Cong. Rufus Rodriguez pledges NOT to ban Airsoft

[Jubilum]

Hon.Congressman Rufus Rodriguez pledges to the airsoft community in Northern Mindanao that he will NOT ban Airsoft gaming throughout the country. Though some regulations /restrictions will be implemented by the the good congressman to deter bad elements and children from using these gun replicas. More of this developing story can be found at http://fragcdo.com

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/262/rufusairsoft3vl4.jpg
Congressman Rodriguez (center, blue shirt) discusses about airsoft with the officers of FRAG, CAG, SAG, DWARF.

[rebelpunk]

this is a good news...sana maging sa buong pinas na den...

[Rhyan]

dapat ganyan ang pag-iisip ng ating mga mambabatas... salamat kay cong. rodriguez!!!

[silentcontrol]

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez was my professor in Law school, as far as i know even before he became a congressman he was supportive of the sport, even encourage some Law students to form a team but unfortunately this idea didnt materialize.. its nice to hear that the former Dean of San Sebastian College of Law is still supporting the sport we love..

[Sputnik]

no offense, but a lone congressman cannot willfully impose "not to ban airsoft". a bit misleading IMHO. but thanks nonetheless for supporting airsoft.

it takes the majority of the congressmen to do that, goes to the senate for approval and signed by the president herself.

anyway at least there is another congressman(which I know of) who supports the sport besides cong. Ruffy :)

[Jubilum]

no offense, but a lone congressman cannot willfully impose "not to ban airsoft". a bit misleading IMHO. but thanks nonetheless for supporting airsoft.

it takes the majority of the congressmen to do that, goes to the senate for approval and signed by the president herself.

anyway at least there is another congressman(which I know of) who supports the sport besides cong. Ruffy :)

Yes I agree he cannot. But we all know he authored the House Bill No. 3426 (http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=2105). He told us, "...malapit na ma approved sa congress ang bill which is banning the selling, manufacturing of all replica guns". The meeting lasted for almost 3-hrs as we presented documents/facts including the recent PNP circular and a video presentation about Philippine Airsoft Gaming. I don't know if he was convinced, but we showed him a JG MP5k (not the metal aegs) with a painted orange tip, showed him the internals/gearbox of the gun just to justify that the airsoft guns are toy guns and should not be classified as a real gun.

I guess he also realized that there are now around 50-100k airsofters around the Philippines.

Though he promised not to ban the hobby (i dont know if how is he going to do this as the bill 3426 he authored is now being discussed inside the congress). Expect that he will amend the following items:

1. No kids below 18 yrs should be allowed to join airsoft. Kids should not be allowed to enter the gamesites.
2. The replicas should be kept in a place wherein kids cannot play with it.
3. These replica guns should not be shown in public.
4. No wearing of BDU's in public places
5. Gamesites should be enclosed and NOT be open to public viewing.
6. When buying these toy guns, the seller/dealer should ask from the buyer a Club Certification that he is a new/old member. Plus an ID that shows he is 18 yrs and above.
7. Coordination between DTI and PNP with regards to registration and monitoring of hobby shops that sells these items.
8. Implement painted Orange tip on airsoft guns.


There is really a need for an airsoft umbrella organization in manila to unite and set rules/guidelines for all accredited groups throughout the Phil.
You can call us 09225479078 if you want to know what transpired with the meeting we had with Cong Rufus Rodriguez.

[redfalcon70]

eh sir wat about us , kami po mga teens , na mahilig sa airsoft huhu:(

naka full armor na kami at lahat tapos bawal pala kami mag laro ano ba yan !!!!!

[Zatoichi]

.
Congratulations:D

somehow i feel this is the best course of action.


Congressman Rodriguez (center, blue shirt) discusses about airsoft with the officers of FRAG, CAG, SAG, DWARF.

Explaining to the authorities what we want them to do,rather than just sitting down blaming others for airsoft problems.

We all have to pitch in to solve airsoft problems.

meanwhile,airsoft marches on.......:)

[foxhole]

pag di nagawa yang batas na yan.......patakbuhin na lang natin si Cong. Rodriguez ng Senator sa 2010 hehehe....at pag di pa rin nakuha....Rodriguez for President na...

[Scalper]

Yes I agree he cannot. But we all know he authored the House Bill No. 3426 (http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=2105).
Though he promised not to ban the hobby (i dont know if how is he going to do this as the bill 3426 he authored is now being discussed inside the congress). Expect that he will amend the following items:

1. No kids below 18 yrs should be allowed to join airsoft. Kids should not be allowed to enter the gamesites.
2. The replicas should be kept in a place wherein kids cannot play with it.
3. These replica guns should not be shown in public.
4. No wearing of BDU's in public places
5. Gamesites should be enclosed and NOT be open to public viewing.
6. When buying these toy guns, the seller/dealer should ask from the buyer a Club Certification that he is a new/old member. Plus an ID that shows he is 18 yrs and above.
7. Coordination between DTI and PNP with regards to registration and monitoring of hobby shops that sells these items.
8. Implement painted Orange tip on airsoft guns.


