gain access to properties, but also to spend a longer time on their nefarious activities.

“It’s important to note that our self-defence courses teach individuals how to identify suspicious behaviour. Perhaps one of the most common indicators is when you notice an individual(s) sitting in a parked car for an extended period of time. Loitering for no apparent reason can also be a red flag.”

Avoid, Prepare, Defend

The courses at Markman’s Nest emphasise that safety awareness and self-awareness work hand in hand. It’s a matter of Avoid, Prepare, Defend.

Geoffrey said, “You can’t control the actions of others, but that doesn’t mean you can’t protect yourself. After self-defence training, you’ll be prepared to get out of dangerous situations both in public and in your own home. It’ll be a matter of saying to any attackers, ‘Don’t mess with me!’”

Gun safety

Then there’s the all-important matter of gun safety. Geoffrey and his team provide trainees with firearm safety training courses. These cover: firearm operation; safe handling; the physics of firearms: cleaning and repairing firearms; firearm laws and regulations; and best practices for keeping firearms away from children or other vulnerable individuals.

Rather be safe than sorry. Get training. Be prepared.

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