Res Gestae
Gun ban in malls, public establishments: a notice of inconvenience?
Not the public but only the gun holders are annoyed with the recent notice from Mayor Jerry P. Treñas barring the gun holders from carrying their firearms inside city’s malls, restaurants, bars and similar public establishments.
One reason could be that the notice does not provide a “grace period” before its effectivity. But, is the so-called “grace period” necessary?
Most licensed gun holders may have not realized it but the regulation is not of Treñas. It is not new. It has long been printed in their Permit-to-Carry identification cards. (If you have one, check Section 3).
In short, Treñas simply reiterated through a notice the responsibility of a licensed gun holder. And, if the government has issued PTC only to a responsible gun holder, a reiteration or notice, as in the instant case, is no longer necessary.
The fact, however, is that many licensed gun holders tend to set aside their responsibility to be responsible gun owners. And who are these licensed gun holders? Well, many of them are politicians. Of course, there are judges, prosecutors and lawyers, if not all. Businessmen. Law enforcers. Gun club members.
And, if there are persons affected by the notice of Mayor Treñas, they must be those people: our politicians, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, businessmen, law enforcers, gun club members…! They could no longer carry their guns, at least in those specified areas. In turn, they would feel “less secured” in malls, restaurants, bars, and similar public establishments.
A gun tucked on a waistline gives some a sense of security, even to those persons whom we consider “secured” by virtue of their positions, professions, and authority.
I doubt Mayor Treñas is without gun when reporting to his office. If he has not, at least one in his throng of body guards has. (I want to remind you dear readers that only Iloilo City has a City Hall inside a mall. Ay, daw na lipatan na ya ang plano sa pagpatindog sang bag-o nga City Hall haw?!?) But, I give Mayor Treñas a benefit of the doubt that he is making himself or his bodyguards a model in the observance of the concerned regulation.
The annoyed gun holders must realize that aside from helping them become responsible in carrying their firearms, the notice reiterating the regulation barring the carrying of guns inside malls, restaurants, bars and similar public establishments is safety measure for the public.
We have long list of cases of accidental discharge of firearms, here and in other parts of the country. And the list of victims is as long as the list of those cases.
We cannot afford to perpetuate the list of cases and victims of accidental discharge of guns. And Mayor Treñas has lifted a finger to put an end to it, although it gives a little inconvenience.