[New_comer]

I told you there's still hope!!!

REEE-HAW!!!! :D

http://www.inq7.net/nat/2003/feb/02/nat_4-1.htm

President relaxes
gun ban order

Posted: 11:07 PM (Manila Time) | Feb. 01, 2003
By TJ Burgonio
Inquirer News Service

CLEARLY under pressure from pro-gun advocates protesting her total gun ban order, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has allowed police authorities to issue permits to carry firearms outside of residences (PTCFORs) to individuals under threat, officials said Saturday.

Only two days before, Ms Macapagal instructed Philippine National Police chief Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to cancel all permits to carry guns issued to civilian gun owners and offered a one-year amnesty to owners of unlicensed firearms for them to register their weapons.


Advocates of responsible gun ownership protested the ban, warning that this would leave civilians defenseless against gun-toting criminals.

Yesterday, the President directed Ebdane to issue PTCFORs to those whose lives are under threat, according Senior Supt. Geary Barias, the director of the PNP firearms and explosives division.

Ebdane earlier said that anyone wishing to be exempted from the ban must show proof of the actual threat on his life. He said police intelligence officers must confirm the threat.

"There must be an actual threat. It must be validated by the chief of police in the area where the individual resides or where an incident happened, and will be further validated by the regional intelligence officer," he said.

Until the gun ban, the PNP had been issuing PTCFORs to individuals regardless of whether there were threats to their lives, according to Barias. The police has so far issued some 31,000 PCTFORs.

Reynaldo "Nandy" Pacheco, the head of the Gunless Society, expressed some doubt over Ms Macapagal's latest order, saying that any threat does not justify the arming of oneself.

"Exemptions are dangerous. When you start granting exemptions, that spells trouble," Pacheco said in a phone interview.

Officers of the Professional, Responsible Owners of Gun (Pro-gun) could not be reached for comment.

Trade Secretary Mar Roxas on Saturday said an effective gun control would further boost investor confidence.

Roxas has expressed concern over a recent series of incidents of hijacking, highway robberies and pilferage of goods experienced by exporters operating in the economic zones of Cavite and Laguna.

"These criminal acts were carried out successfully because the perpetrators were fully armed," he said in a statement.

Roxas said the government has to further strengthen law enforcement to inspire confidence among citizens, particularly business owners and executives.
=========

But there's this SMALL matter of justifying a death threat... :rolleyes:

[New_comer]

Maybe the threat of legal action made the President changed her mind.. :D

http://www.inq7.net/brk/2003/jan/31/brkpol_8-1.htm

VACC head slams Macapagal
order to disarm civilians
Posted: 1:30 PM (Manila Time) | Jan. 31, 2003
INQ7.net

AN ANTI-CRIME advocate on Friday slammed the President's decision to prevent civilians from carrying guns and said the move would make them more vulnerable to criminals.

"The decision favors criminals more than it does civilians," Dante Jimenez, founding chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) told GMA Network radio dzBB.


Jimenez said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's order would not prevent criminals from carrying unlicensed firearms. He added crimes involving unlicensed firearms far outnumber those involving licensed ones.

"The President should rethink her position," Jimenez said. "What would happen to responsible gun owners who want to protect themselves?"

Jimenez cited himself and other anti-crime advocates as example, saying with the high-profile people they go up against, they need to carry firearms for protection.

Jimenez also announced he would step down as VACC chair to make way for Lauro Vizconde, whose wife and two daughters were killed in a bloody massacre in June 1991.

"Medyo nagkaroon ng problema (A problem came up) so we reconstituted (the VACC leadership)," Jimenez said.

In a keynote speech on Thursday's anniversary celebrations of the Philippine National Police, Ms Macapagal called for the suspension on the issuance of permits to civilians to carry firearms outside their homes.

Lawyer Jay Mendoza of Pro-Gun Philippines on Friday said his group is considering legal action against the President for deciding on the suspension without Congress approval.

======================

I knew the Pro-gun group has a lot of teeth in it.


Never did realize how BIG those teeth really are, until now!! ;)

[PATH]

Most Fillipinos I have met own at least one .45 and they absolutely love heavy caliber rounds. They generally love guns.
I hope this president gets ousted!

[Blackhawk]

Trade Secretary Mar Roxas on Saturday said an effective gun control would further boost investor confidence.

Roxas has expressed concern over a recent series of incidents of hijacking, highway robberies and pilferage of goods experienced by exporters operating in the economic zones of Cavite and Laguna.

"These criminal acts were carried out successfully because the perpetrators were fully armed," he said in a statement.

Roxas said the government has to further strengthen law enforcement to inspire confidence among citizens, particularly business owners and executives.
So simple to add up, and Roxas doesn't quite get the answer right!:rolleyes:

Effective gun control to reduce crime and boost investor confidence amounts to removing the criminal/gun link, and if you can only remove part of it, it has to be the criminal part. He would be far closer to a solution if he said "Effective criminal control would further boost investor confidence."

[New_comer]

I hope this president gets ousted! No need for that. She's ok in other matters, IMO. And she's on the way out.

The reason: she just recently announced her pulling out of the '04 Presidential race. Too much opposition to her leadership, after being installed Prexy after the "people power" revolution of Jan '02. She's the VP before that.

Anyway, we're a patient people.

What's another year...

Time flies quickly hereabouts... ;)

[cuchulainn]

New Comer,

Congrats. But you all shouldn't rest on your laurals. This is a step in the right direction, but it's not the final victory. You still have "may issue," not "shall issue." You still have to justify exercising your right to the government.

Incidentally, I'm a little uncertain: is a PTCFOR the equivalent of our CCW, or do you need the permit to take your gun outside you home at all -- to the gunshop, to the range, to the hunt?

Edited to add after re-reading: Actually, this is a loss for you :( According to the article, permits used to be issued regardless of threat. Now it's only in the case of threat. No attack here, but you are celebrating that your loss wasn't as bad as your antis had proposed.

If a thief wanted to steal $10 from you and you talked him into stealing only $9, would you be better off than before you met him?

[New_comer]

cuchulainn,

Let it not be misinterpreted that I'm painting a grim picture of our beloved country, but consider this phrase from article above:Roxas has expressed concern over a recent series of incidents of hijacking, highway robberies and pilferage of goods experienced by exporters operating in the economic zones of Cavite and Laguna.
Majority of the country, including our urban centers and major hi-ways are very safe, as majority of police and local peace volunteers, "tanods" we call them, are very visible and truly helpful in preventing crime. The problem lies in the secondary roads leading in/out of these thoroughfares to the metropolis, where there is a rash of robberies perpetrated by local gangs, and sadly, a scalawag or two from the police/military.

Having a handgun while travelling through these roads is no insurance, but it certainly gives these perps some apprehension as to which vehicle to victimize.

The Abu Sayaf is very localized in the far South in Mindanao, that it's not an issue at all in the greater majority of our country. The communist rebels perpetrate politically motivated hits, nothing to do with us regular Joes and Janes. ;)

Justifying a threat, IMO, is the easy part. :D:D:D