Issue with Playing with Airsoft Guns

Status
Not open for further replies.
It has come to my attention (because I am a nosy bitch with no life) that a group of teenage boys are shooting air guns (BB guns) in the park (the main park).

I have contacted one of the parents of these boys and apparently they have NO PROBLEM with their son shooting a gun in a park with our kids running around! (because it's a game, and no, air soft are not BB's) Not to mention there are TONS of small BB pellets in the grass everywhere. (unlike my ciggarrette butts that will last 1000000 years yet the PLASTIC bb's will break down within months).

I contacted the Town Police and they said BB guns ( NOT AIRSOFT GUNS) are considered firearms and it is obviously illegal to shoot any type of firearm in a public area! (Now, if you all will come with me and make plastic pellets into BB guns and then make them illegal) If you see these teens using BB guns CALL THE POLICE. (because I'm afraid of my own shadow, so please, haresse these kids and make them criminals in life) They will come out and take care of the problem. (As in, take the busybody to jail for calling in a false report)

Protect our kids!!! (yeah, and make them criminals for having fun at an early age and ensure that they have no future, thanks, busybody *female dog*.)

Wayne
 
Here's my only concern with this situation:

"911. What is your emergency?"

Busybody: "Oh my God, I just saw a couple of boys in the park with guns! send the poliec. Fast!"

Police arrive on gun call, thoughts of Columbine in their minds. See a boy with an AK in his hands. Don't need much imagination to see where this could go, with a nervous cop and a kid with a realistic looking gun in his hands.

I'd suugest talking to the police about setting up some way of allowing the kids to play, while keeping them safe from such an incident, like a way of letting the police know the kids are playing, set times for games, etc.
 
As long as the police are told there are kids playing with toy guns and not real guns, the kids are probably safer that way. My main problem with airsoft is people mistaking them for real guns and shooting kids...
 
Well, my city prohibits the firing of any projectile in public -- and it's a damn good idea.

Some airsoft guns can fire a plastic pellet at over 450 fps. Kids do lose eyes, hearing and receive other serious injuries from such weapons.

A public park is shared space; playing shooting games requires exclusive use of extensive space to avoid hitting "noncombatants."

This ain't rocket science: Move the shootin' games to the backyard, eh?
 
Airsoft and paintball belong on either isolated private property or in an area specifically designed for wargames. Playing either in a public area shows an amazing lack of responsibility.

No different than playing Nascar with your friends on the freeway. Ok on the track, but not on the public roads.
 
Airsoft and paintball belong on either isolated private property or in an area specifically designed for wargames. Playing either in a public area shows an amazing lack of responsibility.
Click to expand...

Or on National Forest land, using the same rules as we do when we go out to the woods to target shoot or plink at old cans.

In a public park in an urban or suburban environment, yeah, that is just irresponsible and the kids in this situation should be directed to a more appropriate venue for such play.
 
Hmm. Of course all boys enjoy playing cops and robbers and it's just half the fun without the proper gear.

But CAS700850 pointed out a very valid problem which led to the death of a young man here in Germany. Some time ago a worried grandma saw a boy playing around with a life-like AK-47 airsoft replica in the park. She called the police and reported a man wielding a machine gun. The cops arrived and found a young man pointing an AK at them. They screamed at him to drop the weapon and opened fire when he didn't, killing him in the process. Afterwards it turned out that he was deaf-mute and could neither hear them nor explain that it was just a toy.

Toy guns should clearly be identifiable as toys.


Regards,

Trooper
 
In preface...
  • My brother and I both had BB guns as kids. We'd enlist all the other neighborhood boys into teams and have full-fledged 'Wars'. Sure, the BB's stung, but luckily, nobody got hurt. As young teens, we made 'Tennis-ball' cannons, and although we scared each other, we still didn't hurt anyone.
  • My son got a BB gun when he was about 8.
  • I've carried CCW for years. Somebody asked me how many guns I have, and in truth, I couldn't tell him.
  • This lady appears to be the definition of a bliss-ninnie.

