EDITORIAL — Drinking and guns

From Negros Island comes to us the devastating news of a man who accidentally shot dead his six-year-old daughter in Barangay 10, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, last August 30.

According to news reports, the man was handling a gun while he was drinking with friends. The gun accidentally went off and his daughter, who happened to be just passing by, was shot in the face. She was rushed to the hospital where she later died.

The man’s wife has decided not to file parricide charges against her husband, although he may yet face charges for illegal possession of firearms. And that may be somewhat hard to prove since the man said he threw his gun into a river.

While one side of us can say “mirisi” (serves you right) to the man, the other side of us can’t help but feel devastated for a young life taken in such a terrible way.

Like we say of any tragedy, it should be turned into a teachable moment. The lesson being one shouldn’t handle guns while drinking.

Having a gun, or at least owning one legally, is not a right but privilege granted only to those who pass specific requirements and training.

Since the man was hired to secure sugarcane fields, we can say that he needed a gun, but it would seem that he didn’t receive any lessons on gun safety considering he took it out when he didn’t have to.

This is why not everyone should have guns.

Drinking is a pastime many of us enjoy. However, drinking can also impair judgment in those who cannot handle their liquor.

This is why not everyone should drink.

And while some people shouldn’t have guns and some people shouldn’t drink, absolutely no one should drink and handle guns at the same time.

Unfortunately, this was a lesson the man learned the hard way; the punishment of him never seeing his daughter again is harsher than any jail term or penalty he will receive. This lesson shouldn’t be lost on others out there who are fond of drinking and their guns. These two should never mix.