You Now Need A License For Paintball And BB Guns

Licenses for paintball guns will not be a requirement for much longer, as the Home Minister has decided to exclude it from the Arms Act 1960. "Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid (Hamidi) has informed me that he, as the Minister, has decided to exempt paintball markers in the Act," said Youth and Sport Minister Khairy Jamaluddin here Sunday.

However, Khairy said the process of exemption would take time as it involved many procedures, including intense scrutiny by the Ministry's legal division.

The second round of the National Paintball League, scheduled to begin here Saturday, was cancelled because it fell foul of the Act. Khairy said the cancellation of the event should not have happened. "I understand the police were only carrying out their duties... but I really hope that no more raids will be held until the exemption process for paintball markers is completed," he said.

He said this was because continuous raids would affect public enthusiasm towards the sport. He also believed that paintball markers, though listed in the Act, would not be rampantly used to commit crimes.

Unlicensed owners of imitation guns used for sports activities have been given a month, beginning today, to surrender them to the police and apply for a licence.

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"Application for such licence will be in accordance with the provision under Section 36 of the Firearms Act 1960 where imitation firearms refers to anything that resembles a weapon, whether or not it releases a burst of bullets, sharpnel, hazardous liquid, gas and other things."

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Comm Zulkifli said applications to own and use imitation arms would be considered for registered companies with solid finances and paid-up capital of no less than RM400,000 or sports clubs that are registered and recognised by the Sports Commissioner’s office.

Zulkifli said an application could be made by filling out a form obtained from the nearest district police headquarters (IPD) where a sports activity could be carried out, or print the Pol.128 form from the police website.

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Bukit Aman Logistics Department director Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said the deadline to apply for the licence was Dec 25.

Bukit Aman Logistics Department director Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said the one-month time-frame was due to the increase in the procurement of imitation guns in shooting sports like Paintball gun Marker, Airsoft Gun and BB Gun.

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Comm Zulkifli said shooting was gaining popularity as a sport and had to be regulated to avoid abuse. He added that the tight regulations for ownership and use were to protect the public and discourage the use of such arms in extortion and robbery.

Since last year, the police have investigated 47 cases of possessing unlicensed imitation arms, like paintball markers, airsoft guns and BB guns. Comm Zulkifli said 29 people have been charged under Section 36(1) of the Arms Act. Two have been convicted and jailed two months, he added.

Those found to be still in possession of the arms after the deadline can be jailed for up to a year, and fined up to RM5,000, or both. Children aged below 14 years are exempted from this law.