Thursday, June 19, 2008 Talk back: Shooting By Lowell Belarmino
TODAY’s news on the shooting of a little child (June 16) allegedly by a barangay tanod of Barangay Ermita is a very sad picture on the already hazy situation on the issue on whether tanods should be allowed to carry firearms.
Currently, the various Barangay Intelligence Network (Bin) members and barangay tanods are being made to undergo seminar on gun safety conducted by the CIIB of the Cebu City Police office. While the seminar is long overdue and is very needed, I could not help but compare the basic gun safety seminar I went through under Rey Abad, where it was emphasized, over anything else, the aspect of demeanor of gun owners/gun holders.
The gun safety seminar should not only focus on the safe way to handle guns, how to draw and shoot, but more importantly how to behave as a gun owner/holder especially among tanods and Bin members, wherein the current status of some carrying guns without licenses are implied “for as long as it does not get you in trouble.”
I just hope that my reservations can be aired in your column, and hopefully, the Cebu City Governments and the Association of Barangay Council can reinforce the current gun safety seminar conducted for tanods and Bin members with the topic of demeanor of gun holders/owners. Come to think of it, it would be advisable to include all barangay officials to be issued with firearms by the City Government. And of course, I would not want to sound like I am endorsing someone, but indeed, Rey Abad is one of the credible persons to conduct this seminar.
(This letter is addressed to columnist Karlon Rama)
