Should Citizens Be Allowed to Own Guns?

The rising case of insecurity in the country has given room for many debates, one of which included the creation of state police to tackle the spate of general insecurity in the country. However, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) added a new twist to the whole debate when it recently called the Federal Government to consider the relaxation of gun ownership laws as a way to reduce crime. In other words, he wanted more private citizens to have access to guns. Michael Oche examines the scenario.

"It will lead to anarchy" was the first response by Dr. Emmanuel Oga when the question was thrown to him. The suspicion however was suppressed by the NMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, who argued that "in view of psychological fear factor among criminals or vandals, liberal gun ownership will curb criminality among hoodlums." The NMA's call for arms in private hands is premised on deterrence, that potential perpetrators are less likely to attack if they know their victims bear arms.

Another respondent, Ishiaku Abdul argued that "We are civilians, we should be like one and let the authorities handle the safety and security of us." But another respondent, Okoye Samuel countered that; "I believe that private individuals have a right to own guns. I do feel that there should be strict testing, though, before they are allowed to buy one. With the way the crime rates are now, individuals need ways to protect themselves."

The NMA argument also came amidst concern that "several doctors have been kidnapped even while on emergency and call duty within hospital premises."

"That will mean lawyers, teachers and even journalists should also carry guns because they have often been targeted as well," Abdul argued.

Amazingly, the debate seemed centered on the argument that with everyone having guns, killing rate will go up and later stablise. On the other side of the debate is also the argument that the large number of illegal guns in circulation in Nigeria is what has led to the increased insecurity.

NMA argued that over time, its members have become targets of kidnappers who make quick and easy money from the collection of ransom. One of such cases was the kidnap last year of a certain Dr. Stanley Uche, the proprietor of Victory Christian Hospital, Aba, Abia State. His corpse was recovered after a ransom of N30 million had been reportedly paid.

A few months ago, another doctor, Adegboyega Rufai, in Oko-Oba area of Lagos, was reportedly shot dead by unknown gun men who walked into the premises of his private hospital and requested an audience with him. Many medical directors of hospitals, including Dr. Adebowale Saddiq of Mount Arafat Hospital, Nsukka and Prof. Michael Ibadin of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo State, have also been victims of kidnapping since the escalation of the vice across the country.

However, Dr. Emmanuel Oga of the Society of Nigerian Doctors for the Welfare of Mankind (SNDWM) said "The gun control debate is one that has been around for decades, and is unlikely to go away; it is one issue we must continue to dialogue on. It is our opinion that the NMA remarks were wide off the mark and portrays a one-sided view of the problems in Nigeria.

While these remarks are borne out of the belief that private gun ownership reduces violence by serving as a "deterrent" to potential criminals, it is disingenuous to ignore the real possibility that easy access to weapons will worsen the security situation in this country.

He said further, "As rife as gun violence is in Nigeria, there is reason to believe it could and would not be abated with easy accessibility of guns. Also, the "deterrent" argument is flawed; a criminal (who had no plan to kill ab initio) is more likely to kill his victim if he perceives the victim as a threat to his own life, such as a victim who owns a gun. If the to-be victim has a pistol, the criminals will show up with automatic rifle and so on. It is difficult to see how this benefits society.

Another aspect of private gun ownership which he overlooked is that which makes it all the more likely for guns to cause domestic harm and acerbate lethality during episodes of violence among intimate partners: An unsuspecting child or ward, a careless adult relative or indeed the owner of such a gun might in a moment of curiosity and plane stupidity or needless machismo inflict permanent injury on loved ones."