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Opinion

What exactly does the law say?

THAT DOES IT - Korina Sanchez - The Freeman

What exactly does the law say about those allowed to carry guns outside their homes? Are they allowed to display them in plain sight? Are they allowed to use them in a threatening manner? Or are they supposed to conceal them and use them only in self-defense? A friend of mine said she witnessed an incident where a man on motorcycle lifted his shirt, revealing a shiny gun on his waist, after apparently figuring in a road altercation. In other words, he "informed" everyone that he was armed, and therefore must not be messed with. Whether he was in the right or in the wrong in the apparent altercation, my friend could not say.

But is this person allowed to do that? Flash his weapon to give him that edge? Isn't that qualified as a grave threat? If he was an officer of the law, why didn't he just arrest the offending party? If he was some kind of government official, agent or even employee, why not just get the name and license of the offending party? I don't think a private individual is allowed to do that, even if he did have a permit to carry a gun. Or is he?

From what I know, private individuals applying for a permit to carry a firearm must show good reason. This is known as a threat assessment by the PNP, to determine if the individual is under constant threat and must be able to defend himself. But what if that very same individual is a threat to everyone else? Wherein the slightest altercation with anybody programs him to flash, point or even use his gun? How does the PNP draw the line here?

We have to admit that most persons with permits to carry guns are just beefing up their already bloated egos. Such as the guy mentioned in this article. Would he have done what he did if he were unarmed? I don't think so. I think the PNP must find out who this guy is, and cancel his permit if only an ordinary citizen. If an official, then he must be reprimanded. Even police officers cannot just flash nor point their guns without cause.

And perhaps the whole idea of allowing private citizens to carry firearms outside their residences must be reviewed or re-evaluated. There are those who do not have the right to carry firearms. I realize it is impossible to push for a total ban on carrying guns outside residences by private individuals, but the PNP must know who are qualified and responsible enough to do so. Otherwise, we can expect more of the senseless killings happening just because of traffic altercations. Thank God in this incident, nobody was killed or hurt.

ALLOWED

ALTERCATION

CARRY

EVEN

GUNS

PNP

PRIVATE

THANK GOD

THREAT

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