For those who have been monitoring the progress of California SB 798 (De Leon) and want it to fail, a positive development happened --- it failed to muster majority votes as required for it to pass the Committee on Public Safety when it was remanded back to the Committee by the Assembly on its third reading as based on Rule 77.2 on Substantially Amended Bills. Please refer to our last story on this.

Since it was substantially amended it didn't get voted upon by the Assembly and it was for the Committee on Public Safety to determine and approve for it for the Assembly to consider voting on it.

Last Tuesday, September 6, the Committee on Public Safety had a hearing in which the Airsoft Safety Foundation expounded on the negative financial impacts of the bill. Other allies against the Bill also explained their opposition of the Bill, and here's the result.

AYES: Cedillo, Hill, Mitchell (3)
NOES: Knight, Hagman (2)
ABSENT, ABSTAINING, OR NOT VOTING: Amiano, Skinner (2)

With that, SB 798 Status is considered as Failed:

(Screenshot courtesy of Tom Harris of Pyramyd Airsoft Blog)

So what's next? We're still confused with the mention of Joint Rule 62(a) since we're not well versed in the legislative process of the State of California. Tom Harris' take is this:

"California Senator Kevin de Leon could bring the bill back, but my understanding is that he'll have to wait until next year.  Hopefully, by then, he'll be too distracted with drafting other terrible legislation to focus on contributing to California's unemployment rate and crippled tax revenues via the Airsoft industry." (Read his full blog entry here).

The Airsoft Safety Foundation will make an announcement on Friday on the final  outcome of the bill. We're not sure what really transpired during the September 6 hearing as there is no transcipt available. If there were compromises made with Senator De Leon to drop the bill, then it will be good also, as sometimes compromises are needed to be made to ensure that all are happy with the final outcome.

Hopefully on Friday, the Airsoft Safety Foundation will announce that SB 798 is dead on the water. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.