Instruments of violence

The rising number of gun related incidents at the start of the year is enough reason to take another look at the existing policy regarding this instrument of violence. The root causes of these incidents vary.Some are serious and inherently evil while others are so petty and minor.But they have the same dire consequences because they have one thing in common-the use of firearms.

Jose Ramon Llamas, a young and promising Ateneo law graduate recently met an untimely death when he was senselessly killed by a gun wielding motorist for a minor traffic altercation.The same terrible fate happened to another young man with a bright future, Eldon Maguan, some years back.Between the Llamas and Maguan tragic incidents so many others have been killed or maimed by the use of guns to settle mere traffic altercations.And the gun wielders in these incidents are not the types with criminal inclinations.Some of them are businessmen, professionals and useful members of society who would have acted less aggressively if they were not carrying firearms.Just last year, a businessman who shot and killed a balikbayan during an All Saints day celebration merely because of a dispute over a parking space, was found by the trial court guilty of murder.Another shooting incident for some traffic dispute this time involving even a judge was reported in the papers some time in the recent past.

Barely four days ago,Romulo Kintanar the ex-NPA leader who has returned to the folds of the law was gunned down in broad daylight at a busy eatery allegedly by an urban liquidation squad of ex-comrades out to assassinate the "traitors" to their cause. In the shooting, two other innocent civilians were also injured.Before him, Filemon Lagman, another ex-NPA leader who has turned a new leaf was gunned down in the same fashion supposedly by the same group. Police officers themselves like Baron Cervantes, John Campos and Teofilo Vina "who knew too much" were silenced with the use of loose firearms. Court records and police blotters are replete with cases of murders, homicides and infliction of serious injuries with the use of firearms.Guns have really become the primary instruments of violence in our society.

This is one great opportunity for the President to make an impact on the peace and order situation in the country before the end of her term. Any reduction in lawlessness and gun-related violence will surely be felt and appreciated by the people.

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