ANGELES CITY — Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. is pushing for penalties to be imposed on gun owners who fail to secure their firearms from being accessed by minors.
House Bill No. 10002, filed by Lazatin on July 2, states that any lawful possessor who keeps or stores a firearm within any residence, dwelling, office, place of business, or other premises under their custody or control shall ensure that their firearm and ammunition are secured and stored in a manner that prevents access by minors.
“When children gain access to firearms – and cause harm with it, as a result – then the lion’s share of responsibility should always fall on the adults around them,” Lazatin said. “As adults, we should know better, and we should protect our children by ensuring that they have no access to dangerous weapons that they lack the proper judgment to handle.”
Any lawful possessor found to have recklessly stored their firearm or leaves it unsecured under circumstances where a minor is likely to gain access shall be punished by imprisonment of six months and one day to two years and/or a fine of P200,000 to P300,000.
In the event that a minor actually gains access to the firearm, punishment shall be imprisonment of two years and one day to four years and/or a fine of P300,000 to P500,000.
If the minor discharges the firearm or uses it in a manner that results in physical injuries, punishment shall be imprisonment of four years and one day to six years and a fine of P500,000 to P750,000. If it results in death, punishment shall be imprisonment of six years and one day to 12 years and a fine of P750,000 to P1,000,000.
Likewise, unlicensed or unlawful possessors of firearms shall be meted with penalties one degree higher for the violations stated above, without prejudice to prosecution under Section 28 of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
Earlier, Lazatin also filed Resolution No. 1159 calling on the House of Representatives Committee on Public Order and Safety to reevaluate the guidelines on responsible gun ownership, firearms control, and accountability mechanisms in the wake of the tragic school shooting in Tacloban City.
“This incident underscores an urgent need to assess how unauthorized persons – especially minors – may gain access to firearms and ammunitions, and whether existing safeguards are sufficient,” Lazatin said.
“We need to determine whether legislative measures – including amendments, additional safeguards, or strengthened oversight mechanisms are necessary,” he added. Team Lazatin Media