Features

IRR Of New Philippine Gun Law Excluding Airsoft Guns Signed

OptimusPrime

In what is another good news for the Philippine Airsoft Community, suffering for thirty years of having airsoft guns classified as firearms through a Presidential Decree issued by the late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10591, which is the new comprehensive law on firearms in the Philippines, finally gets signed by the Philippine National Police Chief Director General Alan Purisima last Monday, 25 November 2013.

Republic Act No. 10591 (RA 10591), called the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act" finally repeals the 30 -year old PD 1866 that includes replica firearms to be part of the definition of firearms. RA 10591, whilst already signed into law by President Aquino, cannot be fully implemented without the IRR which will serve as a guideline for agencies concerned with implementing the new law.

According to PNP Chief Purisima, this law will finally standardize the regulation of firearms. And that it will also intensify the law enforcement organisation's efforts to regulate firearms in a country which is said to have over 400,000 loose firearms.

In the new definition of firearms in RA 10591, below is what is stipulated in Article 1, Section 3, Letter l:

Firearm refers to any handheld or portable weapon, whether a small arm or light weapon, that expels or is designed to expel a bullet, shot, slug, missile or any projectile, which is discharged by means of expansive force of gases from burning gunpowder or other form of combustion or any similar instrument or implement. For purposes of this Act, the barrel, frame or receiver is considered a firearm.

The very definition itself of a firearms is clear and that it will exempt airsoft guns and air guns from being classified as firearms. Both airsoft guns and air guns do not expel a projectile through combustion and use compressed air or gas that does not combine with another gas or powder for any combustion process to push a BB or Air gun pellet out.

As we have written about previously, the implication is that airsoft players will not need to register their airsoft guns at the nearest Philippine National Police Station, or to its Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) to get a "Permit to Carry" so they can transport their airsoft guns from one place to another. Also, when caught, they cannot be charged with carrying a firearm.

The only time that a person carrying an airsoft gun can be charged with carrying a firearm is when the airsoft gun is used in committing a crime.

What is not clear yet is the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) if they will allow the free transport of airsoft guns during election periods as a gun ban is in place whenever elections happen and the bans also cover airsoft guns. The Philippine Airsoft Community will need to have a dialogue with the COMELEC Commissioners to exempt airsoft guns from the gun ban. Many airsoft guns get confiscated and their owners jailed for violating the election gun bans just like other owners of real firearms.

Whilst it is clear that airsoft guns are not considered firearms anymore, it's still very much imperative for the local airsoft community to advise their members not to display their airsoft guns in public. As always, common sense should always prevail when transporting airsoft guns --- still treat them like real firearms.

The Latest News

Feature Story

Airsoft Guns and Gear Reviews