Gun culture

There has to be a direct correlation between the ease of access to firearms and gun violence.

The proliferation of both registered and unlicensed firearms must be among the top reasons for our country having one of the highest murder and homicide rates in this region.

It’s the same case in the United States, where bearing arms is a right enshrined in the constitution, and where it’s easy to buy guns, gun parts and ammunition even if you’re a foreigner. Worldwide, the US has the highest number of cases of lethal gun violence in schools.

Gun violence, as we all sadly know, is common all over our country, cutting across all income levels.

Just recently, for example, I was stunned to find out, from the news and the neighborhood grapevine, that my suki husband-and-wife fishmongers in a talipapa near my home had died. The guy was shot dead in front of their stall before he could get out of their van with their fish cargo at the crack of dawn.

Surveillance video showed the killer strolling casually toward the van, opening fire and then driving away on a motorcycle, which was traced to the victim’s wife. The killer was arrested hours later.

The wife, a bubbly woman, hanged herself the next day at their home, reportedly after being told that she was a possible suspect because, apart from being the owner of the motorcycle, she and the killer, said to be jobless, had been lovers for three years.

Such crimes of passion are hardly unique. Neither is the use of guns for all sorts of crimes. In Maguindanao del Sur last January, the mayor of Shariff Aguak was even attacked with a rocket-propelled grenade. Being no stranger to ambush attempts, he survived the RPG attack on his bulletproof SUV. The three gunmen were pursued and shot dead by police and military teams.

How do criminals obtain RPGs in this country? For that matter, how did that jobless man who killed the fishmonger get hold of a gun?

*      *      *

Strict gun control has to be among the top reasons for the low crime rates in Japan, South Korea and Singapore – three of the safest countries in the region.

In those countries, only members of law enforcement and national security agencies are issued firearms – and they can’t bring the guns home with them.

Under Republic Act 10591, there are five types of gun licenses in our country. Type 1 allows ownership of up to two registered firearms; Type 2, up to five; Type 3, up to 10; Type 4, up to 15, and Type 5 – for certain entities and individuals including “certified gun collectors” – the number is effectively unlimited.

Civilians are limited to ownership only of “small arms” and a maximum of 50 rounds of ammunition per gun, although “licensed sports shooters” may be allowed by the police Firearms and Explosives Office to own more ammo. “Small arms,” however, refer not only to handguns, but also rifles and shotguns.

Weapons with greater firepower than these, such as assault rifles, submachine guns, RPGs and portable anti-tank missile and rocket systems are classified as “light (class A or class B) weapons” and are supposed to be exclusively issued only to the military, police and other law enforcement agencies. All registered guns must be kept under lock and key in a vault or other secure area.

What’s a “certififed gun collector”? The definition is as malleable and discretionary as our judicial system. All cops, both retired and in the active service, can probably qualify as a “gun collector” – including the lowest ranking but with the right connections.

All politicians can also qualify; they need personal arsenals for their bodyguards (mostly under the payroll of taxpayers).

*      *      *

A look at the list of guns registered under Sen. Ronald dela Rosa illustrates the “unli” nature of a Type 5 license. Dela Rosa, whereabouts unknown, has 117 guns registered under his name, including several assault rifles and submachine guns. Sure, he’s a former national police chief, but he’s now a civilian.

His bosing who’s detained in The Hague, gun enthusiast Rodrigo Duterte, had 363 registered firearms, although he claimed to own about 500 – the better, I guess, for exterminating anyone who crossed his path.

It’s a safe bet that most of the political dynasties have massive personal arsenals for their private armies. Even their gardeners probably own guns.

Owners of registered guns argue that they need to defend themselves from the many lowlifes who own unlicensed firearms. These criminals include ransom kidnappers, carjackers, gambling thugs, muggers and drug dealers. It’s not unusual for these thugs to be armed with assault rifles, machine pistols, and even the Barrett .50-caliber sniper rifle that can disable light armored vehicles and severely mutilate human flesh and bone.

It’s become a chicken-and-egg thing. Do you curb gun ownership all around first, or go after those with unlicensed firearms? Is the government even capable of collecting all those loose firearms?

While we’re at a loss for answers, some kids are looking for guns that can turn their GoreBox games into reality – with their classmates as real-life targets.

If there are guns within easy reach, kids will likely pick them up and use them.