A topic that is rarely discussed in airsoft circles is the use of airsoft guns in shooting animals. Whilst safety manuals in airsoft gun packages come with warnings of not aiming airsoft guns at humans and animals, still, there are people who just shoot animals just for kicks, or for the misguided notion that injuring stray animals is good practice.

This topic came up in a Facebook Group of Philippine-based airsoft players, where a member posted a screen grab of another posting of one airsoft player on Facebook about his shooting of stray cats that were after the leftover food of his pet dogs:

Many animal lovers were aghast by this callous posting and it is being spread around local animal rights advocate circles as well. We wonder though if the local airsoft community would take action against this behaviour, since it will reflect on the community as a whole. We wanted to get in touch with the person to get his side of the story but it looks like he has deleted his Facebook account after realising he has incriminated himself. Unfortunately for him people have downloaded the screenshots of his post, personal details, and are sharing these via social media.

It just does not make sense to shoot animals with airsoft guns to injure just to scare them away, or worse, for fun. Doing so would put one in violation of animal cruelty laws. In the case of the Philippines, they have their Republic Act No. 8485 or the "Animal Welfare Act of 1998":

"It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat any animal or to subject any dog or horse to dogfights or horsefights, kill or cause or procure to be tortured or deprived of adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or use the same in research or experiments not expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare."

This act deems that, except for some specific instances, the "killing of any animal other than cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos and horses is likewise hereby declared unlawful…"

This law was amended with Republic Act  No. 10631 in 2013 with the penalties increased:

SEC. 4. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 8485 which shall now become Section 9 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 9. Any person who subjects any animal to cruelty, maltreatment or neglect shall, upon conviction by final judgment, be punished by imprisonment and/ or fine, as indicated in the following graduated scale:

“(1) Imprisonment of one (1) year and six (6) months and one (1) day to two (2) years and/or a fine not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) if the animal subjected to cruelty, maltreatment or neglect dies;

“(2) Imprisonment of one (1) year and one (1) day to one (1) year and six (6) months and/or a fine not exceeding Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) if the animal subjected to cruelty, maltreatment or neglect survives but is severely injured with loss of its natural faculty to survive on its own and needing human intervention to sustain its life; and

“(3) Imprisonment of six (6) months to one (1) year and/or a fine not exceeding Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) for subjecting any animal to cruelty, maltreatment or neglect but without causing its death or incapacitating it to survive on its own.

“If the violation is committed by a juridical person, the officer responsible thereof shall serve the imprisonment. If the violation is committed by an alien, he or she shall be immediately deported after the service of sentence without any further proceeding.

“The foregoing penalties shall also apply for any other violation of this Act, depending upon the effect or result of the act or omission as defined in the immediately preceding sections.

“However, regardless of the resulting condition to the animal/s, the penalty of two (2) years and one (1) day to three (3) years and/or a fine not exceeding Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000.00) shall be imposed if the offense is committed by any of the following: (1) a syndicate; (2) an offender who makes business out of cruelty to an animal; (3) a public officer or employee; or (4) where at least three (3) animals are involved.

“In any of the foregoing situations, the offender shall suffer subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency and the inability to pay the fine.”

These provisions should make any airsoft players in the Philippines to think twice about shooting animals, even if they are stray ones. Such problems with stray animals, even if valid that they might pose dangers to the community, should be left to be dealt with by local authorities and organisations equipped with dealing and taking care of such animals, including unwanted pets.  Using your airsoft gun can also put you in danger since alarming neighbours with your realistic looking firearm replica would send armed police to your door.

Many countries around the world also have their animal welfare laws that have even more severe penalties than what the Philippines has.  Thus, it is best for all airsoft players to look up their local laws on animal rights, welfare, and penalties on animal cruelty.

For airsoft businesses, be they airsoft retailers or airsoft game facilities, should put up easily read information to admonish their customers never to aim and even shoot their airsoft guns at animals. Airsoft teams, forums, and groups on social media networks are encouraged to include in their rules that shooting animals is frowned upon and not tolerated.

Airsoft guns are best used for airsoft games, not for the maltreatment of animals.