Chat with a gun owner

Anthony Wahome, the Secretary-General, National Gun Owners Association, says there are about 14,000 guns in private hands and about 10,000 licensed firearm owners. (One owner can be having more than one firearm).

Last year, a Firearms Licensing Board was formed to address disciplinary cases arising from misuse of guns.

The board certifies applicants, assesses proficiency of firearms holders, issues and cancels permits. Anthony met with JACKSON BIKO at the Nairobi Serena to talk guns.

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Suddenly everybody I know is either strapping a gun, or thinking about acquiring one. Why now? Is it the search of an elusive machismo in guns or are we suddenly are conscious of our own personal security? What is driving the middle-class to acquire guns now more than before?

I guess the reasons are as varied as the people...

That’s a good soundbite right there...

(Laughs) Different people have different reasons. I won’t rule out the fact that there are some who take it as a social status, a social statement. Then those who take it for personal security or for shooting as a sport.

Ultimately there are good and bad reasons. The bad reason are those who acquire firearms for their ego.

The truth is you’ll know in time why people acquire their weapons — it’s like poetic justice. If you acquire a weapon for all the wrong reasons it’s just a matter of time before you abuse or misuse your firearm then your license is revoked.

There are those who acquire it for all the right reasons — either for their own protection, or for sports. At the end of the day, for these categories of people, one thing is certain; when confronted with a situation where you need to use your firearm we shall not be there.

It’ll be you and the situation and that’s where the difference comes in; because the person who took it because they wanted to protect themselves will be more proficient. They won’t panic. They’ll know exactly what to do.

What amounts to abuse of firearm, apart from you know, shooting someone in the leg over a dispute or showing it to a woman in a bar after you’ve had a few to drink...

(Chuckles) In the Kenyan law context, one, you’re supposed to carry your weapon concealed. So the displaying in public places or even if it’s a private space, is misuse. Secondly, using a firearm in road rage, domestic disputes is misuse. If a street boy walks up to you with faeces in his hands and tells you to hand over your wallet, do you shoot him? No. If you do it’s excessive force.

Using a hammer to kill a mosquito...

Exactly. But there are people who think they are justified. If I peep out of my window and I see someone standing in my compound at 3 a.m., just standing there, am I justified to draw my gun and pop him? He has trespassed, no doubt but is it necessary for you to use your weapon? Imminent danger, that’s the catch word. Were you in imminent danger?

Does your association really have the teeth to reprimand these people who misuse firearms or it is it just ceremonial?

Of course we do! We have an internal mechanism— self regulatory mechanism to deal with our members. I can proudly say that for the last four years we’ve been in existence, none of our members has ever been involved in any misuse or abuse of the weapon. Of course our internal regulatory mechanism is apart from what the law says. If you misuse your weapon, there’s the law to deal with you.

How many women have firearms in Kenya — out of those 10,000?

Well, I don’t know the exact number. But at least about, five to 10 per cent of that number.

So it’s more of a manly thing?

It’s more of a manly thing.

Does that signify power, authority, submission, aggression, domination?

Not really. To me a firearm is about responsibility and not about the power. It’s unfortunate the bad stories we here about guns in the public domain. But there are also stories of licensed firearm owners whose role can’t be underplayed, like in the Westgate siege. We were actually at a shooting competition that day and we all went there 20 minutes after it started and I can tell you that the civilians with guns did a really good job.

You have had have a firearm for 18 years...

Yes. I worked in forensic ballistics in CID from 1998 to 2004. After that I joined the UN security for 12 years. I left the UN last year to run my own security solutions company; we do CCTV fittings, biometric access control, armed VIP protection etc. I applied for a firearm license as soon as I left UN.

In all those years as a cop did you have to shoot somebody?

Well, let me just say I’ve been in situations where I had to neutralise the threat. (Laughter). You don’t call it firing at people. You neutralise the threat. Yes, I have.

Do you have a gun on you right now?

Yes, I do.

What’s your state of mind when you have a weapon on you?

It’s a lot of responsibility. Actually the first few years it’s too much. Sometimes you literally feel like taking it back. It’s too much because you have to think about it...it’s like having a second wife, I don’t know. (Laughter). I don’t have a second wife, but I’m thinking here is something just demanding so much of your attention.

The first few days you think everyone can see it. (Laughter) You keep looking at people in a funny way, thinking, ‘does he know I have it?’ you keep dropping your shirt, you keep dropping your blazer…

It’s like keeping a big secret…

Yes, it’s like keeping a secret. That’s the best way to put it.

Is it true that once you’re a cop you’ll always a cop, instinctively at least?

Instinctively yes, but in the service, no. To them I’m considered a civilian now. But once a cop, always a cop. If I see something happening, if I see a crime being committed, I won’t just pass. Also my street sense hasn’t dulled out, I can still pick out the bad guys in a crowd by their body language. I still posses the muscle memory.

What do you — a man with a gun — fear the most?

(Long Pause). Missing heaven.

Are you spiritual?

Yes. I’m born again, I have been since 2004.

You should not carry your gun then, let the blood of Jesus Christ protect you from all evil.

(Laughs loud) Oh! These things you say in interviews.