All that said, pointing a gun at someone--even a toy gun--ought to be serious business and not laughed off as "Boys will be boys". I have a serious distaste for Airsoft and paintball games for just this reason. Shooting someone isn't a game, and teaching your sons (or allowing them to teach themselves) that it is, is wrong, IMO. If he wants to shoot something, take him to the range, or set up a BB gun range with paper plates and pop cans in your backyard. Shooting your friend shouldn't be a game.
 
Boys + Guns = yipeeeeeee

I did the BB gun thing as a kid, no eye protection no less. Know that I think about it, that was stupid. I also had a full auto BB gun in the early 80's that ran off of 1lb Freon cans. It was not all that powerful but the Freon tended to frreze the BB's, thye were not only hard but really cold. Bottom line- I will not let my son do it without my supervision. I could not live with myself if he lost an eye or worse.

And thats all he wrote!
 
I find it slightly amusing that some people think paintball and airsoft wars are wrong because you are pointing 'guns' at each other. Teach your kids to know the difference between toy guns and real guns. Like the difference between cartoons and real life.

The only problem I could possibly see is that of hitting anyone not playing, and there are airsoft guns that are fairly powerful.
 
This is an interesting topic for me. I don't have any kids yet, but when I do I will have to decide whether to allow the gun-play. At the moment I'm leaning towards "no." I'm not convinced that (airsoft) gun-play is intrinsically dangerous or irresponsible, but rather I think there's a benefit to teaching a child about real firearm responsibility and marksmanship at a young age. I want to first-and-foremost instill values of responsible firearm handling and usage, and to the extent that airsoft gun-play muddles the issue, I'd prefer to avoid it.

I'm actually a bit of an airsoft fan myself. I use my airsoft pistols for target practice in my basement. With a decent-quality replica, you get to practice sighting, breathing, trigger control, etc. With some models you can even get a little recoil. It makes for fun and inexpensive training when I don't have time to make it to the range.

As for the blissninny neighbor who's threatening to call the police -- IMO she probably just hates guns period. No amount of reason or explanation will satisfy her need to have those boys stop playing with guns. To her, guns == evil, and apparently she feels the same way about toy guns. She might not even view them as toy guns, but rather "somewhat less dangerous" guns. I think her only valid points are: (1) it's probaby not a good idea to be running around shooting projectiles in a public area, and (2) it is pretty darn inconsiderate to litter a public area with (probably) hundreds of little plastic pellets.
 
CAS700850 said:
Here's my only concern with this situation:

"911. What is your emergency?"

Busybody: "Oh my God, I just saw a couple of boys in the park with guns! send the poliec. Fast!"

Police arrive on gun call, thoughts of Columbine in their minds. See a boy with an AK in his hands. Don't need much imagination to see where this could go, with a nervous cop and a kid with a realistic looking gun in his hands.

I'd suugest talking to the police about setting up some way of allowing the kids to play, while keeping them safe from such an incident, like a way of letting the police know the kids are playing, set times for games, etc.
Click to expand...



I agree. Let your kids go to the range with you & shoot real guns. I have never owned a BB gun however. I asked the clerk if they would kill a bird*. He said no way. I decided I would save up for a shotgun.


*I have a bird problem.
 
BB Guns taught me a lot

The time I shot out a window and my dad had me march over apologize and pay to replace it with money and my red behind giving me a lesson in respect for others stuff and the responsibility and consequences for my actions.

The first time I shot a bird wounding a robin and watching it die and listening to the other birds po'd at me. It was for no reason and what a waste. Another life lesson to realize first hand that you are taking a life and it will have an effect.

We can not protect everyone, and accidents are going to happen. Boys will be boys and girls will be girls. Teach your kids the life lessons you can and they hopefully with God's blessing learn the rest safely.

We have BB guns, airsoft, bottle rockets, potato guns, nerf blasters, bow and suction arrows, sligshots, funnelators, throwing stars, magnifying glasses, WD40 and a match, don't forget cherry bombs, pipe bombs forbid.

What we don't have anymore is space. There is and always will be a Mrs. Kravitz in the neighborhood or an overly protective (in your eyes) parent that is willing to comment.

