Afad shoots for peace

The recent 2009 Defense & Sporting Arms Show (DSAS) opened to a full-packed crowd of gun enthusiasts last July 16 and ran until the following Monday, July 20 at the 5th floor of the Megatrade Hall 1 & 2 Bldg. B, SM Megamall in Ortigas Center.

I knew from experience that this was going to be another well-attended affair because I have been going to these annual trade shows every year, faithfully, sometimes with my brother Rey who only recently has turned into an aficionado as well. Wearing comfortable footwear, I set out for a whole day of excitement in this much-awaited event.

Still, I wasn’t prepared for the elbow-to-elbow, shoulder-to-shoulder crowd that eagerly trooped to the gun show. It seems that every year, more and more converts are appreciating the joys of sports shooting while answering the need for proper defense should the need for it arises. Robo Cop was there in person, a creation of Armscor, a novelty much appreciated by the crowd.

This was a defense and sporting arms show, and they had no less than the PNP chief Director General Jesus A.Versoza as guest of honor and speaker in the opening ceremonies, with Mandaluyong Mayor Ben Abalos in attendance. Gen. Versoza is a known advocate of responsible firearms ownership and, joining top officials of the PNP Civil Security Group and the Firearms Explosives Division, he extolled all gun owners to have the proper documentation for their firearms and informed the public that the PNP-FED will give a free seminar on the legal aspects of gun ownership as their way of encouraging gun owners with delinquent licenses to renew them to avoid the still penalties. Actually, a PNP-FED firearm license renewal booth was set up as part of the 2009 DSAS for this purpose.

Gen. Versoza also explained the proposed amendments he has submitted to the President calling for stiffer penalties for undocumented firearms. Possessing three or more unlicensed guns will be considered non-bailable offenses in the proposed amendments, hopefully to discourage syndicated or organized crime groups. They are calling for an amnesty period of 4 months for un-renewed firearms and only one month for unlicensed guns. He stressed that this is the final amnesty that they will offer, so those entertaining the last threads of reservation should capitulate to this last chance. You either file for license or renew, or surrender and/or face confiscation.

The PNP Chief also informed the press that he is coming out with a circular within this month that prohibits police officers, (especially those in civilian clothes) and all civilians from having their firearms tucked into their waistbelts. Guns should be appropriately carried in clutch bags for safety. Police officers found violating this shall face administrative sanctions while civilians will face revocation of their licenses and permits to carry. I guess the spirit of the new circular is for proper concealment of firearms -to prevent gun owners from the unnecessary display of their firearms.

After addressing the crowd, the PNP chief went around the booths checking out the fine merchandize on display for this year’s show. I saw him at the booth of Hahn Manila admiring the long firearms, and on to the booths of the other major players in the show: Magnus Sports, Pascual Gun Works, Counter Measures, Nashe Enterprises, Squires Bingham Int’l. and of course the biggest player yet, Armscor.

Armscor Group top honcho Bolo Tuason and Armscor Shooting Center president Gina Angangco were there and they introduced me to Freddie Craig who introduced me to his latest creation: a modular-based semi-automatic rifle with a heavy barrel. It came with a scope rail, skeletonized stock and a 15-round magazine. The model I was eyeing was a 22-caliber long rifle which I understand will have its run of limited production here, by Armscor of course. The price range is from P38,000-P50,000, depending on the number of options they incorporate into the firearm, like target trigger, lightweight barrel, etc.

STI was also there. Armscor and STI have a long history of partnership, where Armscor brings the best of the world to the country as well as bringing the best of the Philippines to the world. They chose Armscor to make their entry-level firearm in the Philippines – the STI Spartan, a top-seller in the US The internal parts were sent to Armscor where they were assembled by Bolo’s experienced gunsmiths and then sent to the US for sale.

STI also showed me their single stock, compact 9 mm, a very slim gun with a shortened grip; their patented 2011 style that was selling for P120,000, and the VIP, a line which they had actually discontinued but had to bring back due to popular demand. This was available in 9 mm, 38, 40 and 45 caliber models. Their carry guns now have higher capacity and carry more rounds. Now on its 20th year, STI’s guns are known to be the number one chosen guns for competition, and Armscor is the country’s biggest importer of STI guns.

I met up with Jane Roxas of Nashe Enterprises again and she showed me her best sellers: the Kimber pistols and the Springfield XD plumer pistol, with single/double action that are available in 9 mm, 40 and 45 caliber models; the XD tactical service pistol 45 and the XD service 9 mm which has less recoil and is reputedly more manageable in shooting competitions; and the Zig Sauer P220 X6 45 caliber.

Over at Counter Measures, I met the husband-and-wife team of Perry and Marissa who also had a big exhibit in the trade show. They proudly showed me two of their exclusives: the SPO1 Shadow, a world champion in the production division. It is available only in 9 mm and it used to sell for P80,000. After winning the championship, Perry and Marissa graciously offered a championship sale price for it-P70,000. At the gun show, however, where all the guns sell for at least 15 percent less, this model sold for P65,000. The other exclusive, the PO7, is the latest product of CZ, the famous Czech gun manufacturers. It is a light, compact 9 mm with 16 rounds. It also has less recoil because of the buffer integrated with the frame.

Even with the most comfortable footwear, something’s got to give. I stayed on at the gun show for hours on end, going from booth to booth until my legs had nothing to give anymore. I had a nice chat with Bolo Tuazon who shared with me the advocacy of responsible gun ownership, such that we teamed up to go public with the advocacy through a segment in our Business & Leisure TV show, Sport Shoot. Through this segment also, we will feature the country’s different gun clubs and the friendly competition held regularly among these clubs.

Anyway, sore feet or not, I still went back the next day, and the next, for more visual treats at the 2009 Defense & Sporting Arms Show.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

For comments: (e-mail) [email protected]