The Philippine National Police recently decided not to ban Filipino citizens from carrying pistols in public. The PNP issued and enforced a six-month ban during the last presidential election with a proposal to make the ban permanent. President Benigno Aquino took office on June 30, 2010 and very diplomatically pointed out why the ban was not an answer to crime in the Philippines. The previous president, an anti-gun advocate, was severely discredited when the Ampatuans, her political machine in the Maguindanoa area of Mindanoa, allegedly committed a massacre against the Ampatuan dynasty’s political opponents.

The new president is reported to be an avid sports shooter and clips on YouTube show him using a semi-automatic pistol with great skill at a target shooting competition.

President Aquino, the Supreme Court chief justice and other influential figures have been frequent visitors to gun shows in recent years, according to Philippine gun rights activists. Experts at the gun shows lecture on legal aspects of gun ownership, sports shooting and how to maintain a firearm.

In the Philippines, any citizen that can afford the relatively expemsive fees can get a license to own a conventional gun, subject to a police clearance and other security checks. The law allows people to carry guns outside their homes if they can prove to police they may need to use it in self-defence. Lawyers, judges, businessmen and even journalists walk the streets with guns.

There are about 1.3 million licensed firearms in the Philippines, with 600,000 in the hands of private citizens and the rest held by the military, police and other law-enforcement agencies, according to police estimates.

There is roughly one firearm in circulation for every 40 Filipinos when you count all the weapons for which there are no permits.

The PNP sought an extension of a six-month ban on carrying guns in public. Every time there is an election a ban gets imposed but after the last election the PNP proposed a permanent ban- at least on “Away From Home” permits.

The national police backed down because trying to disarm the population would be nearly impossible.

“Noynoy” said last spring that he was not in favor of a total gun ban in the Philippines because it might not be the answer to the crime situation.

When the Philippine National Police (PNP) initiated the ban on carrying weapons away from the home it was difficult to ascertain who was giving the orders in the Philippine government. This can sometimes be as confusing as watching Pres. Obama deal with an oil spill!

Nevertheless, powerful forces were pushing to disarm the Philippine population, at least when away from home.

“Away From Home” permits are so expensive that only the rich can afford them and permits to keep firearms in the home are renewed annually for about $100.00 for each weapon! “Away From Home” permits are much like concealed carry licenses in the U.S. but cost about $200.00 per year on top of the annual fees required just to own each firearm! Keeping a gun in your home requires a psychological examination and enough red tape to choke a caribow- the Philippine water buffalo that still accomplishes much of the work done by tractors in more industrialized nations.

There are also limits on how many weapons of different calibers Pinoys can own. One small caliber pistol- e.g. .22 caliber- one small caliber rifle and one high power pistol and one high power rifle. If you don’t have an Away From Home permit, you have to make arrangements with the police in advance just to transport your unloaded weapons to the range!

Almost every time there is an election the national police and/or the President (by executive order) temporarily bans weapons outside the home and roadblocks go up with inspections to enforce the bans. Sometimes the ban is short lived and other times the temporary ban goes on indefinitely! If you have friends in high places, however, it probably just isn’t a big deal!

The country only has 250,000 security forces to protect some 100 million Filipinos, according to Aquino. In Southern Mindanao, Islamic rebels have recently invaded villages and taken local people hostage during battles with the AFP. Additionally, Communist NPA rebels are still active in the mountains and many provincial and rural areas. Given this situation, Aquino said the response time would be much slower.

He said that if laws are rigidly enforced, good police work can solve crimes committed by outlaws. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, on the other hand, advocated banning guns on the streets “to ensure peace”.

According to Aurea Calica (writing for the Philippine Star), Sen. Pimentel announced, “Stricter gun ban on streets needed, not compulsory sex education in schools.” Said like a true politician!

The police, politicians and military often become involved in corrupt dealings with the rebels and other criminal organizations so it is not surprising that disarming the population would seem attractive. It sounds like America if we substitute corruption of the police and military with corrupt dealings between U.S. labor unions and the corrupt Chicago-style political machine that reigns in Washington, DC.

The NPA assassins, or “Sparrows“, reportedly deploy 1911 style .45 pistols with grip safeties taped down. The Sparrow team approaches a vehicle that is stopped in traffic. The weapon is worn inside the wasteband under the belly. One hand inside the pants pocket pushes the weapon upward into the other hand and the executions occur with a well-practiced outward snap of the arms in traffic at busy times of the day.

Some local governments support citizen paramilitary forces such as the Civilian Home Defense Force and its successor, the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Units that carry out extra-judicial executions against the rebels and others deemed sympathetic to rebel activities (allegedly including left-wing activist priests).

According to Human Rights Watch, the vigilante assassinations performed by groups like Alsa Masa against the rebels enjoy popular support because of the misery that the rebels have inflicted on many Filipinos. Motorcycles seem to be a popular means of eliminating rebels, drug dealers and criminals, including children that commit street crime in places like Davao City, according to Human Rights Watch.

Clearly the issues confronting the Philippines are difficult for those of us living under relatively stable social arrangements. The conscience is shocked if it is true that killing street children is condoned.

On the other hand, many of the Sparrow assassins are very young. Every one should receive a trial. The extra-judicial killings promote rumors that government forces paticipate in terrorist attacks. Accusations are also rampant that the leftists attack their own sympathizers and then blame attacks on government troops (and vice versa).

All the deception makes it hard to know who is behind much of the violence but disarming the people will not solve the problem because the government’s forces and the rebels will continue to compete for legitimacy. The government’s claims can only gain legitimacy by means of strict rule of law and due process, not by banning weapons.

The PNP was pushing for a permanent gun ban after implementing a temporary total ban on Jan. 10, 2010. 3,000 people, including 200 government employees, have been arrested since the Commission on Elections ordered the ban from Jan. 10 to June 9, according to PNP statistics.

The Gunless Society of the Philippines said it had has nothing against responsible gun owners. It is against the carrying of guns in public places, however. Does this sound familiar to U.S. gun owners?

The Peaceful, Responsible (pro-gun) Owners of Guns thought the proposals were “impractical and unrealistic”. But Malacañang (the counterpart to our White House) directed PNP Director Gen. Jesus Versoza to make sure that all sides were heard and all opinions weighed.

Certain lawyers’ and judges’ groups pressed Gen. Versoza to lift the total gun ban.

Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza said. “In my experience, the issue is really equally divided on both sides. The decision is not easy to make.” He claimed to see merit in the argument of legal gun owners that a total ban would only benefit criminals who do not care about regulations.

Do the police actually make the laws in the Philippines? Some Filipinos threatened to file suit against the PNP if it insisted on a gun ban extending beyond June 9, 2010.

“We are not only fighting to allow us to carry our firearms but to protect our lives,” said lawyer Banjo Navarro III, A2S5 Coalition interim spokesman. Indeed, Philippine journalists have been assassinated in numbers that compare with countries like Iraq and Russia. On Nov. 23, 2009, 31 journalists were killed at one time in a massacre in Mindanao. Sadly, political assassination will remain a way of life in the Philippines.