Guns offered at police expo

Guns offered at police expo

JAKARTA (JP): An exhibition of police and security equipment
opened here on Thursday amid growing concerns over poor security
enforcement and widespread ownership of illegal firearms in the
capital.

Some 60 exhibitors take part in the three-day Police Expo 2001
at Istora Senayan sports center, Central Jakarta, and among them,
at least five companies exhibiting are offering discount firearms
for the duration of the event.

"The special price of Rp 20 million is only offered during the
exhibition. Normally this Korean-made gas pistol is worth Rp 27
million," a counter attendant, Fitter Firdaus, said.

The company also offers automatic hunting rifles and pistols
that fire rubber and blank ammunition.

"With the cash and carry service, we will take care of the
license," he said.

At another counter, Novi said her company mostly offered
products made by Walther, Colt and Smith & Wesson, but said they
did not sell the products directly to visitors during the
exhibition.

"After registering their names here, we suggest that those who
are interested go to our office for further purchase procedures,"
Novi said, adding that six people had registered their names in
the first few hours after the counter opened.

The office would arrange for the buyers to take a
psychological test and fulfill other license requirements.

One visitor who had just registered his name on the list said
that he was curious about the procedures involved in obtaining a
gun license as saying, "It seems too easy. I talked to a counter
attendant who persuaded me to use a 'short cut'. He promised to
take care of everything."

National Police secretary-general Comr. Gen. Yun Mulyana said
that firearms and other security equipment were on display at the
exhibition for the benefit of the public.

"This kind of expo will help reduce the incidence of illegal
ownership of firearms as people will be assisted in the selection
of quality and appropriate weapons and will be assisted in
obtaining licenses for the firearms."

The illegal ownership of weapons has been a major headache for
police. Through the Sapu Jagat operation started early this
month, police have confiscated at least 95 weapons. Many more,
however, are believed to be on the streets. (emf)