Stricter gun controls needed
More innocent civilians may be shot by armed policemen if gun controls are not properly enforced, says an article in Procuratorial Daily. The following is an excerpt:
Policeman Ji Zhongchun used a police-issue gun to shoot dead a person during a dispute in a residential community in Mengzi county, Yunnan province, after he had been drinking liquor on Feb 13.
This clearly illustrates that if policemen, except those who perform special tasks, all bring government-issued guns home, the people's safety could be jeopardized.
So, it's necessary for officers to return guns after performing their respective duties.
Police told media that on the night of the shooting, Ji was driving his private car visiting a friend, not performing official tasks. So, it was illegal for him to be carrying a gun.
China does have regulations on guns for policemen, but the problem is that they are poorly enforced across the country. The tragedy reminds us that regulations should be strictly abided to ensure the safety of the people.
(China Daily 02/17/2009 page8)