My opinion is these people harbor a vast jealousy for those of us that still go outside with our kids or even let our kids play outside (alone) and instead of stepping out and smelling mother nature they want to keep you in.

Wow rant over abruptly before I spontaneously combust!!!:fire:
 
Undeducated people are the one's that are afraid of guns. If I knew nothing about forks and just looked at one from a distance and had never used one, I could see how someone might impale themselves on it. AHHHHH! :uhoh:

When I was a youngster, my Dad built my sister a play house. It was nice and a scaled model of an actual house, not 4 pieces of plywood nailed in a square. I was jealous, so for my birthday he built me a MAN FORT over our dog pen. It was about 8 feet off the ground, the building was 8x8 probably, I had a 10x10 deck to shoot off of and a flag pole, waving Old Glory. Inside the fort, I had a toolbox like you would put in the bed of your truck. It was filled to the brim with toy rifles, shotguns, pistols, knives, grenades, crossbows, fake suppressors, hand cuffs, whaver the tactically oriented 4 year old may need.

Every one of those guns was black and looked real, if they didn't I didn't want them. Dad would help me paint them to add realism! I also learned safe gun handling with these up to age 5 when I started shooting .22's. I was the neighborhood Lord of War. :D The country ain't country no more.
 
45Badger said:
My older son shot an airsoft gun at a gunshow, and immediately wanted one. No way that's gonna happen. I do not want them ever thinking of any gun as a toy. That part of my "childhood fun" had extremely low value (when looked at from the ripe old age of 43) in my life, with very large, life altering possible outcomes.
Click to expand...


:rolleyes: I had toy guns, and BB guns since I was 10. Never considered gun a toy, even a toygun.

Explain to him the responsibilities. Buy him airsoft gear and mask and send him out airsofting. He'll thank you for that.

Or you think "others are not responsible enough" to handle arms... where did I hear that again?!! :rolleyes:
 
WOWZ OLD THREAD.
I just read the first post and you mentioned a lady complaining about "BBS EVERYWHERE IN THE GRASS", get some biodegradable BBs for the kids, that'll shut her up quick, eh. =o
 
The problem here is that a liberal has found this activity offensive. Feeling offended is very similar to feeling pain. If you add a new source of pain the old source doesn't seem to bother you as much. So what you have to do is offend this liberal even more by affixing a bayonet to a pistol and a shotgun and email her a picture of children holding these terrifying modified weapons. She will immediately forget about airsoft.
 
Ok I should have read all the posts before I put in a standard offend a liberal post.

Talking about gun safety and shooting games (paintball airsoft). I'm 31 (I want my 2's back) so after years of hunting around my twenties I started playing piantball after years of the four rules and never ever point a gun at anyone. I still remember the first I went to shoot someone playing paintball, because I hesitated since I was well taught about not pointing guns at people that I actually looked at the paintball gun before I fired. Now the reverse maybe true you might want to take your son to shoot some real firearms and do some hunting. IMHO it is better to think about a paintball gun (or airsoft) as a real gun than think of a real gun as a paintball gun. On the painball field you can always tell who owns real guns because they follow the rules even with their paintball gun.
 
I find it interesting that we (much like OUR parents) talk about the stupid things we did as kids and say NO WAY I will let MY kid do that.

I dunno bout any of ya'll, but MY parents (as far as I know anyway) Never knew about our BB gun wars.

My dad used to get almost giddy when talking about he cars he had when growing up, but he didnt think I should have a fast car, and he sure didnt want me to drive like I do now :neener: :evil:

My whole point is this: we did stupid things as kids, our parents did stupid things as kids and OUR kids WILL do stupid things, cuz they ARE kids, does that mean we shouldnt discourage stupid behavior?????? COURSE not, but c'mon get real, we cant ( and franky I dont like to think abut what kind of pansies we would raise if we DID ) watch them every single second of every day. We have to do our best to train our kids to not be foolish, but be ready when they come to us with a black eye or a welt from "trying to see what would happen if......."

