NAGA CITY - Responsible and licensed gun owners have called the latest order of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to prohibit civilians, even with license and permits-to-carry, as sweeping and unfair.

The other week President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had made the order following cases of senseless killings specially in the Metropolitan Manila area.

The licensed gun owners argue that the government should instead intensify their campaign against loose firearms specially in Mindanao.

This (the gun ban) can also lead to more criminality as criminals, with or without gun ban are carrying firearms. And since their target victims have no guns they will become an easy targets of these bad elements.

In Naga City members of the local shooting club have appealed to President Arroyo to reconsider her decision and exempt their members. They said that statistics would show that 85 percent of the total crimes were with the use of unlicensed guns and only around 15 percent were traced to licensed guns.

City Councilor Julian Lavadia, Jr. and City Assessor Engr. Ramon Albeus, said that the mere fact that people are getting licences shows that they are responsible gun owners. They said that they should not be prohibited to carry guns, as it also serves to protect their business.

At the Naga City police office, Police Chief Francisco Peñaflor Jr. said that they are just waiting for the implementing guidelines which may come out next week before they will finally implement the order of the president.

The police however hopes that the order would exempt those who have real needs for guns, like those members of a gun-shooting clubs, and others as they may determine.

But unless there is an order to the contrary, he said that they will implement the orders of their commander-in-chief, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

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