Nothing wrong with owning semi-automatic rifles – Robin

Gun enthusiast Sen. Robinhood Padilla sees nothing wrong with the revised Philippine National Police (PNP) regulations on the firearms law, which allowed citizens to own 7.62 mm semi-automatic rifles.

At a press briefing yesterday, Padilla said he has always advocated for responsible gun ownership by calling on gun owners to register their firearms with the PNP.

He backed the proposal of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to have owners of long firearms serve as reservists to defend the country in case of an attack.

“It is a civilian’s right to own a gun. Owners of long firearms should serve as reservists too,” Padilla said.

“Let’s give them the responsibility and a chance to serve the nation,” he added.

Padilla spent time in prison after he was convicted of illegal possession of firearms in 1994.

In 1998, he was granted conditional pardon, restoring his civil and political rights.

Padilla said crime is rooted in the proliferation of loose firearms, not on ownership of licensed guns.

“The problem lies on goons and outlaws, not on those with licensed firearms,” he said.

Zubiri, also a gun enthusiast, floated the idea of having licensed gun holders serve as reservists amid criticism from Sen. Imee Marcos that the new PNP guidelines would worsen crimes by allowing criminals to hold firearms.

Asked if allowing civilians to own long firearms poses a security risk and could result in mass shootings like in the US, Zubiri said the police should intensify the psychological tests on those applying for licenses.

“The situation is different in the US where mass shootings are more psychological in nature. They have a right to bear arms under the Second Amendment,” Zubiri said.

“Here, we have more stringent rules on gun ownership, which is a privilege, not a right,” he added.

Marcos has filed a resolution seeking to probe the “propriety of allowing civilians to own semi-automatic rifles” with the aim of stopping the PNP from implementing the new guidelines of the firearms and ammunition law.

The decision of the PNP allowing civilians to own semi-automatic rifles shows that it is incapable of protecting the public from criminals, according to the Movement of Restoration of Peace and Order.