GUN BANe

For jan 7

GUN BANe

On January 10, the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-imposed gun ban will be in effect. That means, lest I get an exemption, I will no longer be allowed to move around (except where I live) with at least my pistol for protection. Defenseless is what I’m going to be. Same is true with other journalists who, in one time or another, had active threats on their lives. Self-preservation is an inherent right. As a matter of fact, it is enshrined in our constitution. That is because the police and military personnel who have sworn to serve and protect the public from lawless elements cannot be at anyone’s beck and call 24/7.
In the face of recent events, including the gruesome Ampatuan massacre and the spate of media killings that has claimed the lives of many, I have a lot to worry about in the next six months or so. Number one, I don’t have enough resources to pay for an armed police escort. Pity me. And number two, I always move places, rendering myself an easy target, especially when my enemies (people whom I have criticized in the past and have since had an ax to grind) know very well that my only protection now is my laptop which could hardly fend off a bullet and which is too heavy to be hurled in the face of an aiming asassin.
A few months ago, four armed men on board a van paid me a “visit.” Quite an unpleasant surprise because they were at first unexpected guests. I recognized the vehicle as that which belonged to someone in my hometown in Nueva Ecija who had a grudge on me. To give you a background, this person thought he was more powerful than any politician in the area. I will no longer glorify this idiot by naming him. Truly, his name was feared as it became synonymous to corruption, abuse of discretion and other sort of spitefulness.
One night in April, I received a call from an informant that the group was planning to “attack.” I took the warning seriously that when I arrived home, I gathered up a few friends from the police and fortified my house. I was armed to the teeth and so were my co-defenders. Shortly before midnight and when other friends had left, the “visitors” came. The vehicle inched its way up to my front lawn where the armed men were supposed to alight and storm my house. But before they could act, we went out of the house locked and loaded and took defensive positions. Wife and kids in the bedroom, I closed all entry to the house. Asked to give the signal to open fire, I ordered my men to wait until anyone from the van had alighted and that I would fire the first salvo. The element of surprise worked in our favor. The “ninjas” probably realized the very bad situation they were into that before I could even release the safety button of my rifle, the car moved away. We managed to get the license number and reported the incident the next morning to the authorities. The policemen stood as my witnesses.
I was sure the men were carrying three rifles and four pistols. Why? Because two days after the “visit,” the leader of the group surrendered to me. He admitted they made a mistake when they were made to believe that I was the BAD GUY.
A few months after, me and the wife received separate death threats on our cellphones. “Ilang araw ka na lang mabubuhay,” mine read. The wife’s message went: “Kawawa mo naman mamamatay na si itlog.”
And now here comes the Comelec gun ban, which is a bane to most people, especially those who complied with the stringent requirements of law for one to own or carry a weapon. Can the Comelec assure everyone that hired goons and illegal gun owners would abide by it’s stupid gun ban? Can you, Chairman Jose Melo? Can you promise that no woman will be widowed and any child orphaned because of your gun ban? Politicians kill each other, not journalists. I submit to the idea of a TOTAL gun ban even whole year round for as long as it serves its real purpose. That is to prevent lawless elements from carrying guns and ply their routes.
Arming is a choice between raising your hands in submission and applying survival techniques in the face of an assassin. I shall always go for the second option, gun ban or no gun ban.