Strict measures on gun licensing a welcome move

The suspension of private arms licensing by Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba is a welcome move, especially if it will reduce or stop guns from falling into the arms of wrong people.

There has been growing concern about the misuse of guns and armed people committing crimes. Many murders have been committed but the guns or their sources could not be traced. Since all government guns are marked and tightly stored, some of the murders could be coming from guns in private hands.

There are more than 5,000 guns in private hands, rising from about 3,000 over eight years back, and about 1,000 pending applications.

Therefore, it should be incumbent on the police to reduce the number of guns in private hands for accountability and security of the community and Ugandans at large.

If the police and other security agencies were doing their jobs as they should be, there would not be any need for private gun owners or their intentions would be questionable. 

There are very many private security companies bolstering security agencies in fighting crime and ensuring the security of people and their property. 

Therefore, stringent measures should be taken to assess and control the number of guns in private hands.

The debate over gun ownership and safety is complex because firearms kept in private homes can lead to accidental discharges or increased homicide cases. 

Arguments that might otherwise result in non-lethal outcomes can turn deadly with a firearm present; increase in gun-related crimes, and the proliferation of guns can complicate law enforcement efforts.

While some argue that guns are necessary for self-defense, there are indications that firearms are rarely used successfully in self-defense situations.

Although it has been reported that such a policy will deny the police an annual revenue stream of moe than Sh30b, as many applications could be denied, it is a move in the right direction.

Some of the police operations should not be hinged on revenue but on the overall security and safety of the people. For example, for many years, police reports on express tickets have always highlighted the income generated, without explaining the accidents prevented, or the drivers corrected and the safety promoted on the roads. 

This makes it look like the major aim is to earn from errant drivers other than correcting them and promoting safety on the roads.