LOOPHOLES ON GUN-CONTROL

Hu's case has aroused reflections on police use of guns in China, as experts warned of loopholes in the law.

"Hu's case has rung alarm bells on firearms management in China. Gun carriers must obey the laws and regulations," said Li Liping, a lawyer with the Beijing-based Shangheng Law Firm.

According to Li, China has few laws on gun control and some public security organizations fail to give due attention to gun management.

"In this context, a drunk policeman has a higher risk of causing a tragedy," said the lawyer.

Wei Yongzhong, deputy dean of the School of Police Administration under the Beijing-based People's Public Security University of China, also described China's gun-related laws and regulations as "not detailed enough."

"For instance, China has different kinds of police, but there are no detailed and strict rules about which of them are allowed to be armed with guns," said Wei.

"It's extremely dangerous when a policeman is allowed to use a gun in an arbitrary way when he or she is off work," he added.

A policeman with the public security department in Guigang, who asked for anonymity, told Xinhua that it's necessary for police to carry a gun when summoned, but the gun carrier needs to have passed legal examinations, training and had "real-world" experience.

"Police staff should always have the law on their minds and stay vigilant against misbehavior so as to avoid repetition of this tragedy," he said.