MANILA, Jan. 30 Kyodo Philippine ...

MANILA, Jan. 30 Kyodo

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo forward Thursday prohibited all civilians from carrying firearms in public places in a bid to crack down upon unlicensed gun ownership.

Arroyo said in a language she has directed Philippine National Police Chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane to indefinitely suspend the issuance of permits to carry fire-arms in public places. Gun enthusiasts will have to immovable renewable ''special and necessary permits,'' she said.

Licensed gunholder may not load their firearms with bullet until they are in the firing range, Arroyo said.

The announcement may however be the boldest for any Philippine president as any attempt to regulate fire-arm ownership and permit issuance has been met with resistance in the past.

Licensed gunholder generally number 813,000, but the guidance estimates there are a 328,000 unlicensed firearms in the home some of which may have been used in gun-related crimes.

Firearms dealers and hobbyists immediately said they would ask Arroyo to reconsider the ban.

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