Addressing overdue issue of gun control

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Having a gun can make someone feel as though they are in a Western film, in which the characters are free to aim and shoot as they please -- in revenge, in response to a perceived offense, for a criminal purpose or just because they can.

But this has become a part of daily life in the capital, with the rising number of cases involving public figures being caught red-handed for illegally discharging their firearms.

This raises the question as to whether a civilian should be allowed to own and carry a gun amid the soaring crime rate in major cities, especially in Jakarta.

Last August, popular comedian Parto fired his gun into the air in the lobby of Planet Hollywood.

Then there is the New Year's Day incident involving high- profile businessman Adiguna Sutowo, who allegedly shot and killed a trainee waiter at a Hilton Hotel club, and most recently, the shooting of a thug hired to protect a disputed plot of land on Jl. Rasuna Said by public order officer Krisman Siregar.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Aryanto Boedihardjo told The Jakarta Post that National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar sent a letter about three months ago instructing regional police to apply the strictest of procedures in issuing gun licenses to civilians.

"Under the new regulation, anyone renewing their firearm license must be reevaluated, including undergoing psychological and medical tests again," Aryanto said.

He added that previously, these tests only applied to first- time applicants, and that those seeking license renewal needed to fulfill only a few basic requirements.

The police also plan to conduct psychiatric evaluations to determine whether a potential gun owner might have a tendency toward psychopathic, paranoidal or sadistic behavior and could therefore represent a danger to public safety.

In addition, police plan to analyze the handwriting of each first-time applicant as well as gun owners seeking to renew their licenses. Police believe that through graphology, they will be able to detect latent personality disorders that could indicate a propensity for violence toward others, particularly if armed.

According to Law No. 8/1948 on possession and use of firearms, a civilian may possess a gun only if issued a permit by the National Police. Other laws regulating civilian gun ownership are Emergency Law No. 12/1951 on weaponry, Law No. 8/1984 on gun registration and Law No. 28/1997 on the National Police, which is the only institution authorized to issue gun licenses.

Aryanto underlined that not all civilians were entitled to apply for a gun license, let alone own a firearm.

"In the case of civilian gun ownership, we only issue licenses to commissioners, president directors, and finance directors of certain corporations, as well as doctors, lawyers and government officials," he said.

Individuals who do not fall into these categories are prohibited from owning a gun.

Aryanto said restrictions also existed with regard to the type of firearms permitted for civilian ownership -- guns that fire live ammunition, guns firing rubber bullets and gas-propelled guns.

The National Police have issued 2,559 licenses for "live" gun ownership, while 8,885 licenses have been issued for rubber- bullet guns and 5,367 for gas-propelled guns.

"So far, we have issued 34,150 licenses (nationwide) for civilians, security guards and shooting athletes," Aryanto said.

Since applying for a gun license through the proper channels can be costly and time-consuming, a majority of gun owners have obtained firearms illegally, which is easier and cheaper -- police estimate that around 100,000 unlicensed guns are circulating in Greater Jakarta alone.

In 2003, city police confiscated 72 rifles, 16 pistols, 96 homemade guns and 7,505 cartridges during raids. Data for 2004 has not yet been compiled, as the annual operation ended late last year. Even so, the figures are worrying.

"We're working together with customs and excise as well as immigration to curb the smuggling and distribution of illegal firearms," Aryanto said.

"Most of these guns were smuggled in from abroad or originated from suppliers connected to the military or police, while others are homemade," said a source at National Police headquarters.

With the rising number of cases in which guns, illegal or legal, have been used in a reckless manner that endangered the lives of others, critics have made repeated calls that the police stop issuing licenses.

And last week, two members of the House of Representatives -- Maruarar Sirait and Nadrah Izahari -- visited Jakarta Police headquarters to demand that they review their gun policy.

In response, Jakarta Police said they would temporarily stop issuing new firearms recommendations for city officials -- particularly following the recent fatal shooting committed by a public order officer. However, there is no confirmation as to when this policy would take effect.

As regards the National Police, the gun control issue is a matter of legislation.

"If the law says we can't issue licenses to civilians, then we won't. Now, who's the one making the laws?" he said.