Donna Corpin Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Is a total gun ban in the Philippines the answer? Saudi Gazette asked Filipinos in Saudi Arabia to weigh in on the issue after President Benigno Aquino III shot down calls for such a ban in the Philippines Wednesday. Lawmakers and civil organizations began calling for a total gun ban following the death of a seven-year-old girl in Caloocan City from a stray bullet fired by a neighbor during New Year's Eve celebrations. However, the president said such a ban would only disarm law-abiding citizens and give criminals a freer rein. “I don't always agree with PNoy's policies but on this issue I'm taking his side,” said Corlito Obtinalla, a Jeddah-based engineer. “A total gun ban would only leave ordinary citizens less protected and helpless while criminals would rejoice because now they could rule. Remember that they can get hold of firearms whether or not there is a ban.” However, Obtinalla said gun ownership should be more regulated and that more stringent measures need to be put in place. “There should be a stricter screening for those who want to own guns, such as an age requirement, psychiatric exams, and a compelling reason for ownership.” Obtinalla cited the recent Connecticut school shooting as the reason gun owners must be screened for mental health. He added that not everyone should be able to buy arms, including politicians, because they tend to form private armies. He would rather that policemen, soldiers, and security personnel were the only ones allowed to carry guns. For Danilo Mallari, a fire alarm technician at Zamil Airconditioners, a total gun ban is not the answer either. “Kailangan natin ng disiplina at responsibilidad. Ang hirap kasi sa mga Pinoy, kapag may baril akala mo kung sino na eh. (What we need is more discipline and responsibility. The problem with some Filipinos is that when they have a gun, they start to think they are somebody.)” Mallari echoed recommendations for stricter measures toward gun ownership. “Dapat paigtingin pa ng mga awtoridad ang kanilang kampanya kontra loose fire arms. (Authorities should enforce a stronger campaign against loose fire arms.)” Meanwhile, Jonathan Padua, an IT employee at Juffali Information Systems Center, said no citizen would need a gun if the community were safe to live in. Asked if stricter measures toward gun ownership could help address the problem, Padua said: “Legal, responsible ownership of firearms is very subjective … I bet a great percentage of those who have killed someone and were convicted were assumed to be responsible owners upon filing their application to possess a gun. “In the end, if our police force would be proactive rather than just reactive, malaki ang mababawas sa kriminalidad sa bansa (crime would greatly go down in the country).”
