* Hoplophobia from the Greek hoplon, meaning armor, is defined as the “fear of firearms”[and as the “fear of armed citizens”.]
See article that appeared in today’s copy of the Inquirer. In the guise of an advocacy, apparently, they are conducting an early campaign for the next round of elections; at our expense. I suggest PG, Progun, AFAD, FAMAP and the various gun clubs take the lead in countering this latest round of drivel, by conducting its own sticker campaign. Here are some suggested slogans, some are strong and some are logical. I suggest we use strong, sharp logical phrases.
· Kung may baril, patay ang kriminal.
· Make criminals happy, join the gunless society.
· Kung walang baril, bakit meron pang nababaril?
· Kung gingawa lang ng PNP nang tama ang trabaho nila, marahil hindi na kailangan ang baril.
· Kung walang masamang elemento sa mundo, baka hindi na kailangan ang baril.
· Kung walang baril, dadami ang kriminal.
Your inputs, please.
|
Commentary : ‘Kung Walang Baril Di Tayo Mababaril’ |
|
By Reynaldo “Nandy” Pacheco Philippine Daily Inquirer |
|
Posted date: December 12, 2010 |
|
The People’s Struggle for Peace or PSP will be carried out nationwide by the Mga Tagatulak ng Kapayapaan, a group of individual believers from all walks of life in a most peaceful and nonviolent manner through free dissemination of stickers with this singular and resounding message: “Kung Walang Baril Di Tayo Mababaril.” Thus the main activity of PSP is putting stickers on cars and other forms of transport, in houses, churches, schools, hospitals, restaurants, offices, stores, private buildings, billboards and so on. PSP does not involve marching oin the streets, disrupting daily activities and causing traffic congestion. We, the Mga Tagatulak ng Kapayapaan, not being an organization or movement, appeal to all concerned institutions to promote the sticker and its message through print and electronic media, radio and television networks, newsletters and other means of communication. Anyone who funds, uses and spreads the stickers shall be called Tagatulak ng Kapayapaan, and collectively they shall be called Mga Tagatulak ng Kapayapaan. PSP highlights the message that Peace is Development and Progress, and draws attention to the good examples of our neighboring countries like Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Singapore. Without peace and order there can be no sustainable development. No society can prosper in an atmosphere where public safety is in question. Under such condition it is the poor that suffer most. As a civic initiative, PSP is a demonstration of support for the passage of the Citizen Protection Act of 2010 pending in Congress which is essentially a permanent gun ban in public places but with stiff penalties for violation. Exempt from this are law enforcers and licensed private security guards who are in uniform and on duty. This prohibition does not impair the privilege of responsible individuals from keeping a licensed gun at home for protection or for sport. PSP is also a call to save the endangered species: homo sapiens. On Sept. 21, 2010, Pro-Life Philippines Foundation Inc., ABA Party-list and Ang Kapatiran Party petitioned the House of Representatives to enact the Citizen Protection Act of 2010. The petition, together with the bill, was filed via the indirect initiative provisions of Republic Act No. 6735, otherwise known as the Initiative and Referendum Act, approved on Aug. 4, 1989. “Indirect initiative is the exercise of initiative by the people through a proposition sent to Congress or the local legislative body for action.” The petition is supported by the signatures of heads of other peoples’ organizations as well as concerned individuals. These include former Senators Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Wigberto Tañada, former Philippine National Police Chief Raul Imperial, Olympic shooter Arturo Macapagal, Carmelites of Cebu Sisters Mary Lawrence and Mary Josephine, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and 81 other bishops. Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada has agreed to be the “Foster Father” of the bill in the House. The Senate counterpart bill was drafted by Sen. Franklin Drilon. In promoting “Kung Walang Baril Di Tayo Mababaril,” we adopt the statement of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP-II, 311): “To remove social ills, active nonviolence is our moral countersign to the ideologies of today that espouse armed violence to change the status quo. It is likewise our moral countersign to the ideologies that institutionalize violence in order to preserve the status quo. We consider the peaceful alternative as a mandate of evangelical discipleship.” PCP-II likewise asks all sectors of the Church to work for an end to the manufacture and production of the technology of death and the arms trade as part of its vision of peace. (Art. 23: 3) It goes without saying that without funds there will be no stickers to print and to give away. We need your help. Kindly call up Mr. Jose B. Pilar at 0920-9624873 or 633-7601. In the spirit of the Advent season and the coming New Year, let us use the sticker, spread its message and make this our love offering to the King of Peace who has first loved us. (Reynaldo “Nandy” Pacheco, isa sa Mga Tagatulak ng Kapayapaan.) |
Ang kriminal ay may baril, at babarilin tayo.
Bakit di nya simulan sa Mindanao ang kanyang malinis na hangarin?
I am as peace loving as the next guy. But until Mr. Pacheco gives me a realistic assessment that all CRIMINALS have voluntarily disarmed themselves in consideration for his initiative, the police do what they’re supposed to do and serve and protect the people then I will continue to keep and bear arms to protect myself, my family and yes, society if necessary as I am a law-abiding citizen of this country.
