Earlier this month, we told you that while the Home Affairs Minister had said that there was a moratorium on gun licenses in place, that in fact the amendment to the law hadn't even been signed yet, and there was a rush of last minute gun licenses being reviewed by the Commissioner.
In that interview, Musa said he believed the law had been signed, but wasn't sure of the date. He then said that there was a temporary moratorium because the law had been signed.
So did our reporting misconstrue his words? He seems to think so. He spoke to us about it today.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"It was a matter of days. I think it happened the following week that the GG signed it into law And that is when the law comes effective. And I had made it clear then that I was not aware whether the governor general had taken that step. But I see my good friend Jules making a big issue over it when I made it clear then that I was not aware if it had taken place as yet that the GG had signed it into law. But that once that happens then there would be a moratorium because it's not then legal for the commissioner of police to sign it into law, to sign any more gun licenses and so that is a matter like I said, that's not in our hands at the ministry. That is dependent on the AG's ministry and the governor general, not ours."
Reporter
"Minister but don't you give it like close following because this is something that's generated quite a lack of public criticism and I believe you'd understand why weren't you interested in finding out? Okay, in the next 3 days it would get signed because there are a whole lot of applications piling up on the commissioner's desk."
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I can show you messages from myself to our attorney general whereby I asked every single day to get an update if it has been signed into law and so I was doing my part. Like you, I am concerned and so I was definitely following up on it every single day."
"As you are aware I'm sure you have had a view of the legislation. That was deliberately included in there that the board the new board which will be constituted within the next two to three weeks will have the authority to order an audit and so like you rightly said if it is that the auditor general's department who is charged with the responsibility to do an audit is not staffed properly and cannot carry it out, then we will order an independent audit, meaning the board not me as minister, but the board because they have that authority to do so."
Reporter
"So by when do you expect a board would be in place?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"Two to three weeks. So there's a moratorium in place as I had indicated at the last occasion, since the signing into law which was about a week and a half, two weeks ago, yes."
