Thumpy has sent over an open letter written by Crossman on the Californian Senate Bill 798:
Thumpy’s Good Friend Laura Evans, Marketing Coordinator for Crosman has posted an open letter to airsofters in California and across the USA on their corporate opposition to Senate Bill 798. Crosman and other airsoft companies have been attempting to defeat similar measures for several years in Cali…even though a major portion of their business is clear-plastic guns: they can see the dangers in failing to defeat this, for the safety of all citizens. The letter follows a bit of background info that puts SB 798 in a different light:
Although Crosman is home-based in New York State, one wonders what impact this proposed sham will have on all businesses that tie into airguns and airsoft…and what spin off effects on the economy far from California. Thumpy talked with Crosman’s Jim Masseth at the 2011 SHOT Show back in January, where a "Made in America" company explains some of their thoughts on the industry:
So, will SB 798 help or hurt business for Crosman? Doesn’t seem from Laura’s letter below that "BUSINESS" is on their mind at all…as everyone, including the California Legislature, should put the focus squarely on SAFETY:
“Good morning, Some of you may already be aware, but the State of California is prepared to vote on a new law that will affect the future of the airgun and airsoft industries. It could also jeopardize the safety of the public and especially, police officers.
See below for a link to the SB 798 proposed legislation.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0751-0800/sb_798_cfa_20110427_154959_sen_comm.html
California is planning to make it law that all airsoft guns and all BB guns must be brightly colored, so police can distinguish these guns from actual firearms. As most of you know, all airsoft guns sold in the USA already have a bright orange tip and many are clear.
Early on it was recognized the underlying issue is created by consumers who allow potentially dangerous situations to develop. A prime example is the December 2010 incident that apparently prompted SB 798. As reported in the Los Angeles Times, police wounded a teenager when he failed to comply with police commands to “surrender.” Instead, the young man produced an airsoft gun. Expectedly, a police officer feared for his and his partner’s safety. He fired his gun and wounded the young man. Noteworthy is that the young man’s two companions, who complied with the officers’ commands to drop their guns, were not injured.
SB 798 obviously presumes that a “bright pink” airsoft gun, for example, would distinguish it from a firearm, thus providing a police officer with an immediate sense of security that he was not being threatened with a firearm. That assumption, however, might prove deadly to the officers or innocent bystanders. There are firearms sold that are, indeed, bright pink and other bright colors. Coloring an airsoft gun bright pink, therefore, would not distinguish it from firearms. A law enforcement officer should and would never assume a pink or other colored gun is harmless. On the other hand, an orange muzzle on an airsoft gun does distinguish it from firearms.
This bill would require the appearance of airsoft guns to change, but this change would not clear up the confusion issue. To the contrary, it would likely have the opposite effect. The change in appearance would render it more similar in appearance to some firearms. It is the simple and effective placement of orange at the muzzle that distinguishes an airsoft gun from firearm. Furthermore, federal law pre-empts SB798, because the bill would ban the sale of traditional airguns.
Please click on the link below for more information. If you agree that this law is unnecessary, please fill out the form and join the petition today, before it’s too late.
https://www.pyramydair.com/SB798.shtml
Regards, Laura Evans Marketing Coordinator, Crosman, Inc”
Again…’latest info from our buddy Mark "Dr. Airsoft" Vaughn is that action on the bill has been delayed until June 28th, (INFO LINK HERE) so there is plenty of time for you to pick up a phone, log in to your e-mail, Tweet, Facebook and IM your friends and foes on the House Floor and in California as a whole…. and share Crosman’s message along with your own.
Thumpy….OVER (Thumpy’s 3-D House of Airsoft)
