Bamsoet: Special Regulations On Firearm Licensing Needs

Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI), Bambang Soesatyo. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Bambang Soesatyo (Bamsoet) said special regulations were needed to regulate the licensing of non-organic martial arts firearms for the TNI-Polri

Bamsoet, who serves as General Chair of the Association for Owners of Special Self-Defense Firearms (PERIKHSA) and Advisors to the Executive Board of the Indonesian Shooting Association (PB Perbakin), said that the special regulation will regulate the rights and obligations of the owners of special martial arts firearms (IKHSA), including procedures for the use and enforcement of ethics and supervision against IKHSA owners. "Currently, there are frequent leaks and multiple interpretations, both from the police and IKHSA owners, about when IKHSA owners can use their firearms so that it is not uncommon to criminalize the owner of the IKHSA," said Bamsoet in his official statement, in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Saturday, May 13. He gave an example that some time ago there had been an incident where the owner of IKHSA became a victim because there was no specific regulation on the rights and obligations of the owner of IKHSA. At that time, the owner of IKHSA had to face the law because he was holding his self-defense firearm to avoid being ganged up by a group of people. "In fact, he only stabbed and put the firearms back in his sarong as an anticipation, as well as verbal statements that he was armed to prevent the imminent beating. However, he still has to face the legal apparatus," he said.

According to him, the PERIKHSA DPP itself has made and submitted a draft academic paper for government regulations (PP) prepared by PERIKHSA regarding the Licensing of Non-Inorganic Civil Defense Firearms of the TNI/Polri to the Minister of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia as well as Chairman of the Advisory Council of PERIKHSA Yasonna Laoly.

The existence of the PP, he said, is very important because it can be used as a reference to make the Guidelines for the Chief of Police and the Guidelines of the Attorney General so that the provisions of the laws and regulations governing the obligations of the owner of special martial arts firearms are becoming clearer. "Currently, the legal umbrella for the existence of IKHSA owners is regulated in a general law, including the Emergency Law of the Republic of Indonesia No.12/1951 and Perppu No.20/1960 concerning Licensing Authority which is granted According to the Law on Firearms," said Bamsoet.

Even so, he explained, there are no special and specific provisions as stated in the PP which further regulates the rights and obligations of IKHSA owners. This includes procedures for using and supervising the ethics and supervision of IKHSA owners.