Proposal to liberalize gun ownership slammed

The Philippine National Police (PNP) expressed concern yesterday over the proposal made by an anti-crime watchdog to liberalize the regulations on firearm ownership to allow more civilians to carry guns for self-defense.

"It’s going to bring back society to the wild, wild west. When a person has a gun, he tends to act as cop, prosecutor and judge," PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said.

"There is a danger of discarding the law and this would surely result in more crimes," he said.

Pagdilao made the statement in reaction to the proposal of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) to relax strict regulations on firearm ownership and allow more civilians to own and carry guns for their protection.

VACC is pushing the proposal and calling on every citizen to consider carrying firearms following the abolition of the death penalty as capital punishment which President Arroyo signed into law last Saturday.

The VACC argued the police will have its hands full going after criminals who have been emboldened by the repeal of the death penalty law.

The group said citizens properly trained in the use of firearms can support the police in anti-crime efforts.

Instead of arming civilians, Pagdilao said the better idea is to help the police solve crimes. — Cecille Suerte Felipe