Ban guns

When the 16th Congress opens in July, members of the Lower House from Cebu should weigh in on the proposal for a law to ban the carrying of guns in Philippine society.

There is more than enough evidence in Cebu to justify the prohibition on the carrying of firearms, and we do not just mean the headline grabbing news of late.

Argao Councilor Joaquin Banosong, man described by his wife as someone without enemies was shot dead last Monday afternoon.

The last term councilor was about to board his car when a lone gunman, who apparently had a motorcycle driving accomplice, shot him in the temple.

ALA Boxing Gym trainer Lowie Bantigue was shot dead while buying beer at a Mandaue City store last Saturday.

Witnesses said a certain Danilo Pepito, infuriated after Bantigue kissed his daughter, was responsible for the fatal shooting.

Retired SPO3 Ulysses Desamparado was cited as the suspect in the May 25 shooting of former Talisay City councilor Emil go and Junrey Bacalso over a cockfighting dispute.

President Benigno Aquino III, a shooting hobbyist, earlier this year manifested his aversion to the enactment of a gun ban law.

The President said, “This public clamor only deepens the necessity of discernment to determine if this will be the solution to the issue. Is the problem about licensed gun owners, or lawless elements?”

The President’s categories are not complete. What is to prevent a licensed gun owner from becoming lawless?

Even persons who are legitimately issued firearms like members of the military and police fell innocent lives whenever they use their guns in new year revelry.

“Will a total gun ban really deter kidnappers, murderers, and robbers, and terrorists from committing their crimes?” the President asked.

We ask in turn, will not kidnappers, murderers, and robbers, and terrorists have a harder time carrying out their sinister plans if guns were not sold as easily as they are sold in gun shops today?

Will not making guns foreign to a society make them easier to smoke out at the gateways to the country?

One piece of legislation shelved in Congress is the Citizen’s Protection Act of 2010.

It was filed by Catholic bishops and prolife groups. Signatories include  former Senators Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Wigberto Tanada.

“Possession by civilians or private persons of such deadly weapons is not a matter of right,” the document reads.

“It assumes the predominance in our society of the law of the jungle tacitly encouraging a ‘war of all against all’ and ‘every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost’ rather than indicating trust in the government and our duly constituted authorities. Society can take no shorter route to anarchy than this road.”