There is so much talk about guns these days that one can’t help but wonder if there is a need for the public to be alarmed. That is, if they aren’t alarmed yet.

The hullabaloos prompted the region's top cop, Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz, Jr., to declare an all-out war against the seemingly unabated proliferation of loose guns.

Any firearm that is not registered or has an expired license is considered a loose firearm.

Western Visayas is known for being one of the most generally peaceful and orderly regions in the country today. But the reported thousands of guns with expired licenses proliferating in the region caused a chill to many.

Thus, Cruz created Task Force Armas in an aim to account these hot guns by the end of the year.

The leniency of the police on this issue cannot be undermined. Count it for its strict adherence to the principle of maximum tolerance.

But Cruz cannot pull the string farther. Failure of the gun holders to heed the call to renew their gun licenses will force the police to take a drastic measure, that is, to apply for the issuance of search warrants to recover the loose guns.

When that time comes, those found in possession of unregistered firearms will face charges and probably get jailed for their defiance of the law.

Perhaps there is comfort (or dread) in knowing that the issue on loose guns affects our entire country.

As of August this year, more than 600,000 illegal guns throughout the Philippines were reported, with 33,068 in Western Visayas.

Fortunately, our regional police are proactive in addressing the issue.  Long before the onset of the holidays, the major festivities and the 2013 midterm elections, the PRO-6 is boosting its police operations and drive against loose guns.

In its recent monitoring, 90 persons have been apprehended in various anti-loose guns operations while 1,001 gun holders heeded the call to renew their gun licenses.

The statistics is expected to rise as we come closer to the deadline.

* * *    

Thus, with milestones in this campaign, PRO-6 hopes that loose guns, which usually turn as instruments of violence, will become an issue no more, at least in this part of the country.

Loose firearms are infamous at being linked to shooting sprees and armed robberies. Maybe a coincidence, but it seems that there is a parallel increase in crime with the increase of loose firearms.

Woe to innovation in the wrong places! The production of homemade guns or “pugakhang” among others made artillery more affordable and more accessible to just about anyone. Even bullet shells are “recycled” and “refilled.” This must give a chill to our bones.

Recently, a number of accidental firings were recorded. Some incidents even involved well-trained policemen. Were the guns in those situations simply mishandled, or did they malfunction?

Citizens should be wary about unlicensed guns because a gun may save or take away their lives and that of their loved ones.

Without an accurate inventory of weapons in our country and records of persons in possession of them, authorities are at a blind sight versus rising threats to peace.

* * *

What happened to Peaceful, Responsible Owners of Guns?

Owning a gun is not a mere “point and shoot” relationship. Responsibility entails understanding your weapon and keeping yourself informed about it.

Maintenance is more than cleaning and oiling; it includes securing and renewing a license when due. If you have good intentions about owning a gun, or more, you should express them openly by registering them.

The gun owners in our region were informed and warned time and again about the consequences of their inaction.

But maybe, just maybe, Filipinos that we are, we might see these people crowd at the last minute to beat the deadline and register their firearms.

(Do you need assistance to renew your gun licenses? Call the Firearms and Explosive Units of PRO6- at (033) 508-4517. Surely, you will find help.)