Group hopes Aquino would sign gun bill

MANILA, Philippines - A group of gun enthusiasts, led by world shooting champion Jethro Dionisio, are looking forward to President Aquino signing into law a firearms bill that had been passed by both houses of Congress.

“We are hoping that this (gun bill), will be signed into law by our fellow shooter, President Aquino,” Dionisio said in last Friday’s Firearms Enthusiasts Day organized by the Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers (AFAD), which he also heads.

Under the gun bill, the first ever in the country, licensed gun holders are mandated to actively promote advocacies for responsible gun ownership in line with their role as peace advocates in the country.

The bill also stipulates that it would be an inherent right, subject to the underlying provisions of the law, of every licensed gunholder to be issued a permit to carry their gun outside of their residence.

Environmental lawyer Judo Bonifacio, himself a gun enthusiast and president of the A2S5 coalition, said the gun bill contains certain important protective clauses for legitimate gun owners.

Bonifacio also observes that under the present setup – enforced by the Philippine National Police-Firearms And Explosive Division – licensed gunholders go through the “eye of a needle” before they can secure a Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR).

“A lot of us are having difficulty in securing PTCFOR but with the new (gun bill), the policy (guidelines) will be different,” he said but did not elaborate.