Published June 27, 2021, 3:05 PM
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday, June 27 thumbed down President Duterte’s proposal to arm civilians, saying stricter gun control, including stringent issuance or even suspension of firearm permits would be a better solution to stopping criminality in the Philippines.
Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, warned that issuing firearms to anti-crime “volunteers” to help enforce the law may result in even more crimes, especially if this is abused.
“Arming civilians to fight criminality could backfire, especially if they don’t have the proper training and mindset,” Lacson said.
“In the United States, there have been so many fatal shootings due to loose firearm laws,” he stressed.