The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Gun ban began once again last 28 September 2013. It will be in force until 13 November 2013, or during the election period of the Barangay elections. During this election gun ban period, all licensed gun owners are prohibited from carrying their guns outside their residence, unless they apply for and are granted an exemption from Comelec. This year is unique in that we have experienced two Comelec gun bans this year: the senatorial and local elections last May and the barangay elections this October.
A gun ban is certainly intended to have noble effects: to disarm otherwise violent politicians and warlords (and their private armies), and prevent them from killing each other as theyr regularly do every Philippine election. However, this is a case where the means did not bring about the intended end. Needless to say, violent crime and killings continued, as usual. The Comelec gun ban which was intended to curb shootings, had no effect whatsoever on the incidence of violent crime and shootings. Likewise, as expected, the only people who followed the gun ban were the legitimate citizens, whereas the criminals exempted themselves and continued to rob, kill, steal, and kidnap.
In the end, as always, the ultimate losers in this case, are the ordinary citizens who are now left defenseless.
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Tag: Gun Ban
PROGUN crticism of Zamboanga City Gun ban recalled in wake of MNLF attack on the city
This article was written and posted here nearly two years ago on 1 December 2011. At that time, PROGUN was denouncing and crticizing the Zamboanga City gun ban imposed by their local government. With events over the past few days of the MNLF terrorists having invaded and occupied Parts of Zamboanga City, it is apt to revisit again this article and its seemingly prophetic words:
"Yesterday, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday ordered the cancellation of Mission Orders (MO) and Memorandum Receipts (MR) of military and police assets, civilians and other agents of the law, as well as ordered for the strict enforcement of the gun ban in the city. Robredo’s orders came after meeting with Mayor Celso Lobregat, Isabela City Mayor Cherry Akbar and Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar at the City Hall Conference Room to discuss, assess, thresh out and agree on what to do to quell terroristic acts especially after the bomb blast at the Atilano Pension House that killed three people and injuring 27 others. He suspects someone is behind or manipulating the series of bomb attacks to discredit the administration, thus the need to look deeper into this perception. Continue Reading
EPIC FAILURE: COMELEC GUN BAN 2013 SHAPING UP TO BE THE BLOODIEST IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
In the two weeks of the COMELEC Gun Ban 2013, we have recorded for this first month of January , 341 violent crime incidents in which there were 157 injuries and 313 fatalities, as of 31 January 2013. Among the violent crime incidents were spectacular robberies/ hold-ups in the heart of Metro Manila, high profile murders and assassinations of politicians and businessmen, courtroom murders and violence, and ambushes resulting in massacres of innocent civilians, police, and soldiers.It is clear from these incidents that the COMELEC GUN BAN is an epic failure. As predicted beforehand, only the law abiding citizens and licensed gun owners are affected by the gun ban and are prevented by law from bringing their firearms outisde of residence. Sensing this disarmament, the criminals, assassins, warlords, and robbers now know that the civilian population is now defenseless and have acted accordingly, and commenced with a massive crime wave of shootings, robberies, and murders. Continue Reading
COMELEC GUN BAN DEFIED BY CRIMINALS: TWO KILLED AND TWO HURT IN CEBU CITY COURTROOM SHOOTING
CEBU CITY (Updated 10:05 a.m.) -- Two persons were killed while another was wounded in a gun attack inside the Palace of Justice in Cebu City Tuesday morning, a radio report said.
Victims Dr. Rene Rafols and his lawyer Julian Atias were shot dead by a certain John H. Pope, a retired Canadian journalist, as the Municipal Trial Court in Cities branch 6 was about the start his inquest for six counts of malicious mischief.
The report said Dr. Rafols was the complainant in the case. Continue Reading
PRESIDENT AQUINO REJECTS GUN BAN, QUOTES PROGUN
President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday balked at the idea of imposing a total gun ban in the country, saying that a law to reform outlaws is futile.
“By definition, lahat itong gumagawa ng krimen---outlaw. So a law that seeks to reform the outlaws will not work,” Aquino, a known gun enthusiast, said in an interview with reporters in Malacañang.
Instead, the President said stricter laws penalizing gun owners who violate the privilege should be studied, and strictly enforced.
