The notice for hearing was quick, but it was expected and the Airsoft Industry and Community are prepared for it. What did not prepare them for was the simplified but radical amendment of SB798 by Senator De Leon who probably has lost the argument in all fronts, and just went for the repealing Government Code Section 53071.5 under the guise of "empowering" the cities and municipalities to regulate imitation firearms to protect the citizens and law enforcment people.

However, the airsoft community, and other firearms enthusiasts saw through the ruse and see it as just another way to create mayhem in the regulation of imitation firearms. If Government Code Section 53071.5 gets repealed by the California State Assembly, then SB798 rather than providing equal treatment of citizens in California with regards to imitation fierarms state-wide, citizens would then be fazed with myriads (over 400) of local ordinances promulgated by the local officials, which can be friendly or not. That will provide confusion for many and this is what De Leon intended to cause. It will be a game of "whack-a-mole" as enthusiasts will campaign at the local campaign to block any attempt to regulate imitation firearms, and a waste of taxpayers' money on the part of the local authorities. Having a preemption at the State level avoids such waste and provides uniformity in the exercise of 2nd Amendment rights.

It is ironic that California just celebrated the 4th of July which is the Declaration of Independence and led to the US Constitution guarenteeing the right to bear arms as provided by the 2nd Amendment, and today, just a day after the 4th of July, the Committee of Public Safety is conducting a hearing that will curtail their 2nd Amendment rights.

While the hearing at 9:30am will not allow for any testimonies from the public, the Airsoft Safety Foundation is urging those who will join in the March to the Capitol to visit each member of the California and Senator, especially those in the Committee of Public Safety to explain your opposition to the bill.

We'll have to wait for the people on the ground to report to us on the results of the hearing. There's still the Federal preemption that will keep the Committee members to vote against the latest amemndment.

As for the Paintball Industry, all's quite at the Save Paintball In California Coalition. Ever since they supported the previously amended bill that exempted paintball, they have not let out a clear position on the latest amended bill. Some people say that they would rather sit in the sidelines in this latest "skirmish" between the opponents of the SB798 and Senator De Leon.

For the Airsoft community and allies from the sports shooting industry, this is a battle for them that will have to be won and hopefully the last.