By the way, Mr. Pacheco cited examples of the countries that now enjoy peace ( Hong Kong, South Korea, etc.) Would respectfully point out that these countries concentrate their efforts on CRIMINALS, not law-abiding citizens. Besides, some of the countries that you mentioned are either under a communist regime ( Hong Kong which is part of China ) or have a very efficient, professional police force ( visit Singapore and you’ll know what I mean. Nice place actually, but regimented. And they DO have a highly-efficient and effective police force ). I wouldn’t want to live under communists, and I respectfully point out the Luneta Hostage Siege as an example of the professionalism of our police force. Would you entrust the safety of your family to these people? Would Mr. Pacheco?
In Pope John Paul’s Evangelium Vitae on the value and inviolability of human life, which was released March 3, 1995, the Pope clearly clarifies the church’s stand on vital issues concerning human life. Here, among other issues, the Pope tackles and responds to the issue of self-defense. Below is an excerpt from said encyclical letter addressed to all members of the clergy and of the faith:
“55. This should not cause surprise: to kill a human being, in whom the image of God is present, is a particularly serious sin. Only God is the master of life! Yet from the beginning, faced with the many and often tragic cases which occur in the life of individuals and society, Christian reflection has sought a fuller and deeper understanding of what God’s commandment prohibits and prescribes. 43 There are in fact situations in which values proposed by God’s Law seem to involve a genuine paradox. This happens for example in the case of legitimate defence, in which the right to protect one’s own life and the duty not to harm someone else’s life are difficult to reconcile in practice. Certainly, the intrinsic value of life and the duty to love oneself no less than others are the basis of a true right to self-defence. The demanding commandment of love of neighbour, set forth in the Old Testament and confirmed by Jesus, itself presupposes love of oneself as the basis of comparison: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself ” (Mk 12:31). Consequently, no one can renounce the right to self-defence out of lack of love for life or for self. This can only be done in virtue of a heroic love which deepens and transfigures the love of self into a radical self-offering, according to the spirit of the Gospel Beatitudes (cf. Mt 5:38-40). The sublime example of this self-offering is the Lord Jesus himself.
Moreover, “legitimate defence can be not only a right but a grave duty for someone responsible for another’s life, the common good of the family or of the State”.44 Unfortunately it happens that the need to render the aggressor incapable of causing harm sometimes involves taking his life. In this case, the fatal outcome is attributable to the aggressor whose action brought it about, even though he may not be morally responsible because of a lack of the use of reason. 45″
Clearly, the Pope and the Catholic church recognizes the issue of self-defense. The Pope goes even further by stating that legitimate defense is not only a right but a grave duty. Mr. Pacheco and his supporters claim to be devout catholics, yet, they fail to mention this simply because it runs contrary to thier personal beliefs. I cannot believe that a bunch of self-righteouss religious individuals could overlook this encyclical letter. One can only assume that they intentionally omitted this fact to further their own personal agenda. So, instead of spreading the actual teachings of the catholic church, they try to create their own doctrine that runs contary to the stand of the Pope and the church; perhaps they think they know better than the Pope. The “thou shall not kill” commandement is not absolute, there are certain exceptions as explicitly stated in the Pope’s Evangelium Vitae, but these people would have us believe that it is absolute; that even when done in legitimate defense, it is still an inexcusable and deplorable act. I guess they would rather see us die in the hands of criminals than see us defend ourselves and loved ones at the expense of the aggressor’s life; what a real banged up sense of logic. There is no question that human life is valuable and that, as a general rule, the “thou shall not kill” commandement applies, but clealry there are exceptions. As members of the catholic faith we are bound by the teachings of the church, we cannot deviate from it, these so called self-righteous religious advocates of peace should spread the word in its entirety, they should not and cannot omit parts they disagree with or deem inappropriate; not unless they’re trying to create their own religion. I ask you now, who’s the immoral one; at least legitimate gun owners don’t try to screw around with church doctrine; that’s simply fucked up and evil man.
There are numerous quotes by famous and infamous leaders regarding gun control. Some of these are:
“To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them” – George Mason
‘‘Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest.’’ – Mahatma Ghandi, “Gandhi, An Autobiography”, page 446
“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote” – Benjamin Franklin, 1759
“Never forget, even for an instant, that the one and only reason anyone has for taking your gun away is to make you weaker than he is, so he can do something to you that you wouldn’t allow him to do if you were equipped to prevent it. This goes for burglers, muggers, and rapists and even more so for policemen, bureaucrats and politicians.” – From the novel “Hope” by L. Neil Smith and Aaron Zelman
“Quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est.” Latin for: A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer’s hand.” – Seneca (Seneca the Elder), Letters to Lucilius
“Every good communist should know that political power grows out of the barrel of a gun” – Mao Tse Tung
“If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.” – Dalai Lama (Seattle Times, May 15, 2001).
“If I were to put a sign on my gate saying, “I have guns in my house but my neighbor doesn’t!”, who do you think will the criminals rob?” – Gallileo (Progun, February 4, 2011)
Gallileo