Gun ban violations
At present, over a hundred have been arrested for violation of the Comelec gun ban. The ban on the carrying of firearms outside residences takes place whenever an election period draws near, and several months after. The idea is to deter any election-related violence that may erupt between rival candidates, especially those with armed personnel always in tow, among other reasons. But pro-gun advocates see this as a violation of their rights to protect themselves, citing that the PNP cannot guarantee everyone's safety at all times. If the crime rate does go down during the gun ban is something I would like to see, if only to justify the said ban.
According to pro-gun advocates, criminals do not follow the gun ban, only law-abiding citizens do, thereby placing them at the mercy of the former. Criminals will not readily victimize an armed citizen. This is the rationale for carrying a weapon. But the so-called law-abiding citizens only end up using these guns as an edge over those without. Take the case of the couple arrested for violating the gun ban.
A passenger jeepney hits an SUV at an intersection in Manila. The whole incident was caught on CCTV. The driver of the SUV alights, hurls invectives at the driver of the jeepney, while brandishing a gun. Makes me wonder where the threat is coming from for him to immediately draw his weapon. Police arrive at the scene, and even they are not spared from the driver's rage. And since he was holding a gun, they have to arrest him as well. Further inspection revealed that the driver's wife was also armed with a pistol in her purse. Both are now facing multiple charges from violating the gun ban to grave threat.
Why were they insistent on carrying guns with the gun ban in full effect? They could not produce any documents exempting them from the ban, which the Comelec can issue upon reviewing the reasons for the exemption. If they are constantly under threat which is why they both have to be armed, then they should have asked the Comelec for an exemption. I would guess they know someone, somewhere whom they think will bail them out of any situations like this. But for now, both are in custody. I can only wonder for how long. If cases are immediately filed against those supposedly having one bullet in their baggage, isn't brandishing a loaded gun on the streets in the middle of a gun ban a more serious offense?
There really are those who just cannot imagine going out of their homes unarmed. The guns have been an integral part of their lives, they actual feel naked and vulnerable without them. What this SUV driver has shown was the wrong reason to carry a gun, which is unfortunately the real reason why many carry guns. It is to intimidate, have a superior edge, over those who are not armed. It is not to fight criminals, but to be superior to everyone else.
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