Philippines: January 31, 2003

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The government has ordered that illegal weapons be turned in. The police estimate that there are 350,000 unregistered rifles and pistols in the country. The new rules will confiscate, and not register, assault rifles. Yesterday, the gun regulations were changed making it illegal to carry registered handguns on the street. The Philippines has a gun culture, and some 85 percent of gun related crimes involve unregistered firearms. The new rules will be difficult, and dangerous, to enforce, but the growing use of unregistered weapons for crimes made it worthwhile trying.