ANGARA TO GUNOWNERS: BE RESPONSIBLE GUN-WIELDERS
THIS NEW YEAR
Urges public not to celebrate New Year with indiscriminate gun firing

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today advised the gun-wielding public including military and police authorities not to celebrate the New Year revelry through indiscriminate gun firing.

"Stray bullets do not discriminate who their next victim would be. From new-borns to senior citizens, indiscriminate gun firing places everyone's lives at risk just because of some gun-wielding people who wants to celebrate New Year in an irresponsible way," said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

He added, "Promoting responsible gun ownership is the key policy issue here. Gun is not a power, in which police and military authorities are entitled to have, to be abused. The power to wield a gun comes with the corollary responsibility to promote public safety. And New Year is not the time to tolerate irresponsibility, I urge proper authorities to pay extra attention on this and let violators face consequences to the fullest extent of the law."

According to Department of Health statistics, a week before the New Year at least two cases of stray-bullet injuries have been confirmed.

News reports have also confirmed that an eight-year-old boy who was hit by a stray bullet on Christmas Day in Caloocan City has already died.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III expressed admitted alarm over the incident, adding it eclipsed the 58-percent drop in firecracker-related injuries so far this year.

Meanwhile, for their part several units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) had already started the annual sealing of firearms of their men. This is intended to ensure they do not fire their weapons indiscriminately to welcome the New Year.

Eastern Police District and Bulacan Police have both opted to seal their men's guns as part of the Philippine National Police's (PNP) annual campaign Oplan Iwas Paputok.

"Let us all be responsible citizens, for us to face 2009 safely, merrily and full of blessings and bounty," added Angara.