Monday, June 18, 2007 Rama: Guns unbanned and seized guns By Karlon N. Rama Stage Five
I RECEIVED lots of calls and e-mails from people over the weekend, asking about the gun ban and I am quite happy to reply that, yes folks, that utterly useless prohibition that bothered only the lawful is finally out the window.
While the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to issue a definitive statement—they are all probably busy with Sulu and Basilan—Comelec Resolution 7764-A did say that the ban covered only the election period between Jan. 14 to June 13, 2007.
Thus, provided you get your respective transport permits from the PNP, all roads can lead to the firing range if you choose to.
The Philippine Practical Shooting Association (PPSA), which by the way had its website redesigned recently, met the open season with a Level 2 match at the SEB Firing Range in Fort Bonifacio last Friday. The event was dubbed the Philippine Army Cub and sponsored by the Straight Shooters Club.
In the local front, no large shooting events have been scheduled for Cebu thus far except the National Range Officers Inc. (NROI) Nationals to be held at the Cebu Pistol and Rifle Association range in late October.
According to a May 21 report filed by Jovy S. Taghoy of Sun.Star Cebu, the police in the region were able to seize a total of 110 firearms from Jan. 14 to May 14 alone.
Of that haul were 17 high-powered rifles. And of the seven police officers under the regional police command, the Cebu Provincial Police Office captured the most at 44, including eight rifles.
At first glance, people might be tempted to think that the gun ban does work.
But the reporter herself pointed out, not one of the firearms confiscated were licensed and authorized for carry.
This means that the guns were illegal and undocumented to begin with. Therefore, these guns were subject to confiscation upon sight, gun ban or no gun ban.
The only thing that the gun ban did, therefore, was to force those who’ve secured lawful clearance for firearm carry to leave their guns at home and take to the streets unsecured.
A case in point was Nestor Zamoras, my colleague at the Kamagong Gun Club, who was ambushed in Mabolo by two yet to be identified persons.
His pickup truck now has bullet holes in the rear, with one punching and penetrating all the way near the airconditioning duct of his dashboard but no suspects have been identified.
Andy (AVeits@maitland-smith-rohq.com.ph) sent us an e-mail that wraps up the foregoing. He writes: “After I’ve seen so many gun-related issues during the election I wonder how effective the gun ban really is. We can read a lot about people being arrested carrying guns at Comelec checkpoints but aren’t these actually licensed guns?”
He continues: “If they are not then the only thing that is being achieved is arresting people with unlicensed firearms. This is what should be done even without elections. If there is no gun ban a bad guy would have to think twice if he wants to attack somebody since his opponent might be armed and shoot back. On the other hand with a gun ban enforced the criminals have a much better time since they are the only ones bringing guns.”
Final shots. For those who went looking but found naught, I missed my deadline last week. I spent the weekend in picturesque San Remegio Beach Club and, despite the marketing hubbub they make, the place didn’t have a business office I could work in.
Next week, an e-mail from Ramon “Boboy” Durano about a pistol only few have probably encountered.
