LACSON WANTS FIREARMS RESTRICTED TO VAULTS, FOR SELF-DEFENSE

In the wake of recent heinous crimes involving firearms, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on Monday sought to do away with the issuance of a Permit to Carry Firearms Outside Residence (PTCFOR) for civilians.

Lacson said that while civilians may be allowed to possess firearms, the firearms should be kept in a vault inside the owners' homes when left unattended.

"Firearms are for self-defense and protection of properties from intruders, and not for offensive action by the possessor," he said.

In past weeks, several people were killed in incidents that involved the indiscriminate use of a firearm.

A seven-year-old girl was killed after being hit by a stray bullet during the New Year revelry, while at least seven were gunned down when a man went on a shooting spree in Kawit, Cavite last weekend.

On the other hand, Lacson said deterring civilians from carrying firearms outside their homes may finally reverse the perception that anyone with a firearm tucked in his waist must be a police or law enforcement officer or at least one with a PTCFOR.

Instead, anyone with a firearm tucked in his waist would be presumed as a "bad element without doubt and therefore must be reported to the authorities."

"When this happens, a lot of lives can be saved and a big positive impact on the country's peace and order will be felt by the citizenry," he said.

Lacson also pointed out he had been heading in this policy direction when he headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001.

At the time, he said he had limited the issuance of PTCFORs, imposing very strict guidelines for them.