Gun club underscores firearms safety

MANILA, Philippines - Firearms, the “last line of defense” in home protection and self-defense, can kill or seriously injure. As such, gun owners should treat it with care and constant vigilance to ensure personal safety and the safety of others.

And when time does come for one to draw his gun against an attacker, it is imperative he fully knows the weapon and how to properly use it.

Such was the main thrust of discussion when members of Stronghand One Gun Club and guests gathered for their first general assembly at the Stronghand Shooting Range in Quezon City.

Samson Macariola, trainer for the Philippine Judiciary Aazcademy and Department of Justice and author of “Basic Technical Facts About Firearms, Ammunitions and Explosives,” conducted a forum on “Last Line of Defense,” imparting key inputs on the technical handling of firearms.

The forum also gave some of the participants the floor to share their actual experiences in using their guns for self-defense under trying circumstances.

Capping the event that was graced by The STAR editor-in-chief Isaac Belmonte was a demonstration on basic shooting drills given by revolver expert Ernie Balbunar and pistol champion Adong Yao.

“The general assembly is basically about teaching civilians the technical handling of firearms,” said Jojo Go, range manager at Stronghand Shooting Range, the first and only toxic-free shooting range in the Philippines.

“To know how to defend yourself properly, you must also know how to handle your gun properly,” she added.