Rough Times ahead for Gun owners and Airsoft in th

[Sgt Oinky]

source: Fallujah

At the Congressional Hearing yesterday before the Committee on Public Order and Safety, we were invited along with all other stakeholders in the firearms industry and business to comment on House Bill No. 6658 introduced by Reps. Pedro P. Romualdo (lone district Camiguin) and Antonio V. Cuenco (Cebu). On our part, we prepared a lengthy position paper commenting on the flawed provisions of HB No. 6658 and were prepared for an oral discussion and questioning. Much to our dismay, none of the invited public or resource persons were allowed to speak or participate, as is the usual procedure in committee hearings before the House. Instead Congressman Chairman Rodolfo W. Antonino (Nueva Ecija) simply allowed a few short (irrelevant) comments from some committee members (who knew nothing about the bill) totalling about 20 minutes, then they moved to, and voted for, approval of the bill over our protestations.

Later that evening, I texted another congressman from that committee as to why it happened that way, he said, "That's a Malacanang-backed bill. The Office of the President made direct contact with the congressmen (not him) to approve that bill". Grrr..!

So now Malacanang, thru its dwarf President who is guilty of ordering and/or approving the extrajudicial killings and abductions of hundreds activists and journalists, is not hypocritically enact measures that would effectively disarm the general population and deprive us of our right to defend ourselves.

Consider the following provisions of HB 6658:

1. Airsoft guns and all gas, spring operated pistols and rifles are now classified as TRUE FIREARMS, requiring licensing and Permit to carry just like regular firearms!

2. If you are in a group and one of you is caught with a firearm or part thereof (with or without your knowledge) ALL OF YOU will be presumed to be in illegal possession of firearms, and shall be accordingly all charged.

3. Penalties have been hugely INCREASED to Life Imprisonment for illegal possession and/or manufacture of firearms or light weapons, or 6-18 years for ammunition. "Ammunition" is defined, among others, to include BLANK AMMUNITION, and NOXIOUS LIQUID AND GAS??!!

4. "Light weapons" are now defined and prohibited, which includes any weapon capable of holding a DRUM magazine, which would include practically all semi-auto rifles, including rimfire 22's.

5. The crime of illegal possession of firearms shall now be considered as a SEPARATE AND DISTINCT penalty if any other crime is commmitted in the same act. So you could be charged TWICE for the same act and be slapped with TWO PENALTIES.

This bill is now being fast-tracked thru the congress for approval by GMA before Congress ends and her term expires next year. Of course, we in PROGUN and UAA are doing our best to make sure that we block this Bill in the House and the Senate. We, however, cannot do it alone without the support of YOU the thousands of legitimate and responsible gun owners and airsofters who value our freedom and civil rights. We are thus appealing for your help in this noble endeavor of preserving our shooting sports.

[inque]

Ok if ever this bill has been approved

For us to bring around our airsoft guns, we need to apply the same permits as real steel?

What are the limitations to this? And also, I don't get the ammunition part?

[anubis]

God Bless Progun and UAA more power! We're behind you 100% all the way.

For me that bill is like a 2-bladed weapon, since i am a real steel and airsoft enthusiast.

hayy. minsan tuwing may nababasa akong mga articles about congressional bills, (not necessarily about guns/airsoft) minsan napapailing na lang ako.

alam nyo ba na there are other bills of primordial importance na nauupuan lang? Grabe talaga.

[inque]

Originally Posted by anubis

God Bless Progun and UAA more power! We're behind you 100% all the way.

For me that bill is like a 2-bladed weapon, since i am a real steel and airsoft enthusiast.

hayy. minsan tuwing may nababasa akong mga articles about congressional bills, (not necessarily about guns/airsoft) minsan napapailing na lang ako.

alam nyo ba na there are other bills of primordial importance na nauupuan lang? Grabe talaga.

Care to explain why is this a "2-bladed weapon"? Just curious (and anxious) on how serious these implications are to our hobby.

