Filipino doctors , priests , journalists and accountants will be allowed to arm themselves while at work under a controversial new gun law that takes effect in their country this month . Under the Philippines ' Republic Act 10591 , people working in these sectors -- along with nurses , engineers , bank tellers , and lawyers -- are considered `` in imminent danger due to their profession '' and will be allowed to carry small guns when outside their homes . To qualify for a special firearms permit , people in these professions have to pass drug and psychiatric tests , and show they do n't have any criminal convictions or pending cases for crimes with punishments of more than two years in prison . This relaxes the requirements of the previous gun law , the Republic Act 8294 , under which they had to prove they were under `` actual threat '' of danger to carry a firearm . The regulations could be good news for reporters in the Philippines , who live in one of the world 's deadliest countries for the media , according to the Committee to Protect Journalists . Some 74 journalists , mostly covering politics , have been murdered in the Philippines since 1992 , the press freedom group says . In more than 70 % of cases , the killers have gone unpunished . With gun ownership high -- there were 1.2 million registered firearms in the Philippines in 2012 , according to data from the National Police Firearms and Explosives Office , and estimates for unregistered weapons are in the hundreds of thousands -- firearms are often blamed for violence in the country . During New Year celebrations alone , at least 30 people were injured and one infant killed by stray bullets , the police said . Philippines ' authorities say the new law will help them better regulate the use of firearms and curb gun-related crimes , according to local media reports . The law sets harsher penalties for individuals found guilty of possessing unlicensed guns , who now face at least 30 years in jail . The Republic Act 10591 also requires gun owners to have three separate permits : a license to own a firearm , registration for the gun , and a third permit to carry the weapon outside his or her residence . But not everyone who is eligible for the special permits will be rushing out to buy guns . Catholic priests criticized the law after it was signed by President Benigno Aquino III in May last year , saying that it was contrary to their belief that society needs peace , not violence . `` Priests are supposed to be men of peace , not of war , '' the Union of Catholic Asian News reported Bishop Jose Oliveros from Bulacan province as saying . `` Our Lord said : 'he who lives by the sword will die by the sword . We should not counter violence with violence . '' WATCH : Video shows test firing of 3-D-printed handgun .
A new law in the Philippines allows professionals `` in imminent danger '' of attack to carry guns . Doctors , priests , accountants , journalists , and bank tellers are among those who qualify . Philippines authorities say the law will help them to improve the regulation of firearms .