MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking to regulate the carrying of firearms, by limiting it only to military, police and other law enforcement agencies, has been filed at the Senate.
Senator Franklin Drilon filed Senate Bill No. 129, known as the Firearms Regulation Act, to address the increasing incidents of violence and crime in the country, involving the use of firearms.
“It is high time that Congress should pass a law that regulates the use of firearms because the growing incidence of violence in the country is very alarming,” Drilon said in a statement on Tuesday.
While the proposed legislation does not intend to prohibit ownership and possession of licensed firearms, the senator said, it would limit the circumstances under which a private individual may take his firearm outside of his residence.
Under the bill, no permit to carry firearms should be issued to any person except members of the Armed Under Forces and the police, agents or officers of the National Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Investigation Service, Narcotics Command, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces, Sherriff’s Offices of various courts and other law enforcement agencies and regular agents or personnel of duly-licensed private security agencies or security forces of state agencies.
“Any holder of a permit for a firearm shall carry the firearm covered by the said permit when he is in full uniform and engaged in the actual performance of his duty,” it said.
In the absence of a valid permit to carry firearms, the bill said, it would be unlawful for any person to carry the firearm, even if licensed, anywhere outside his camp, station, residence or sports facility.
No permit to carry should be issued, however, to any temporary or confidential agents or informers of the military, police or any law enforcement agency.
“Likewise, no permit shall be issued to any person as a tool of any sport, game, sporting event or sports-related activity unless the applicant for the same is a regular member in good standing of a licensed and government-accredited shooting club and executes a verified undertaking to keep the firearm covered by permit only in his residence, office or sports facility,” it further said.
An imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of not less than P20,000 but not but not more than P100,000 await those who would violate the proposed legislation.
So what’s new? Again, here we have another idiotic politician suggesting a solution that will have no bearing or effect in the real world. It will just leave more innocent law abiding citizens defenseless that will allow criminals to easily prey upon them. Makes you wonder if the legislator who introduced this bill is simply naive or just a plain dim-wit; I believe it’s the latter.
does uniformed people makes the public safe? no guarantee.. as we all know the tourist bus hostage taker is wearing his PNP uniform. and wakced those tourist..
and balik balik na ito.. gun control only apply to law abiding people and responsible gu n owner.. this propose bill does not affect criminals..
why my idol sen. Drilon getting older and becoming dumb. he didnt have research on australia gun control and switzerland issues gun to every hosehold effect.
Australia, its been 12 months now that government w/ new law forced citizens to surrender personal firearms. Around 640,381 FA, to be destroyed by their own government costing more $500m in taxes. Results: homicide up 3.2%, assaults up 8.3%, armed robberies up 44%, in Victoria alone homicides w/ guns are up 300%. While law abiding citizens turned in their FAs, CRIMINALS DID NOT.
I think this time we as a Law Abiding Firearm Holder should stand of what is correct!…Law Maker’s like him only sees what they have and not for the common good. We should start now organizing and make a stand and let it be heard!….Progun can only do much, but if we organized as a whole, things would change.
i agree on this.
may i know if PROGUN now accepts members? There are thousands of responsible FA holders who are also member of differents FA forums. i suppose by being counted, it would be easy for us to organize any action that will make our voices and sentiments be heard. If those politicians would see our numbers, i bet they will think many times first before they propose any bill that will detriment our privilege to bear arms.
There are many of us out here who are willing to support our cause.