The Papua New Guinea Opposition Leader says law abiding citizens have resorted to guns over the years because they feel law enforcement agencies can not protect them.
Mr O'Neill made the comment during the launch of the Guns Control Program in Port Moresby.
He said over the years, citizens had resorted to possessing weapons, some illegally, as a safety measure.
He said because law and order had worsened over the years, good people had resorted to the possession of firearms and, sadly many of the firearms had fallen into the wrong hands.
Mr O'Neill said the best measure in the fight to reduce guns would be to ensure communities had greater confidence in their law enforcement agencies.
He says the corruption and abuse of power and authority evident in the police force needed to be stamped out.
Mr O'Neill says it is unacceptable that members of the police have supplied firearms to criminals.
