Disarmed a couple of gunmen last night

[Andrew Rothman]

Okay, they were 12 or 13, and shooting airsoft pistols at each other and passing cars, but I still feel good about it.

As I planned three months ago... ( http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76745#post937801 )

My wife told me after the fact that a couple of teenage kids were running through neighborhoods yards, past younger kids, shooting each other with Airsoft guns.

Had I been there, I would have taken the guns and handed the kids my card, telling them that their parents could come pick up the guns.

Shooting paintballs or pellets on public property, or others' property, or even near one of the above, is typically illegal within city limits.

Taking away the guns, while technically illegal, falls under the legal doctrine of "lesser harm," and handing over the card further shows that it is not intended as theft.

Hillary was right (hey -- even a stopped clock is right twice a day!) -- sometimes "It takes a village to raise a child."

Or at least to smack some sense into their parents.

...I gave them a business card and let them know that a parent could come pick up the guns.

One dad did come. While initially belligerant, I disarmed him with a smile and handshake, then showed him the packaging from my similar airsoft pistol: you know, the parts about "not a toy," "not for sale to anyone under 18," "children must be supervised," "wear eye protection at all times," etc.

I also showed him the city code that forbid kids from shooting without an adult, anyone from shooting on or near public streets, etc.

He said his kid wouldn't be using the pellet pistol again.

I offered to take the kids to my back yard for some safe, supervised airsoft shooting at paper targets. He didn't seem interested. (shrug).

Haven't heard yet from parents of #2.

 

[Chipperman]

Nice job!
Hope the kids do not decide to do anything stupid like key your car.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Naw. Then I'd have to show them what a real gun looks like.
















(Yes, that was a joke.)

 

[halvey]

Good job. Most people wouldn't handle a situation like this nowadays.

 

[roo_ster]

Thanks for keeping an eye on your neighbors' kids.

 

[mondocomputerman]

I remember your thread from a while ago. Way to go, sounds like you did the right thing.

 

[joab]

Hillary was right (hey -- even a stopped clock is right twice a day!) -- sometimes "It takes a village to raise a child.

I disagree it takes two responsible parents. When they fail it takes the village to protect itself from them, this was not a deadly encounter, but still very unsafe and irresponsible behavior on the part of the parents, and boys being boys behavior on the part of the kids.
We have no business with the behavior they are allowed in their home but we have every right to oversee the public enviroment of our neighborhoods.

I suspect that kid #2 had a father like mine. If I had told my dad that one of the neighbors had reprimanded me for that type of behavior not only would I have not gotten the gun back anyway, but that would be the very least of my worries.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I disagree it takes two responsible parents. When they fail it takes the village to protect itself from them...

Well said—and sadly true.

 

[Vodka7]

Thank God you took those away before something worse happened. The AirSoft guns I've seen online all look pretty real, and I don't recall seeing any orange tips or anything obvious that says from a distance, "this is not a gun."

I DO recall a story a year or two ago about a bunch of highschoolers driving around in a pickup with an airsoft (or paintball?) gun shooting at cars and pedestrians. It was late at night, someone saw the gun and mistook it for a real one, and returned fire with his carry piece. Hopefully these kids will learn to use them responsibly now that you've intervened.

 

[Tharg]

Heh - sounds like ya did good bub!

btw... every villiage has its idiot(s) too... rofl Do you REALLY want them raising your kid? <grin - humor - this is when you laugh >

J/Tharg!

 

[mrapathy2000]

good job. paintball guns can do some good damage. havent toyed with airsoft but reading some of the speeds they do would probably take out a eye,testicle or ear if given the chance.

where they wearing goggles of any kind?

dont paintball anymore but recall posting of news articles bout kids going on rampages at night with marker and painting the city and ton of cities enacting ordnances.

parents dont teach em maybe they will learn from Darwin hope they dont harm anyone else in the process.

 

[Sportcat]

I'll be curious if you hear from Parent #2.

 

[geekWithA.45]

Kid #1: Bwa! I was minding my own biz, and mean mr. gun bigot took my toy away! Sic 'em, dad!

Kid #2: Cripes! If I tell dad, he'll whup/ground/whatever me. Might as well chalk it up as a loss.

 

[O.F.Fascist]

Well from your post I can infer that you did look up state and local laws on airsoft guns.

I'm not sure if what those kids were doing would be considered illegal here in Texas, unless they were trespassing and were asked to leave and didnt, or if one of the kids (or parents of) decided to press assault charges against them.

Merely owning an airgun under the age of 18 is not necessarily a crime, nor is it necessarily a crime to fire it in public.

One dad did come. While initially belligerant, I disarmed him with a smile and handshake, then showed him the packaging from my similar airsoft pistol: you know, the parts about "not a toy," "not for sale to anyone under 18," "children must be supervised," "wear eye protection at all times," etc.

Just because something is written on the packaging does not necessarily make it law.

Most movie theaters arent supposed to sell tickets to R rated movies to people under 17, however its not illegal to for people under 17 to see R rated movies.

 

[JohnKSa]

O.F.
Although it is true that it is "typically illegal" to shoot airguns within city limits (as Matt states), you are correct--there is no STATE LAW against owning, purchasing or shooting airguns at any age.

However, I don't think that Matt is claiming that he disarmed them because of the legal issue--more because they were being just plain stupid.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

I took `em away because they were acting unsafely.

I was justified in doing so because city code specifically forbids the firing of any pellet gun within city limits without a permit.

Yup, shooting Airsoft in my basement is illegal. Turn me in!

Kids are prohibited from shooting without a parent, guardian or certified instructor present.

Of course the city code goes too far, but it is what it is.

Anyway, #2's mom called, then stopped by. She was apologetic, and thanked me for what I did. She even quoted Hillary, and thanked me for being part of the village!

When they came to pick up the gun, she made Junior apologize to me.

I handed Junior the gun, and mom a copy of the city code section, a copy of The Four Rules, and a page about the FPS and injury potential of Airsoft.

I also invited her son to come around and shoot safely any time.

I'm not holding my breath, but she was pretty sharp for a soccer mom .

 

[JohnKSa]

Matt,

You might want to delve into that law a bit more carefully. Generally laws about discharging firearms and pellet guns in city limits are caveated to allow the use of indoor shooting ranges. They usually exempt shooting in a totally enclosed facility which prevents projectiles going off the property and which keeps outside noise levels within the legal limits.

 

[GSB]

I'm not sure if what those kids were doing would be considered illegal here in Texas

The initial post did say they were shooting at passing cars, so although IANAL, I would guess that's probably illegal just about anywhere (can you imagine the average driver's reaction to suddenly having what looks like a gun being pointed at him/her?). These kids are very fortunate they were stopped before they caused an accident resulting in injury or loss of life. Kids do stupid things. I know I sure as heck did. I'm glad I managed to get out of that phase of life without doing anything I'd regret for the rest of my days.

 

[Parker Dean]

Kid #2: Cripes! If I tell dad, he'll whup/ground/whatever me. Might as well chalk it up as a loss.

My take on it, too.