I guess to get everybody's support, we need to know what are the pros and cons of the bill and how will it affect airsoft as a whole, if this gets approved unfortunately.

[vtech3]

Originally Posted by Bogs Reyes

source: Fallujah

So now Malacanang, thru its dwarf President who is guilty of ordering and/or approving the extrajudicial killings and abductions of hundreds activists and journalists, is not hypocritically enact measures that would effectively disarm the general population and deprive us of our right to defend ourselves.

what a fine way of a comment to convince them to do us a small favor ..

[lemmor]

So what kind of support do you want from us?

[badcop]

Just spoke to Atty. Tabujara, HB No.6558 has been approved, they railroaded the hearings, the resource speakers from progun and the UAA were not allowed to speak. After a little grandstanding from certain members of the committee, who made irrelevant comments regrading the issue, the committee chairman suddenly banged his gavel and said "bill approved". It will now go to the technical group for some streamlining and then it will be endorsed for the second and third reading. There will be no more consultations in the succeeding hearings, only members of house committee will be present during the 2nd and 3rd reading to vote on the bill. The IANSA reps were also present during the hearing, although they did not say anything, they simply thanked the committee for approving the bill. Clearly, IANSA is behind this bill and is being backed by Malacañang. This is obviously a prelude to a total gunban, IANSA together with Malacañang and their minions in Congress are doing everything in their power to railroad this bill and shove it down our throats. The provisions of this bill are more oppressive than the laws during the Martial Law era.

If people do not stand up now and openly fight this, we will not only lose this battle, we will lose the war completely. We will wake up one day and realize we are living in a Police State.

[bob]

well... what can we expect from from our inept officials? btw, if replicas are considered as real firearms under that bill, then, their genius minds should have included nalang the BBs as "ammos'...

[badcop]

For us to bring around our airsoft guns, we need to apply the same permits as real steel?

Yes, the same requirements and fees would also apply.

What are the limitations to this? And also, I don't get the ammunition part?

As for the ammunition, even blank cartridges and Noxious Liquid/Gas are now considered as live ammunition. In effect, pati blanko na bala at pagdala ng pepper spray/tear gas ay bawal na rin, pagnahuli ka may dalang tear gas puwede ka na din kasuhan ng illegal possession of ammo (I know, it's so stupid).


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Care to explain why is this a "2-bladed weapon"? Just curious (and anxious) on how serious these implications are to our hobby.

I believe the "2 bladed-weapon" comment is just a figure of speech on the part of the poster, ang sinasabi niya since shooter at airsofter siya, parehong apektado yung dalawang hobby or sport na gusto niya.

The implications are very serious, this is obviously only the first step in the imposition of a total gun ban.

I guess to get everybody's support, we need to know what are the pros and cons of the bill and how will it affect airsoft as a whole, if this gets approved unfortunately.

As far as this bill is concerned, there are really no pros for shooters and airsofters, puro cons lang ang meron para sa atin. Don't believe for one second the BS propaganda that this draconian measures will lead to a reduction in the crime rate. Once the citezenry has been disarmed, this will obviously lead to an increase in criminal activities; they can now openly prey on helpless individuals. Fiesta ang mga criminal for sure.


-----Added 19 Aug 2009 at 05:12:57------
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Originally Posted by lemmor

So what kind of support do you want from us?

Let us fight this openly, let our voices be heard where it counts the most, in the committee hearings. It's time to make noise, kung may progun rally, pumunta tayo lahat; pag may meeting regarding this issue, mag attend tayo. Hindi na biro itong ginagawa nila, it's time to stand up and say enough is enough, we will not swallow this crap.

[inque]

Yes I understood that the 2-bladed weapon comment was a simile, but anyways, if airsoft replicas are now treated as real steel weapons, does that mean we can't bring out airsoft replicas outside, unless we have a permit?

Sorry, not a real steel owner here, that's why I have lot's of questions on this clause