There is really a need for an airsoft umbrella organization in manila to unite and set rules/guidelines for all accredited groups throughout the Phil.
You can call us 09225479078 if you want to know what transpired with the meeting we had with Cong Rufus Rodriguez.

A widespread ban of minors (below age 18) is not going to work because:
(1) ROTC for teens aged 15-18 will allow them to use REAL STEEL guns for training >>> tapos babawalan silang gumamit ng toy guns! This is crazy.
(2) Many parents will want to bring their kids to game sites to watch and play undersupervised conditions. They have been doing that for years until the kids who were playing before are grown up now and have kids of their own that they will also bring to airsoft game sites. Kids should be allowed to play but only under proper adult supervision.
(3) The best time to teach a person proper gun safety is while they are young and trainable. Airsoft is the best technology available now to help train people how to use real weapons for public safety, citizenship and leadership training, and future national defense. If you don't train your own kids how to properly deal with weapons, you are letting the outlaws be the only ones who know how to use them.
(4) Kids as young as 8 years old have played airsoft safely under proper adult supervision. This can be allowed.

Not all game sites can be enclosed from public view or held behind tight enclosures. Airsoft can be played anywhere that is separate from bystanders and non-participants but it doesn't alway mean it has to be totally hidden. There are airsoft games and tournaments conducted inside sports stadiums but the audiences are protected from stray pellets. The important thing is viewer safety, but airsoft must not be hidden away as if it was something pornographic or obscene.

The orange-tip requirement is not very enforceable. In fact, the UK airsoft laws don't require airsoft guns to have orange-tips; but they do require that the gun buyers and owners be registered airsoft players at a particular club or game site. Thus the UK laws focus on the persons using the airsoft guns and not on the guns themselves which are relatively harmless except for the scare factor of being replicas of real guns. The majority of airsoft guns in the USA don't have orange-tips despite the strict requirement of having an orange-tip at the time of import or sale. The first thing that airsoft gun owners do is remove, paint-over, or replace the orange tip with a normal black muzzle tip. Therefore, what's the use of this particular legal provision if it can't be enforced!

Also, if the orange tip is ever enforced rigidly (doubtful), what's to stop the criminals from putting orange tips on real guns and getting them past the unsuspecting noses of the local law enforcers? It's actually more dangerous to the lives of the law-enforcers if real guns look like toy guns than if toy guns look like real guns. Just make all real-steel guns and airsoft guns look the same and let their performance (cost, materials, weight, durability, magazine design, sound, blast, damage, effect, etc.) be the basis for judging whether they're replicas or not.

[ersoper]

nice to hear this news. btw, is this hon. congressman the same person mentioned here http://www.filairsoft.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20786&highlight=rodriguez? http://www.free-smiley.info/signes/signes-smileys-emoticons88.gif

[Reactive_Armor]

I think somebody from his staff is monitoring the comments on the airsoft forums such as this.

Maraming salamant at natauhan!

[Jubilum]

A widespread ban of minors (below age 18) is not going to work because:
(1) ROTC for teens aged 15-18 will allow them to use REAL STEEL guns for training >>> tapos babawalan silang gumamit ng toy guns! This is crazy.
(2) Many parents will want to bring their kids to game sites to watch and play undersupervised conditions. They have been doing that for years until the kids who were playing before are grown up now and have kids of their own that they will also bring to airsoft game sites. Kids should be allowed to play but only under proper adult supervision.
(3) The best time to teach a person proper gun safety is while they are young and trainable. Airsoft is the best technology available now to help train people how to use real weapons for public safety, citizenship and leadership training, and future national defense. If you don't train your own kids how to properly deal with weapons, you are letting the outlaws be the only ones who know how to use them.
(4) Kids as young as 8 years old have played airsoft safely under proper adult supervision. This can be allowed.

Not all game sites can be enclosed from public view or held behind tight enclosures. Airsoft can be played anywhere that is separate from bystanders and non-participants but it doesn't alway mean it has to be totally hidden. There are airsoft games and tournaments conducted inside sports stadiums but the audiences are protected from stray pellets. The important thing is viewer safety, but airsoft must not be hidden away as if it was something pornographic or obscene.

The orange-tip requirement is not very enforceable. In fact, the UK airsoft laws don't require airsoft guns to have orange-tips; but they do require that the gun buyers and owners be registered airsoft players at a particular club or game site. Thus the UK laws focus on the persons using the airsoft guns and not on the guns themselves which are relatively harmless except for the scare factor of being replicas of real guns. The majority of airsoft guns in the USA don't have orange-tips despite the strict requirement of having an orange-tip at the time of import or sale. The first thing that airsoft gun owners do is remove, paint-over, or replace the orange tip with a normal black muzzle tip. Therefore, what's the use of this particular legal provision if it can't be enforced!

Also, if the orange tip is ever enforced rigidly (doubtful), what's to stop the criminals from putting orange tips on real guns and getting them past the unsuspecting noses of the local law enforcers? It's actually more dangerous to the lives of the law-enforcers if real guns look like toy guns than if toy guns look like real guns. Just make all real-steel guns and airsoft guns look the same and let their performance (cost, materials, weight, durability, magazine design, sound, blast, damage, effect, etc.) be the basis for judging whether they're replicas or not.

