Senators, group want civilians banned from carrying firearms outside homes

Civilians will no longer be allowed to carry firearms outside of their homes, if senators and a non-government organization had their way.

 

In a text message to reporters Monday, Senator Panfilo Lacson said that civilians should only be allowed to possess firearms if these will be kept in their own homes.

 

"Firearms are for self-defense and protection of properties from intruders, and not for offensive action by the possessor," said Lacson, who headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001.

 

"If it's the permit to carry firearms outside residence, that must be disallowed to reverse the misplaced perception that anyone seen carrying firearms, concealed or otherwise, is a police or law-enforcement officer. Hence, anybody seen with a firearm tucked in his waist will be presumed as a lawless element out to commit a crime," he added.

 

Lacson issued the statement following the public outrage over the death of seven-year-old Stephanie Nicole Ella due to a stray bullet in Caloocan City and the killing of two other minors in a shooting spree in Cavite.

 

Lacson likewise said intelligence agents don't need to carry firearms since "the very nature of their mission makes them susceptible to getting burned with their cover blown up." 

 

"Only uniformed police and military personnel on actual duty should be allowed [to carry firearms]. When this happens, a lot of lives will be saved and criminal elements cannot just roam around the streets disguising themselves as law enforcers or possessing a permit to carry firearm outside residence," he said.

 

No permits to carry guns for civilians

 

The group called Gunless Society of the Philippines also supported calls to limit permits to carry guns issued by the PNP to cops, soldiers and security personnel.

 

“Ang pinakaimportante dito, practical at simple, ay ipagbawal na ang pag-issue ng permit to carry sa civilians at ito ay ibigay na lamang sa kapulisan o militar o those involved in law enforcement,” Gunless Society secretary-general Norman Cabrera told “News To Go” anchor Howie Severino on Monday morning.

 

Cabrera said his group does not want to deprive civilians of the “privilege” to own guns, but insisted that these weapons should be kept inside homes.

 

“We would not like a law of the jungle in our society na lahat armasan na lang natin para masolusyonan ito. Dapat talaga control lang,” he said.

 

Cabrera is also part of political party “Ang Kapatiran,” which filed a petition in Congress back in 2010 calling for a stricter gun policy in the country. The petition was consolidated in House Bill 5484, which was approved by the lower chamber in January last year. Under this measure, the ownership and possession of firearms are limited only to Filipino citizens who have passed psychiatric and drug tests, who have no criminal record and who have attended a gun safety seminar.

 

A similar version of the bill, which seeks to impose stricter penalties on illegal possession, carrying, manufacture and sale of firearms, is still pending committee approval at the Senate.

 

In January 2011, Senator Franklin Drilon also filed a bill banning the issuance of permits to carry to individuals other than members of the Armed Forces, the police and other law enforcement agencies. The measure also requires these law enforcers to be in their uniforms whenever they are carrying guns.

 

‘Gun control reforms’

 

In a separate statement, Sen. Loren Legarda agreed that only those in police or military uniform should be allowed to carry firearms.

 

“It is high time that we enact bold and encompassing gun control reforms in this country. Let us heighten monitoring, ensure that there are no loose firearms, and impose stricter punishment on those who violate our rules and regulations. Furthermore, we must seriously look into revoking permits to carry firearms issued to civilians,” she said.

 

“Let us all take the time to reflect on the recent trends of violence that have plagued not only the Philippines, but other countries as well. Aspiring for a gunless society is a step towards achieving genuine peace, and we must all do our part in making this happen,” she added.

 

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, however, said that calls for a total gun ban in the country are "knee-jerk reactions"  to the recent shooting incidents in the country.

 

"I believe that a total gun ban would not prevent a repeat of the bloodbath but would only exacerbate the already grave peace and order problem in our country," he said in another statement.

 

He explained that if the government outlaws guns, civilians will be at a disadvantage.

 

"The citizenry will be at the mercy of the criminal elements with high-powered guns at their disposal. The carnage in Cavite is already tragic in itself; it would be more tragic if we disarm responsible gun holders whose only aim in possessing guns is to protect themselves from criminal elements," he said.

 

Instead, he said the government should just find all the loose firearms to prevent anymore random shootings.

 

"Dapat magkaroon ng renewed effort ang ating gobyerno through the PNP na hanapin lahat ng mga loose firearms na yan, kapain lahat yan, higpitan, paghuhulihin yan. Dapat gawin natin wag natin disarmahan yung mga law-abiding citizens," he said in a separate interview with GMA News.

 

He likewise said that government should increase the budget of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) so that gunmen like Ronald Bae, who was reponsible for the Cavite shooting, will be apprehended right away.  

 

"The gunman, Ronald Bae, was under the heavy influence of methamphetamine when he went on the killing spree. According to reports, Bae was a known drug trader in the locality and his house in Kawit was openly used as distribution center for illegal drugs. The question is: Why was Bae not apprehended for illegal drug trafficking so that carnage could have been prevented?" he said.

 

"What happened in Cavite is a reminder that despite all the laws that we have passed, our anti-drug campaign is not making much headway. Instead of a total gun ban, the government should instead increase the meager budget of the PDEA so that it could upgrade and update its anti-drug operations. There should also be more coordination and synchronization in the efforts of all agencies involved in the fight against illegal drugs," he said.

 

Sotto used to chair the Dangerous Drugs Board.

 

Pending legislation

 

In an earlier interview, Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs chair Sen. Gregorio 'Gringo' Honasan has said he wants to conduct an extensive review of all existing laws on the possession, manufacture and use of firearms in the country.

 

“We want to take a look on all laws we have on firearms regulations so that we can decide whether we have to amend these laws, propose a total gun ban in the country, or pass a more responsive law on firearms,” Honasan said on Sunday.

 

Honasan added in an earlier interview that he will probably propose amending existing laws to increase the penalty for manufacturers and distributors of illegal firearms to life imprisonment.

 

"Ang gusto ko munang problemahin yung unregistered siyempre yung unregistered may nagbebenta may nag-iimport may nagsusupply we want to hit the source," he said.

 

Under Republic Act 8294, manufacturers and distributors of low-powered firearms face imprisonment of four to six year plus a fine of P15,000 while those of high-powered firearms six to nine years imprisonment and a P30,000 fine.

 

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), there are 25,065 loose firearms and 552,338 unrenewed firearms licenses in the country. — RSJ, GMA News