Guns obtained for self-protection: legal gun owners
Abdul Khalik The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
It was minutes before midnight one Monday in August last year, when Ferdiansyah, 38, an owner of several dress and apparel shops in Mangga Dua, Central Jakarta, was driving along Jl. Suprapto on his way home to Cibubur in East Jakarta.
"When I got near the traffic light at the end of the street, suddenly I heard an explosion and my car swerved. I stopped by the road side and checked what had happened. Two of my car's tires were deflated," Ferdiansyah told The Jakarta Post.
Suddenly, four people with guns and knives in their hands jumped from out of a drainage ditch and attacked him.
"They took away my watch, wallet and cell phone. They searched my car and took my money from the day's sales and the car's stereo," he recalled.
The next day, Ferdiansyah contacted a gun distributor in the capital and applied for a gun. He underwent several tests and training to complete the requirements.
He said he felt more secure now, as he has two guns that he always carries in his car.
Another gun owner, Henry Yosodiningrat, a noted lawyer and chairman of the Anti-Narcotics National Movement (Granat), said he obtained a gun to protect himself as his job entails a high degree of risk.
According to Law No. 2/2002 on the National Police, only police personnel have the right to issue and control gun licenses, while National Police Chief Decree No. 82/2004 requires a gun applicant to undergo health and psychological tests, as well as shooting training to obtain a license. A gun owner is also required to renew his or her license every year.
The decree also states that only people of certain professions, such as regent, agency head, company director, or lawyer can have a gun.
Henry, however, said that in reality sometimes the regulations were not followed, and people could get a firearm as long as they paid the price.
At least 10 companies have permits to sell guns to civilians.
Robby Chandra, director of PT Kharisma Mas Indoputra, one of the 10 legal gun traders, said any individual could apply for a gun with three kinds of ammunition -- rubber, gas, and live --- by filling in a form, being interviewed and undergoing a test.
The price of a gun that shoots rubber bullets is between Rp 30 million and 45 million, a gun that shoots live bullets between Rp 150 million and Rp 165 million.
"After they agree to the price, we make a recommendation to the Jakarta Police and later to National Police Headquarters. If the police grant the license, we hand over the gun," Robby told the Post.
However, another gun trader, who requested anonymity, said in practice most people just paid the price requested by the trader, and the other requirements were taken care of.
According to police data, there were 15,881 guns registered as being in the ownership of civilians in 2004, a jump from only around 2,000 guns in 1997. The number of licensed guns, however, pales in comparison to the number of illegal guns on the streets, which according to a police source, stood at around 100,000 in Jakarta alone in 2004.