Traditional Anti-gun rhetoric in the Philippines has centered on arguments of faith. Specifically, those who argue against individual gun ownership, assert that gun ownership is purportedly not in accord with the Christian faith. In so doing, the anti-gunners seek to label gun owners as anti-Christian or not possessing the values of true Christians.

To refute such flawed arguments, we cite the case of St. Gabriel Possenti who is the Catholic Church's patron Saint of all marksmen (quoted from Saint Gabriel Possenti Society at www.gunsaint.com).

In 1860, a band of soldiers from the army of Garibaldi entered the mountain village of Isola, Italy. They began to burn and pillage the town, terrorizing its inhabitants.

Possenti, with his seminary rector's permission, walked into the center of town, unarmed, to face the terrorists. One of the soldiers was dragging off a young woman he intended to rape when he saw Possenti and made a snickering remark about such a young monk being all alone.

PNP chief orders tight watch on gun purchases
By Jaime Laude The Philippine Star Updated April 22, 2012 12:00 AM 2 comments to this post 

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome has directed the Firearms and Explosive Division (FED) to closely monitor the procurement of firearms by civilians.

PROGUN extends its congratulations and best wishes ARMS CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (ARMSCOR). This year, the Philippines' pioneer firearms manufacturer and the largest gun maker in Asia, and the world's largest manufacturer of 1911 pistols, is celebrating its "triple anniversary": 70 years of manufacturing, 60 years under the Tuason Family ownership, and 50 years under the leadership of Demetrio "Bolo" Tuason.

In 1905, two Englishmen named Roy Squires and William Bingham put up a photo print shop and merchandising firm in the Philippines. The company established was called Squires, Bingham & Co.

Squires and Bingham eventually expanded their business to general trading; importing and retailing motorcycles and sporting goods - including firearms and ammunition. By the 1930's, Squires Bingham Co. had become popularly associated with sporting guns. It was at this point in time that Arthur D. Hileman, an ex-US Army Hospital Corpsman, purchased the store from its original owners.

In 1941, the store - referred to as the "Sportsmen's Headquarters" - found a new owner in Celso S. Tuason. Unfortunately, just four months after he purchased the store, World War II broke out and Japan invaded the Philippines! Naturally, the invaders first order of business, much to dismay of Don Celso, was to confiscate all the firearms in his store. To survive, Squires Bingham Company had to rely on its clothing and haberdashery during those dark years.

Yesterday, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday ordered the cancellation of Mission Orders (MO) and Memorandum Receipts (MR) of military and police assets, civilians and other agents of the law, as well as ordered for the strict enforcement of the gun ban in the city. Robredo’s orders came after meeting with Mayor Celso Lobregat, Isabela City Mayor Cherry Akbar and Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar at the City Hall Conference Room to discuss, assess, thresh out and agree on what to do to quell terroristic acts especially after the bomb blast at the Atilano Pension House that killed three people and injuring 27 others. He suspects someone is behind or manipulating the series of bomb attacks to discredit the administration, thus the need to look deeper into this perception. 

Robredo said standard checkpoints, mobile and random checkpoints will be established in strategic places of the city to strictly implement the gun ban.

MANILA, Philippines – One of the Philippines’ representatives to an international practical shooting competition was killed in an ambush in Malabon on Sunday afternoon.

The victim, identified as Michael Lontoc, was ambushed by four unknown gun men along M.H. Del Pilar Street in Barangay Tenejeros around 4 p.m.

Witnesses said after being shot, the victim’s Toyota Hi-Lux rammed into a wall beside a badminton court.

The suspects immediately fled the scene. A witness said he saw 3 of the suspects boarding a jeepney.

Lontoc was rushed to MCU Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Police recovered empty bullet shells from a caliber .45 pistol and uzi at the crime scene.

Lontoc had just come from a shooting competition in Barangay Maysilo and was headed for home in Quezon City.

Authorities have yet to identify the motive behind the killing.

Lontoc was supposed to be one of the country’s representative at the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) World Shooting Championship in Rhodes, Greece on October 3 to 9. – Report from Raffy Santos, ABS-CBN News

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

PROGUN will have it's first kapihan discussion group on Saturday September 10, 2011, 9:30am-1pm at the Officer's Club, Marine Base, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. Topics will be: (1) House Substitute Bill on Firearms, (2) Legal Self-Defense Street Smarts (3) Fund Raising and other projects.

Hope to see you all there!

Narito and SAGOT ng PROGUN sa news article ni Korina Sanchez na lumabas sa Philippine Star Ngayong 22 Agosto 2011: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=719282&publicationSubCategoryId=94. at dito: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=718995&publicationSubCategoryId=94

Isang malaking pagkakamali ang sinabi ni Korina Sanchez na ang turo ng responsible gun owners are pagbunot ng baril sa away agad puputukin at sisiguradong patay ang lumulusob sa iyo. Wala po itinuturo ang responsible gun owner na ganun, na ang totoo ang tamang turo ng responsible gun owners ay gagamitin lang ang baril kapag nanganganib lang ang buhay ng pan sarili o ang pamilya. Ang laging turo nga ng responsible gun owners ay iwas lagi sa gulo, at wag mainit ang ulo, lalo na sa traffic.

Today an article appeared in the Philippine Star citing the Deputy Chief of Operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., who stated that strict gun control can thwart a similar incident. Article is here: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=709708&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Our Reply:

Dear Gen. Mabanta,

The Peaceful Responsible Owners of Guns (PROGUN) condemns in the strongest possible terms the mass shooting committed by a purportedly deranged gunman at a youth camp at Norway. Police investigations indicate that the same suspected gunman may be responsible for the bombing of the Oslo government offices the other day, likewise killing scores of people. We send our condolences and sympathies to the victims and the people of Norway.

While the victims deserve our utmost sympathy and condolence, we likewise realize on a practical level that criminals will always be with us and will always commit crimes and prey upon innocent and helpless victims, in every country in the world, and using whatever means possible to commit crimes. Human nature being what it is, there will always be those who are born or raised to be deranged, mentally imbalanced, sociopaths, and bent on inflicting harm on others. Criminality and lawlessness is a fact of life which can strike in even in those places and countries which claim to be the most peaceful and crime free countries in the world. Neither the reputed efficiency of the Norwegian police or the reputed "crime free" environment of Norway prevented such a tragedy from happening.