JP/1/gun
JP/1/gun
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.