Orange muzzel devices on real guns?

[Owen Sparks]

I went to Dick's today and handeled a very realistic Air Soft AR-15. I have two real ones at home and am very familiar with them and from just a few feet away I really could not tell the difference except ror the bright orange flash hider required by law.

What if you were to paint the muzzle device on a real AR bright orange?

Is there any law against doing so?

The idea is that if someone saw the orange flashider they would think it was a toy and they would not steal, inspect or confiscate it. Especially if it were stored in the back of the closet behind several actual air soft replicas. Of course you would have to be very careful that kids did not get their hands on it thinking that it was a toy also.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Some jurisdictions consider disguising a live gun as an airsoft or nonfiring replica or toy, as an illegal hoax weapon. Although you would probably have to have it out in the public to be an offense even in those jurisdictions.

 

[Owen Sparks]

You could put it in the original Air-Soft box with the clear plastic front. No one would know without close inspection.

 

[deadin]

Go For It!!
It will help in getting Airsoft completely banned.

 

[kingpin008]

With all due respect, unless you routinely have law enforcement officials inspecting your house or your vehicle, the risks of painting your rifle as you've mentioned FAR outweigh the rewards.

 

[Owen Sparks]

With all due respect, unless you routinely have law enforcement officials inspecting your house or your vehicle, the risks of painting your rifle as you've mentioned FAR outweigh the rewards.

I was thinking more along the lines of theives.

 

[Davey Wavey]

Security by obscurity isn't.

 

[Prion]

Sounds like an accident waiting to happen. I wouldn't do it. Could you be charged with negligence if someone was hurt or killed?

 

[Greg528iT]

isn't this what they make gun safes for? Even if I had a couple air softs, I'd probably store them in there too.

 

[Owen Sparks]

BTW, would it be a crime for the consumer to paint the orange flash hider on an Air-Soft black? I once tore a "law label" off a pillow and nothing happened.

 

[FatPants]

I would think some punk kids would be every bit as willing to break into your vehicle to steal a cool airsoft gun, as a real one.

 

[Birdmang]

Bad idea.

 

[il_10]

Owen Sparks: Yes. The orange tips are on them for interstate shipping purposes only. Once you own it, you are okay to get rid of it.

This is a terrible idea for a few reasons, not the least of which is the one deadlin mentioned. There are plenty of people who have sunk plenty of hard-earned money into the game/sport/whatever you want to consider it, and this is a great way to be personally responsible for hindering many thousands of people's rights. Also, it's been rumored that this became a trend in gang crimes within the last couple decades; the idea is that if a cop sees orange he won't shoot as quickly and you have another second or two to take him out. You might not want to engage in activity that has previously been associated solely with gang tactics for offing LEOs. Also, it wouldn't be particularly effective. The cheap airsoft guns you see at wal-mart and such aren't the only ones that are out there. Many are just as expensive if not more so than their real-life counterparts, and they sell quickly, so they're certainly worth a second look for stealing. At best you're going to have airsoft people trying to check it out, and even that can be dangerous if that person isn't an experienced actual-gun handler.

 

[ChCx2744]

There are better ways to prevent theft of your gun than painting the muzzle device orange...Instead of painting anything, think of ways you could hide it out of view/out of sight, different types of locks, disassemble-and-hide ideas, gun safes, etc.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

BTW, would it be a crime for the consumer to paint the orange flash hider on an Air-Soft black?

Try this on for size: AutoOrdnance makes semi-auto firing replicas of the Thompson SMG with 16.5" barrels as GCA Title I rifles. They make versions with the original 10.5" barrels of the Thompson submachinegun as NFA Title II Short Barrel Rifles (SBR, which require federal registration). They also make non-firing replicas of the submachinegun for collectors legally non-guns which have to be shipped with an orange cap on the muzzle. I assure you, once in a collector's home, those orange caps go off before the gun goes on the wall or in a display case.

I suspect it would be a crime to sell an AirSoft or other replica firearm with the orange muzzle blackened. On the other hand, having one in the home or on private property where the public would not see it as a real weapon, would not be a violation of the intent of the law. However, too often with guns enforcement gets hung up on the letter of the law forgetting the intent of the law.

Also, the do not remove labels on furniture apply only to wholesalers or retailers (and I thought I was doing an anti-establishment protest when I clipped mine off).

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Another thing to worry about (or not). I bought a used Armalite AR-7 from a gun shop. The previous owner had adjusted elevation by filing the front sight blade. I got a bright orange plastic replacement front sight blade from Ramline. I notice the new Henry Survival Rifle versions are shipped with an orange front sight blade. So does that count as an orange muzzle device, or since I don't intend to have it out in public do I even care? It would only be exposed at the rifle range or on my uncle's land in Bear Hollow.

 

[kingpin008]

I was thinking more along the lines of theives.

Newsflash - theives steal airsoft guns too. Especially if it's a really nice, all-metal airsoft that looks just like a real AR-15, except for the stupid orange tip that's obviously painted on and not plastic like other airsofts.

I once tore a "law label" off a pillow and nothing happened.

That's because it's not illegal for a consumer to do so. Those tags are illegal for the merchant to remove.

If you're worried about theives, get a safe.

 

[zhyla]

I think in CA it's illegal to paint guns a certain color... orange? pink?

Anyways, no, this is a terrible idea.

 

[henschman]

I don't know of any state law outlawing this. I do know that Kel Tec sold it's P32 pistols in bright orange for a while, and they look just like a little water gun or something until you take a closer look.

 

[JayBird]

As far as I am aware, NYC bans the sale of paints specifically marketed for guns.....so there is at least one place that you cant 'legally' paint a gun....

Of course, I am speaking of NYC and Mr. Bloomberg here....so...........

 

[Justin]

I have a vague recollection of some mental midget who painted the muzzle of one of those AK pistols orange and went strolling around his local town.


Until the local cops found out.

 

[Armed Geezer]

Disguising a lethal weapon as a nonlethal weapon is just inviting disaster.

 

[lizziedog1]

I think in CA it's illegal to paint guns a certain color... orange? pink?

Pink? I thought that was the official San Francisco color.

 

[M-Cameron]

not sure of local laws....but i am almost certain that this is VERY illegal.........let me see if i can find a source......but i recall that a gun must look like a gun, and any attempt to paint it orange is a bad bad idea.