EDITORIAL - Shooting straight

A majority of cops cannot shoot straight, according to a ranking official of the Philippine National Police. The problem is not new, and the public has seen the consequences: criminals getting away, or hostages being killed instead of or together with the hostage taker.

Shooting people is not a principal task of police officers. It would be better if they received more training in modern criminal investigation, so they don’t have to resort to torture and other extrajudicial short cuts in trying to solve a crime. But too often we have seen the ugly results when cops who are poor shots respond to emergencies.

PNP officials are aware of the reason for the problem. Cops, too many of whom can be classified as living below the poverty line, cannot afford ammunition for regular practice in marksmanship. The PNP noted that an original bullet for the typical government-issued handgun costs P25 each while a reload costs P6. Even at a third the price of the original, the cost of the reload is still a burden on cops whose take-home pay is barely above the minimum wage.

Being a poor shot may not matter for deskbound police officers. But for those on regular patrol, or whose units specialize in going after certain types of criminals, marksmanship can be an indispensable asset. The skill is needed particularly when cops are pitted against well-funded organized crime rings whose members can afford to buy the best guns and ammunition for regular target practice.

The PNP is said to be considering private groups for help in providing marksmanship training for cops. The government itself must consider investing more to address this problem. In law enforcement, as in many aspects of life, you get what you pay for. If the government wants the PNP to perform efficiently in keeping the public safe, it must be prepared to invest in the tools needed for the job.