Police begin raids for illegal guns<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Police announced on Monday a new operation to seize
\nillegal firearms and review civilian gun licenses in order to
\nreduce crime across the country.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Aryanto Boedihardjo said
\nthe police would hold a series of raids at seaports and airports
\nas well as border areas to prevent any arms smuggling into the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"We will also check every small fishing boat -- which are
\nusually used to smuggle firearms -- from other countries,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Apart from ports and boats, the police would also examine all
\npackages sent through post offices and express delivery services
\nto find out whether they contained illegal weaponry.<\/p>\n
\"We will also hold raids along the streets to check cars and
\nmotorcycles to find out if there are people carrying illegal
\nfirearms,\" Aryanto said.<\/p>\n
The move comes in the wake of a marked increase in the number
\nof violent crimes such as armed robberies and murders.<\/p>\n
According to one police officer, who refused to be named, the
\nnumber of illegal guns circulating in Jakarta alone reached
\naround 100,000 most of them were used for robberies and other
\ncrimes.<\/p>\n
Apart from seizing illegal guns, the police are also planning
\nto review civilian gun licenses as there were many cases in which
\ntheir owners were found to have misused their guns to intimidate
\nother people instead of defending themselves during a dangerous
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
In August last year, popular comedian Parto made headlines
\nafter he fired his gun in the air in the lobby of the Planet
\nHollywood restaurant in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Another shooting case occurred on the 2005 New Year's Day when
\nbusinessman Adiguna Sutowo shot and killed a waiter at a Hilton
\nHotel bar in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Law No. 8\/1948 on possession and use of firearms authorizes
\nthe National Police to license civilians to possess guns for
\nself-defense purposes.<\/p>\n
\"So far we have issued at least 35,593 licenses for gun
\nownership, including licenses for live bullets, rubber bullets
\nand even pellet guns,\" Aryanto said.<\/p>\n
He said the police would apply more restrictive rules in
\ngranting new licenses for gun ownership as well as renewal.<\/p>\n
\"We will tighten the regulations including administrative
\nrequirements and improve the tests to make sure that they deserve
\nto carry a gun,\" Aryanto said.<\/p>\n
He explained that first-time applicants have to fulfill
\nseveral administrative requirements, such as whether they were
\nholding certain positions that \"required\" them to carry guns, and
\nalso pass the minimum third-class level in shooting accuracy as
\nwell as psychological and medical tests.<\/p>\n
Under the new regulation set by the police, gun owners seeking
\nlicense renewals must take those tests again, even if they have
\nrecently passed them all.<\/p>\n
The police will also conduct psychiatric evaluations to
\ndetermine whether a potential gun owner might have a tendency
\ntoward psychopathic, paranoid or sadistic behavior and could
\nrepresent a danger to public safety.<\/p>\n
\"We'll do a random check on licensed gun owners to see if they
\nare still allowed to have their licenses,\" Aryanto reiterated.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-begin-raids-for-illegal-guns-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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