OPENING STATEMENT

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING AND BRIEFING OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER AND DANGEROUS DRUGS ON THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF LICENSE TO OWN FIREARMS; PERMIT TO CARRY OF FIREARMS OUTSIDE RESIDENCE OR PLACE OF BUSINESS; FIREARMS REGISTRATION

SEN. DELA ROSA: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. The second amendment to the United States of America's Constitution reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." By virtue of this constitutional provision, it is considered as a fundamental right of every US citizen to own and possess firearms. Along with the US, only Mexico and Guatemala have a constitutional right to own a gun.

In our country, gun ownership and possession is not a matter of right. It may very well be considered as a privilege considering the numerous conditions that you have to prove and documentary requirements you have to submit before one can be authorized to own and possess firearms.

For one, a person will not be allowed to carry firearms outside of your residence or place of business unless the applicant can prove that his/her life is under actual threat by submitting a threat assessment from the PNP.

Despite the rigorous requirements, our government allows ownership and possession of firearms of its citizens because it recognizes the right of its citizens to self-defense against unlawful aggression.

Before the enactment of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, there are 1,650,353 registered firearms for individual and juridical persons. This number increased to 1,869,684 upon the implementation of Republic Act No. 10591. Unfortunately, as of August 31, 2019, out of the 1,869,684 registered firearms before, 45% or 837,758 firearms registration were not renewed. The question is - why? Why did the owners of this firearms risk not to register their firearms despite knowing they can be imprisoned for failing to obtain the necessary license?

The bills under consideration today authored by Senator Recto and Senator Zubiri seek to streamline the process of renewing both the license and registration of firearms by providing for a uniform period of validity for License to Own and Possess Firearms and Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence or Place of Business.

Senator Recto wants to set the period at every 4 years while Senator Zubiri seeks to set the period at every 5 years.

Today, we intend to hear the opinions of all stakeholders with utmost consideration for whatever would be the most beneficial to the general public. It is not the gun that kills but the man who pulls the trigger. I hope that we could meet halfway and come up with a law that shall protect and promote the safety of our people, regardless as to whether they possess guns or not.

Thank you.