Baltimore_900
Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2015
- Messages
- 45
Much of it depends on where you live, what's going on at the moment, the officers involved and of course your own appearance and demeanor when approached by law enforcement.
Today's air rifles and Airsoft firearms look just like the real deal regardless of whether there is a red tip on the barrel or not. Additionally, the power and accuracy capable in today's air rifles have come along way. Many are fully capable of hunting small game and accuracy out to 75-100 yards. Take a look at some of today's air pistols. Some look just like the real thing and some even function the same.
How does one legitimately expect a police officer to know the difference in a high stress situation? One officer I know told me replica type air pistols are often used in holdups simply because the perp knows he won't catch an extra charge in the event he/she is arrested. The flip? Responding officers can mistake the fake for a legit powder burner. Guess what happens next?
Does law enforcement have a use for air rifles? Absolutely. More than a few SWAT/ESU Entry Teams rely on them to put out street lights and house lights quietly to mask a high speed entry. Some even use a suppressed .22LR like one of the Ruger MKII models.
One of the best ways to keep local law enforcement on your side is to adhere strictly to ALL firearms safety measures. Proper backstop and don't pull stupidity like shooting out the neighbor's lights, birdhouses and whatever. In short, be a responsible gun owner.
For the backyard plinker, a quick call to the local police to obtain a ruling isn't a bad idea. If there is a particular statute, write it down. Make sure you clearly understand the verbiage. In many areas, a call to the local PD about 'kids with guns in the next door backyard' turns into local kids blowing up soda cans with their new BB or pellet rifles.
Sometimes, however, it isn't.
This has zero to do with the 2nd Amendment. It has to do with common sense. When I was much younger, backyard plinking was an ongoing affair and the reasons local police stopped by was just to see what new and different targets we had come up with. Sometimes, they even tried their hand and did quite well. In short, they responded this way because when they responded the first time or two, they witnessed safe weapons handling and a proper backstop.
There are those of us who take air rifles seriously. A quick trip through the Internet will reveal highend rifles, handguns and accessories. Competition rifles costing thousands of dollars though these are not the ones police officers see when they repond to a home invasion or store robbery. They see some joker standing at the counter or in the middle of the sales floor with what looks just like an AR15, AK47 or the exact sidearm the responding officers carry. Air rifles or pistols that fire BBs, pellets or little plastic Airsoft pellets.
In the end, for the most part, it is you who sets the stage for how responding officers treat you.
How many of you fellow airgunners can recall contacts with law enforcement involving your pellet/BB gun?
Today's air rifles and Airsoft firearms look just like the real deal regardless of whether there is a red tip on the barrel or not. Additionally, the power and accuracy capable in today's air rifles have come along way. Many are fully capable of hunting small game and accuracy out to 75-100 yards. Take a look at some of today's air pistols. Some look just like the real thing and some even function the same.
How does one legitimately expect a police officer to know the difference in a high stress situation? One officer I know told me replica type air pistols are often used in holdups simply because the perp knows he won't catch an extra charge in the event he/she is arrested. The flip? Responding officers can mistake the fake for a legit powder burner. Guess what happens next?
Does law enforcement have a use for air rifles? Absolutely. More than a few SWAT/ESU Entry Teams rely on them to put out street lights and house lights quietly to mask a high speed entry. Some even use a suppressed .22LR like one of the Ruger MKII models.
One of the best ways to keep local law enforcement on your side is to adhere strictly to ALL firearms safety measures. Proper backstop and don't pull stupidity like shooting out the neighbor's lights, birdhouses and whatever. In short, be a responsible gun owner.
For the backyard plinker, a quick call to the local police to obtain a ruling isn't a bad idea. If there is a particular statute, write it down. Make sure you clearly understand the verbiage. In many areas, a call to the local PD about 'kids with guns in the next door backyard' turns into local kids blowing up soda cans with their new BB or pellet rifles.
Sometimes, however, it isn't.
This has zero to do with the 2nd Amendment. It has to do with common sense. When I was much younger, backyard plinking was an ongoing affair and the reasons local police stopped by was just to see what new and different targets we had come up with. Sometimes, they even tried their hand and did quite well. In short, they responded this way because when they responded the first time or two, they witnessed safe weapons handling and a proper backstop.
There are those of us who take air rifles seriously. A quick trip through the Internet will reveal highend rifles, handguns and accessories. Competition rifles costing thousands of dollars though these are not the ones police officers see when they repond to a home invasion or store robbery. They see some joker standing at the counter or in the middle of the sales floor with what looks just like an AR15, AK47 or the exact sidearm the responding officers carry. Air rifles or pistols that fire BBs, pellets or little plastic Airsoft pellets.
In the end, for the most part, it is you who sets the stage for how responding officers treat you.
How many of you fellow airgunners can recall contacts with law enforcement involving your pellet/BB gun?
