Guns obtained for self-protection: legal gun owners<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
It was minutes before midnight one Monday in August last year,
\nwhen Ferdiansyah, 38, an owner of several dress and apparel shops
\nin Mangga Dua, Central Jakarta, was driving along Jl. Suprapto on
\nhis way home to Cibubur in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"When I got near the traffic light at the end of the street,
\nsuddenly I heard an explosion and my car swerved. I stopped by
\nthe road side and checked what had happened. Two of my car's
\ntires were deflated,\" Ferdiansyah told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, four people with guns and knives in their hands
\njumped from out of a drainage ditch and attacked him.<\/p>\n
\"They took away my watch, wallet and cell phone. They searched
\nmy car and took my money from the day's sales and the car's
\nstereo,\" he recalled.<\/p>\n
The next day, Ferdiansyah contacted a gun distributor in the
\ncapital and applied for a gun. He underwent several tests and
\ntraining to complete the requirements.<\/p>\n
He said he felt more secure now, as he has two guns that he
\nalways carries in his car.<\/p>\n
Another gun owner, Henry Yosodiningrat, a noted lawyer and
\nchairman of the Anti-Narcotics National Movement (Granat), said
\nhe obtained a gun to protect himself as his job entails a high
\ndegree of risk.<\/p>\n
According to Law No. 2\/2002 on the National Police, only
\npolice personnel have the right to issue and control gun
\nlicenses, while National Police Chief Decree No. 82\/2004 requires
\na gun applicant to undergo health and psychological tests, as
\nwell as shooting training to obtain a license. A gun owner is
\nalso required to renew his or her license every year.<\/p>\n
The decree also states that only people of certain
\nprofessions, such as regent, agency head, company director, or
\nlawyer can have a gun.<\/p>\n
Henry, however, said that in reality sometimes the regulations
\nwere not followed, and people could get a firearm as long as they
\npaid the price.<\/p>\n
At least 10 companies have permits to sell guns to civilians.<\/p>\n
Robby Chandra, director of PT Kharisma Mas Indoputra, one of
\nthe 10 legal gun traders, said any individual could apply for a
\ngun with three kinds of ammunition -- rubber, gas, and live ---
\nby filling in a form, being interviewed and undergoing a test.<\/p>\n
The price of a gun that shoots rubber bullets is between Rp 30
\nmillion and 45 million, a gun that shoots live bullets between Rp
\n150 million and Rp 165 million.<\/p>\n
\"After they agree to the price, we make a recommendation to
\nthe Jakarta Police and later to National Police Headquarters. If
\nthe police grant the license, we hand over the gun,\" Robby told
\nthe Post.<\/p>\n
However, another gun trader, who requested anonymity, said in
\npractice most people just paid the price requested by the trader,
\nand the other requirements were taken care of.<\/p>\n
According to police data, there were 15,881 guns registered as
\nbeing in the ownership of civilians in 2004, a jump from only
\naround 2,000 guns in 1997. The number of licensed guns, however,
\npales in comparison to the number of illegal guns on the streets,
\nwhich according to a police source, stood at around 100,000 in
\nJakarta alone in 2004.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/guns-obtained-for-self-protection-legal-gun-owners-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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