Civilians should not own guns

Civilians should not own guns

With some 800 people in the city registered as gun owners, the
murder of trainee waiter Yohannes Berchmans Haerudy Natong, alias
Rudy, at the Hilton Hotel in Central Jakarta has reignited
discussion about the issue of civilians possessing firearms. The
Jakarta Post asked some residents for their opinion.

Susilo, 30, a resident of Serpong subdistrict in Tangerang, works
as a shop attendant in Mangga Dua commercial district, North
Jakarta.

The government should prohibit civilians from owning firearms.
Though I can understand why many people, particularly the rich,
want firearms for their own protection.

My friends tell me that it is easy to obtain illegal firearms
-- if you have the cash.

I hope the police will crack down on people who are in
possession of illegal weapons. Otherwise, we are always at risk
-- we could be shot at any time.

Sinta, 26, is an employee of a private company on Jl. Hayam
Wuruk, Central Jakarta. She lives in Pondok Aren subdistrict in
Tangerang, Banten.

The recent shooting incident at the Hilton Hotel made me
realize how low security is in this country. An innocent man was
shot to death. This could happen to anybody.

I agree that civilians should be prohibited from owning
firearms.

I have been told that the police are informed about the
circulation of firearms on the black market. If they want to stop
the illegal use of firearms, they must arrest the suppliers.

Hardy, 34, is a truck driver working for a transportation
company in Cakung, East Jakarta. He lives with his wife and two
children in Jatinegara, also in East Jakarta:

Every day I deliver merchandise to several areas in Jakarta. I
also pass through notorious areas, including certain sections of
outer ring roads in North Jakarta and slum areas in West and East
Jakarta.

Over the past two years, I have become more and more insecure,
due to newspaper reports of armed robberies in broad daylight. I
am afraid they will stop my truck and rob me one of these days. I
could get killed, you know. That's why I think people like me
should also have a gun -- to protect ourselves.

However, I disagree with "loose" gun control. Police and the
government shouldn't allow people to have guns just because they
have the money to buy them. Screening should be tighter.

The Jakarta Post