Post by dexmax on May 19, 2006 22:31:23 GMT 8
'Airsoft guns illegal'
BY JUANCHO GALLARDE
BY JUANCHO GALLARDE
Owners of airsoft guns in Dumaguete City and Oriental Negros were warned Saturday to be cautious in the use and transport of these exact replicas of real firearms as they are still illegal in the Philippines.
"It's a banned item yet, but the Philippine National Police is already in the process of formulating guidelines and rules and regulations on airsoft guns," said PSupt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, regional director of the PNP's Firearms, Explosives, Security Agencies and Guards Supervisory Section in Central Visayas. Airsoft guns have yet to be registered and licensed by the PNP, and are thus considered illegal, Lawas explained.
"But we are working on it, let us just be patient and wait for the right time. Right now, airsoft cannot yet be used for tourism purposes as well," Lawas said.
Lawas was speaking to some 25 to 30 airsoft enthusiasts from, at least, three organized airsoft clubs in the province during a forum sponsored by the Provincial Tourism Office and the Oriental Negros Tourism Association. The forum was an offshoot of suggestions to make airsoft competitions one of the tourism attractions in the province.
Lawas, however, said that it is still not possible as yet to encourage businessmen to make profit out of it as airsoft guns are still illegal.
Airsoft is a military simulation sport where players get to engage in mock war games with the use of toy guns that resemble real guns.
The sport is fast becoming popular in the province, with the prices of airsoft guns ranging between P7,000 to P15,000 to include accessories.
Lawas appealed to airsoft enthusiasts that since the PNP is still drawing up rules and regulations on airsoft and other replica firearms, they should be disciplined in the use of their toy guns.
The FESAGSS regional chief said the police will be 'lenient' on airsoft enthusiasts here as long as they follow certain procedures, to include: 1) airsoft clubs should submit a list of names of members and other personal information to the police, with the type of replica weapons they own; 2) they should not play or display the 'weapons' in public, and when transporting them, they have to be concealed; and 3) they should only use airsoft guns in a designated play area of the club or association, and observe safety procedures, among others.
Lawas noted that some airsoft enthusiasts could be seen around town in their motorcycles or four-wheel vehicles, dressed in military combat uniforms and carrying their toy guns in full public view.
The police will not hesitate to impose the full force of the law, as mandated in Presidential Letter of Instruction Number 1264 or Presidential Decree 1866, as amended by RA 8294, if airsoft enthusiasts insist on holding unauthorized mock war games and do not heed the above-mentioned advise, he warned.
"A single complaint will force the police to enforce the law," Lawas said, adding that he himself was hit by pellets fired from an airsoft gun as he alighted from his vehicle here in Dumaguete.
Lawas also cautioned the airsoft enthusiasts from wearing military uniforms in public or playing at any area of their choice to avoid 'mis-encounters' with the police or the military.
He cited an incident somewhere in Cebu province where responding policemen almost fired at an armed group that turned out to be airsoft enthusiasts conducting mock combat.
Luckily, the airsoft players did not point their guns at the policemen, who, according to Lawas said would not have hesitated to fire back at them.
That is why it is imperative that airsoft clubs should have their own designated area for playing mock war games and if there is a need for a person to travel outside of the province carrying his toy weapon, he should first coordinate with the police on what to do, Lawas said.
Airsoft guns are also not allowed for transport yet via airplanes and boats until the rules and regulations on these type of replica firearms are clear, Lawas added.
Members of Airsoft Games, Tactical Airsoft Club, and Deep Reconaissance, participated the said forum, also attended by the PNP provincial director Senior Supt. Ramon Melvin Buenafe.*JG
source: www.visayandailystar.com/2006/May/15/negor2.htm
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