As for the original post ( I got kinda sidetracked :D ) I agree with the posters who suggested directing these kids to a private play place and safety glasses surly couldnt hurt ;)
 
I find it slightly amusing that some people think paintball and airsoft wars are wrong because you are pointing 'guns' at each other
Click to expand...

That is about the way I feel.

Airsoft and paintball guns are designed to be shot at people. People that are wearing the proper safety equipment, that is. They are a step up from Nerf guns, a step down from BB guns on the 'real weapon' scale.

I have no problem with people shooting these at each other. IMHO, people screaming that they shouldn't be shot at people because that will teach kids that shooting guns at people is OK are no better than the people trying to ban violent video games.

However (and there is always a however), a public park is not the place to be doing this. Some isolated piece of woods (preferably private property, with the permission of the owner) is.

And BTW, I'd rather be hit with an airsoft BB than a paintball.
 
AnthonyRSS said:
I find it slightly amusing that some people think paintball and airsoft wars are wrong because you are pointing 'guns' at each other....
Click to expand...
and
jefnvk said:
...IMHO, people screaming that they shouldn't be shot at people because that will teach kids that shooting guns at people is OK are no better than the people trying to ban violent video games....
Click to expand...

I'll try not to take this personally, but after 10 months, it does seem to be sorta aimed (no pun intended) at me...

I can't deny that I don't like guns pointed at me. I'm the same on the street, the range, or "at play". If we were talking about knife-fighting, I wouldn't want my kids playing with butter knives either. Simulating deadly action ought to be serious business, not kid's play. Of course, any of us are free to raise our kids according to our own standards. If you like airsoft/paintguns--fine. I don't, and we'll agree to disagree.

And FWIW, in case this was directed at me and not the nutcase lady in the article which started this thread, no-one was "screaming" here. Nor did I see anyone make any connection to video games. Although I'm mostly past playing violent video games, I have enjoyed them in the past. As realistic as today's games are, I see a clear distinction between the simulated actions on a video game, and the actions on a paintball field. The opponent on the video game is generally a well-done cartoon, and the consequences of shooting him amount to nothing. The opponent on the paintball field is a real, live human being, and it is only through the down-powered nature of the weapons that no serious injuries are incurred. I understand all about teaching kids the difference between the real and fake worlds, and real and fake weapons. However, I maintain that many (but not all) kids cannot fathom the difference between simulated wounds and real ones, so my kids have never owned either airsoft or paintball equipment. Instead of investing in kid's airsoft or paintball stuff, I've chosen to place those dollars into real guns and take the kids to the range as often as possible. I've done my best to teach them all about gun safety, markmanship, etc. Then, if they still wanted practical experience, I'd get them started in IDPA or 3-gun competition. But, for me, it has always been important that they never point a gun (even a fake one) at a human.

As with everything, YMMV.
 
boofus said:
Airsoft and paintball belong on either isolated private property or in an area specifically designed for wargames. Playing either in a public area shows an amazing lack of responsibility.

No different than playing Nascar with your friends on the freeway. Ok on the track, but not on the public roads.
Click to expand...

Bingo. Isolated, private property is the way to go. Even if it involves a drive. Peace of mind is worth it. Even bystanders should be wearing face and eye protection.

Other than that, launch a fundraiser upgrade to Tokyo Marui AEGs.

My CA G36E just came the other day... Next to the FAMAS F1...

m18096203.jpg
 
I feel that, as a teenager who owns and uses an airsoft gun, has fought in many airsoft wars, and spreads and encourages airsoft, it is my responsibility to deliver the following message to the woman trying to shut out the boys and their airsoft.

Shut the F... up
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Airsoft and the Broken Window - Update
2 3
Replies
56
Views
4K
hso
hso
W
  • Locked
Airsoft guns and air travel
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
Quiet
Q
B
  • Locked
County Prosecutor Decides AirSoft Is A Weapon
Replies
21
Views
3K
M1911Owner
M
M
  • Locked
Is a BB gun the first step?
2
Replies
38
Views
1K
Dgindlesperger
D
S
  • Locked
California airsoft guns need to be painted or clear
Replies
19
Views
1K
Erik M
Erik M
Back
Top