Pro-gun group Gun Owners in Action (Go Act) on Tuesday cautioned civilian gun owners against heeding the call of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to kill drug dealers and criminals in exchange for a reward.
“This must not be misunderstood as a blanket call for vigilantism,” Go Act said in a statement through lawyer Rodrigo Moreno. “Like all rights, this must be exercised responsibly.”
READ: Duterte urges public to kill drug dealers
Go Act said they supported Duterte’s call for lawfully arming citizens because “the law has always allowed private citizens to conduct citizen’s arrests of persons who are actually committing crimes as well as to carry their personal firearms in accordance with law.”
But Moreno explained that to heed Duterte’s call, a person must not only be legally qualified to carry firearms.
“They must also have the necessary skills needed for their guns, but must also have proper knowledge of the limits of their rights as private citizens to assist law enforcement,” Moreno said.
Aside from skills and knowledge of the limits and rights, the group said one must also have the judgment and temperament to account for their actions.
Go Act, according to Moreno, is stepping up its campaign of training gun owners on the proper use of firearms as well as their legal responsibilities to the public.
“Our goal is to make sure people know when and how to use their guns legally and safely,” Moreno said.
“It is not just gun ownership. It is also public safety and community security in a broader sense.”
He added that Go Act conducts its programs for free in barangays.
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