-Jim

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heroics-Paintball/125112980919310?sk=wall

This new paintball legislation affects everyone in the paintball world…please take this seriously and contact each Assemblymember on this list.  I contacted all 7 members.

-Jim

http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=3615468

Currently, there is a $10,000 fine for the sale or transport of “imitation firearms” in the state of California. An “imitation firearm” is anything a reasonable person might perceive as a firearm, however, “BB devices” including paintball guns are currently excepted from this law.

The California Legislature is considering Senate Bill 798, which would remove the exception for “BB devices”, including paintball guns. The result is that the sale or transfer of any paintball gun that is not entirely white, bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright green, bright blue, bright pink or bright purple could result in a $10,000 fine.

Preventing this bill from passing is important to all paintball players.

Because the entire surface of the device – potentially including your barrel, tank and hopper on an assembled gun – must be brightly colored, virtually no current paintball gun would be legal if this bill were passed.

State legislators also often copy bills passed by other states. If this bill is passed in California, it makes it much more likely that legislators in other states will attempt to pass similar legislation.

What can you do?

Most importantly, when communicating about this issue, be respectful of those you are speaking with, especially state legislators. Legislators want to hear your opinion, but you will have a much greater impact when communicating in a respectful manner.

SB 798 is currently in front of the California Assembly Committee on Public Safety. There are 7 Assembly Members on this committee, and their contact information is below. We want to make sure these assembly members are informed about why it is not necessary to include paintball guns in this law, why paintball is an important activity for you, and how this bill negatively impacts your ability to play paintball.

A form letter you can use to contact legislators should be available very soon. If you write your own letter, state that you are opposed to Senate Bill 798 because it would affect paintball guns, explain how the bill would negatively impact you, be sure to note that you are over 18 or have your parent or guardian sign in support of your letter if you are under 18, and if you live in California, make sure you include where in California you live.

Make sure to be overwhelmingly polite. Being rude in any way could very well hurt all of paintball.

Bill Author:

Senator Kevin De Leon
State Capitol
Room 5108
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4022
Fax (916) 327-8817
Email: senator.deleon@sen.ca.gov

California Assembly Committee on Public Safety:

Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, Chair
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0013
Tel: (916) 319-2013
Fax: (916) 319-2113
Email: http://asmdc.org/members/a13/ (click Contact Tom)

Assemblymember Steve Knight, Vice-Chair
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
(P) (916) 319-2036
(F) (916) 319-2136
Email: http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/36/?p=email

Assemblymember Gil Cedillo
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0045
Tel: (916) 319-2045
Fax: (916) 319-2145
http://asmdc.org/members/a45/ (click Contact Gil)

Assemblymember Curt Hagman
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-319-2060
916-319-2160 fax
Email: http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/60/?p=email

Assembly Member Jerry Hill
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0019
Tel: (916) 319-2019
Fax: (916) 319-2119
Email: http://asmdc.org/members/a19/ (Click Contact Jerry)

Assemblymember Holly Mitchell
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0047
Tel: (916) 319-2047
Fax: (916) 319-2147
Email: http://asmdc.org/members/a47/ (Click Contact Holly)

Assemblymember Nancy Skinner
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0014
Tel: (916) 319-2014
Fax: (916) 319-2114
Email: http://asmdc.org/members/a14/ (Click Contact Nancy)

Check back soon for more information about the paintball company Zodiac…

I am wondering how the Huntington Beach tournament will be, if there will be a lot of fans and vendors compared to a few years ago. I heard last year the turnout of fans and vendors was really low.

Let’s hope for the best and see you there!