The mention of a gun, a firearm, eludes a negative perception in any conversation. People associate guns with danger, fear and crime. While firearms have been used to instigate criminal activities, it is important to acknowledge the noble and respectable roles that fire arms play in the society.
There are more than one billion firearms in the world, the vast majority of which are in civilian hands, according to the Smalls Arms Survey by a Geneva based firm. The Survey estimates that of the one billion firearms in global circulation as of 2017, 857 million (85 per cent) are in civilian hands, 133 million (13 per cent) are in military arsenals, and 23 million (2 per cent) are owned by law enforcement agencies. It is therefore very crucial to understand the role that firearms play in our society and how we can ensure responsible use of firearms.
Fire arms have been used to guard our national borders, prevent and deter crimes from happening in homes and offices, offer security of valuables or cash-in-transit, for personal safety and self -defense, target practice, recreational shooting, among other uses.
For us to enjoy the benefit of using fire arms, we must ensure legal and responsible use of fire arms. How do we achieve this?