Instead, the President said stricter laws penalizing gun owners who violate the privilege should be studied, and strictly enforced.
“It sounds nice, total gun ban, but the total does not happen because the outlaw will not. So we will not stop in our pursuit to [apprehend] these people who are outside of the law and get them before the bars of justice,“ Aquino said.
“Magandang headline, pero knee-jerk reaction eh. Hindi ko ugaling mambola. Continue Reading
PROGUN denounces Gun Ban in Zamboanga City
Yesterday, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday ordered the cancellation of Mission Orders (MO) and Memorandum Receipts (MR) of military and police assets, civilians and other agents of the law, as well as ordered for the strict enforcement of the gun ban in the city. Robredo’s orders came after meeting with Mayor Celso Lobregat, Isabela City Mayor Cherry Akbar and Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar at the City Hall Conference Room to discuss, assess, thresh out and agree on what to do to quell terroristic acts especially after the bomb blast at the Atilano Pension House that killed three people and injuring 27 others. He suspects someone is behind or manipulating the series of bomb attacks to discredit the administration, thus the need to look deeper into this perception.
Robredo said standard checkpoints, mobile and random checkpoints will be established in strategic places of the city to strictly implement the gun ban. Continue Reading
Robredo said standard checkpoints, mobile and random checkpoints will be established in strategic places of the city to strictly implement the gun ban. Continue Reading
ALERT: PNP Orders Gun Ban in Cagayan Province
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo on Friday said that he has imposed a province-wide gun ban in Cagayan.Bacalzo said that he suspended the permit to carry firearms outside residence in the whole province due to the alarming increase in the number of shooting incidents.The top police official cited the shooting of Tuguegarao City Mayor Delfin Ting on Monday.Bacalzo said that he has told Chief Superintendent Francisco Villaroman, Cagayan Valley regional police director, to immediately implement his directive and declare Cagayan as a "gun-free" province.Ting was standing in front of the Delfin Hotel and Restaurant when he was shot by an unidentified gunman. Continue Reading
RE-VISITING THE ISSUE OF THE COMELEC GUN BAN
Today marks the Barangay Elections of 2010. It also marks the one month period since the latest Comelec Gun latest gun ban has been implemented. Practically 99.9% of all citizens, including gun owners, do not have anything to do with the barangay elections. The streets are plastered with nameless faces and people we never even met or know. Very few of us are directly involved in these elections, as in any other election. Frankly, most of us couldn't care less who would win or lose. And yet, we the gun owners and ordinary citizens bear the brunt of the oppressive rules such as the gun ban. For this current barangay election, all of us (not just candidates) are restricted from carrying our firearms outside of our residence for the period of one month prior to the elections and for 15 days thereafter or a total period of 45 days. Continue Reading
Another Comelec Gun Ban Coming up
Please be informed that due to the upcoming Synchronized Sagunniang Kabataan and Barangay elections on 25 October 2010, there will be a Comelec Gun Ban this 25 September to 10 November 2010. The official Comelec Announcement can be read here:http://www.comelec.gov.ph/2010%20Barangay_SK/resolutions/res_9019.htmlAs per PNP Circular, all PTCFOR's and PTT's are automatically suspended during this period. However, for further reading and information on the legal effect of the Comelec Gun Ban on illegal possession o firearms, read this: http://progun.ph/content/no-jail-time-violation-comelec-gun-ban Continue Reading
Mon Tulfo Speaks out Against the Gun Ban
Responsible gun owners blameless
By Ramon Tulfo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:14:00 06/02/2010
Filed Under: Security (general), Police
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) is proposing a permanent total gun ban because, it says, there was a dramatic decrease of firearm-related crimes during the election period as a result of the ban.
The PNP is mistaking the trees for the forest.
It’s not the gun ban, but the sight of uniformed cops and soldiers in many parts of the country that deterred crime.
Criminal minds, whose guns are unlicensed, couldn’t bring their guns for fear of being caught in police-military checkpoints and by uniformed cops and soldiers who are present in practically every corner.
And you know why there are many uniformed cops and soldiers? They are not patrolling the streets but guarding politicians and VIPs!
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