T

he Papua Police and the Papua chapter of the Indonesian Shooting Association (Perbakin) want airsoft gun owners to register their guns following reports of hundreds of unauthorized airsoft guns in the province.

John Rouw, head of Perbakin’s local chapter, said that the association and the police had only issued permits for several dozen airsoft guns, while other airsoft guns in Papua had been registered in other provinces.

It is illegal to keep an airsoft gun that has been registered in another province, he said. “Based on our data, there are 500 unlicensed airsoft guns across Papua.”

John raised this issue following complaints from residents threatened by men with airsoft guns.

“We received a report that an airsoft gun owner threatened a resident with his weapon. Many airsoft gun owners also carry their guns everywhere. This has been a security issue,” he said.