Stiffer penalties vs gun ban violators sought

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. filed a bill yesterday  seeking to ban civilians from carrying guns outside their homes.

Only the following would be allowed to carry firearms:

• a regular member or officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police;

• a regular agent or officer of the National Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Investigation Service, Narcotics Command, Intelligence Service of the AFP, sheriff’s officers of the various courts and other law enforcement agencies; and

• a regular agent or personnel of a duly-licensed private security agency or the security forces of government agencies.

Police and soldiers authorized to carry firearms must be in the actual performance of official duty and should be in complete uniform in which his or her rank is indicated.

The bill also aims to prohibit the giving of permits to carry firearms to temporary or confidential agents or informers of the military, police or any law enforcement agency.

Violators would be imprisoned for at least six years and one day, but not more than 10 years, and fined at least P20,000 up to P100,000.

If the violators are public officials, soldiers or policemen, they would be imposed the additional penalties of absolute disqualification from any public office, dishonorable discharge from the military/police service and forfeiture of all retirement privileges and benefits. – Christina Mendez