Dr. Airsoft of Airsoft Medicine confirms that California Senate Bill 1315 (SB 1315) authored by airsoft's nemesis, State Senator Kevin De León, has passed the Senate Committee on Public Safety. From there, the bill then goes to the Senate Floor for full voting as this bill has already passed second reading last 29 March. To those who are just following this issues, SB 1315 is to amend Section 53071.5 of the Government Code relating to imitation firearms and this regulation covers the County of Los Angeles, rather than whole state of California. The original bill, SB 798 was meant for the whole state, but was defeated last year.

Here's the breakdown of votes among committe members:

Ayes (5): Hancock, Chair (D), Calderon (D), Liu (D), Price (D), Steinberg (D)
Noes (2): Andereson, Vice Chair (R), Harman (R)

Initially the bill was introduced that covered imitation firearm or spot marker gun that expels a projectile larger than 16mm that basically exempted airsoft guns which was a wonder since Senator De León is supported by the Paintball Industry, which will be affected with such wording in the bill. It was amended on the 29th of March and as expected, it was intended to ban airsoft and other imitation firearms that fire projectiles less than 16mm, Paintball and bears resemblance in coloration and overall appearance to an existing firearm. This is intended to exempt Paintball.

Oddly, Senator De León ignored the very fact that a good number of Paintball markers have overall appearances to existing firearms in this example of Paintball companies:

• RAP4
• JT
• Spyder
• Tippmann

The same line of reasoning has been employed by Senator De León on the guise that such use of imitation firearms can lead to tragic consequences as shown by an LA Times article. Rangemaster Larry of Airsoft Medicine has debunked this as posted here. The answer to such problem of imitation firearms can be answered by education and fines and if used in crime, then criminal law will be brought to bear.

This bill still smells the same as SB 798 even if it's limited to LA Country, as we have mentioned before, it still is a form rent-seeking by the Paintball industry given that airsoft is growing bigger and eating into paintball sales. Right now though, there is no overt show of support to this bill from the Paintball industry as compared to SB 798, with only the Mayor of Los Angeles being in support of this bill.

Opponents of SB 1315 are: Airsoft Safety Foundation; Animal Pest Management  Services, Inc.; California Association of Firearms Retailers; California Rifle and Pistol Association; California Sportsman's Lobby; National Rifle Association; National Shooting Sports Foundation; Outdoor Sportsman's Coalition of California; Safari Club International.

So, as part of the airsoft community in California, in particular the County of Los Angeles, you will need to talk or send a message to your State Senator. Dr. Airsoft has provided a link to a tool with which you can find out who is the State Senator in your district.

By going to the Airsoft Medicine website, you can find a ready template, which you can modify to suit your message to your State Senator. Better make a move right now that if the bill passes, Senator De León might be emboldened to make more bills to cover each county, which the original intent of SB 798 is all about.

Rangemaster Larry was right when he wrote that SB 798 is just awaiting a re-spawn and it did in the form SB 1315.