I understand that sir, but he is quite firm with his decision that minors (18 years and below) are not allowed to play airsoft. We all might be dissappointed with this matter but once this becomes a law, there is nothing we can do about it.

[kambing_eater]

good day to everyone!

[Scalper]

I understand that sir, but he is quite firm with his decision that minors (18 years and below) are not allowed to play airsoft. We all might be dissappointed with this matter but once this becomes a law, there is nothing we can do about it.

Then he should conduct more consultations. How can he be adamant about something he doesn't have experience about? He should visit game sites that have a good airsoft program for minors. He should talk to airsofters who are parents and bring their kids now to game sites. He is still a public servant and representative of the voting population so he should listen to our side and not just try to impose his own will on us. His term of office is only three years but we have been playing airsoft for decades now.

[Tripper_11]

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez was my professor in Law school, as far as i know even before he became a congressman he was supportive of the sport, even encourage some Law students to form a team but unfortunately this idea didnt materialize.. its nice to hear that the former Dean of San Sebastian College of Law is still supporting the sport we love..

HEHE! Supportive naman pala by encouraging some of his students to form a team... Kung ano-ano na kasi yung mga nabasa kong derogatory remarks against him sa kabilang thread. :p

Anyway, it's good to hear cong. Rufus is leaning advantageously towards the Airsoft community (though I have a personal grudge against him for failing me in one of my subject in Law school HAHAHA!)

[FLACTUATE]

NICE TO HEAR THIS NEWS..... SA WAKAS!! AFTER 10YRS!! ngayon lang naresolve ang banning na yan..... let's god **** fire the bbs brothers!!! open fire!!!

[FLACTUATE]

LEGAL na tyo noh mga bros!!!??? tama ba pagkabasa ko sa section na to???/



Hon.Congressman Rufus Rodriguez pledges to the airsoft community in Northern Mindanao that he will NOT ban Airsoft gaming throughout the country. Though some regulations /restrictions will be implemented by the the good congressman to deter bad elements and children from using these gun replicas. More of this developing story can be found at http://fragcdo.com

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/262/rufusairsoft3vl4.jpg
Congressman Rodriguez (center, blue shirt) discusses about airsoft with the officers of FRAG, CAG, SAG, DWARF.

[GeneralCleaning]

i agree with sir scalper, diba we all call "airsofting" a sport, a hobby, a game. then there is no reason why minors should not be allowed to play the game, i myself was once a kid na nanonood sa mga friends ko while they play, dati psi days pa! thats where i fell inlove with the game, i understood it, respected the capability of the gun, understood that if used the wrong way it can cause damage, and above all i learned that camaraderie is the reason why we play. So all in all, i would have to say that seeing my friends play back then, has made me a better airsofter. and also there is no reason why we should seclude our selves or our game sites to civilians. If we truly want to legalize our sport, diba it's a much better move to let the wider public understand our sport. Let them watch games so they could have a better understanding of what we do. Siguro instead of focusing on registering the gun, maybe they should focus on having the owner registered.

[baconbriefs]

Dadaan yan sa BI-CAMERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE!

Pagkatapos! SABOG YAN LAHAT SA ATIN! T

This is the steep PRICE of having our "SPORT", no let me rephrase this, "HOBBY" of heavy commercialization! AYUS! I subscribe to the idea of "GRANTING" privileges to the "PERSON" to carry a BB GUN! For God sakes a LICENSE for a pea shooter! This is what am I afraid of!

[GeneralCleaning]

I agree sir baconbriefs, they are focusing on the fact that aegs are being used in crime, so regulating them by licensing will somehow minimize this (crap!)

so to follow the logic, knives are also used for crime, so dapat everytime we buy them, kailangan na ding i pa register at kumuha ng PTC???
ang labo.. haay the price of Commercialism.

[delta_mac]

thanks Cong. Rufus Rodriguez!

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but mga sirs, pwede kaya tayong gumawa ng letter or action about legalizing airsoft in the philippines BUT were under certain rules and restrictions about carrying, transporting and usage of airsoft in public places and terminals.....?

i mean, can we make a move as one group as FILAIRSOFT????

(sorry po kung nake2elam ako.... newbie lang po... pero di ba, para din po satin lahat to?..... ;) )

[delta_mac]

and one thing!!

if cong. rufus (and any other senators and congressmen) defended their proposition on both houses (senate and house of reps.), and successfully overcome the 6 readings, AIRSOFT will be legalized!

thanks to the veto power of the legislative dept.... if the president of the philippines didn't sign the papers saying that airsoft is legal, in 30days, that law will be passed and be part of the written laws of the constitution of the philippines!!!!!!!!!!

[delta_mac]

cong rufus for senator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

at least, his name was hot on the airsoft field NOT in the corruption field! wahahahaha!:D

[sakurashi]

lets think positive
wak na muna tau mag isip agad ng negative