Airsoft Players shoot children in the eye in your local neighborhoods.

[BARRICADE]

Airsoft Players shoot children in the eye in your local neighborhoods...

As many of you know there are a lot of new players coming into this sport we all play called 'Airsoft'.  I am glad to see more and more people get interested in this sport seeing how odds are still against us when you look at paintballers in region vs airsofters in region.

There are many airsoft websites, forums, blogs, broadcasts, and retailers who post up on their site safety information about airsoft and how it should be used.  There have even been local News stations do many reports on airsoft from how to get involved to 'this just in, cops shoot 8 year old boy who pointed an airsoft gun at them'.  We have to stand up and when we see a problem address the problem even if it wasn't us who did it, in the end it will effect us and our sport we play.  We have many problems as is about our guns looking 'too real' where some government officials want to take action.

The problem I bring to this site is this:  The other day when I was out in town, I had a father come up to me and say his child was playing in the neighborhood with other children when he was shot in the face (side of the eye) to be correct by teens in the neighborhood from afar (teens shooting the neighborhood kids for target practice with their new cool rifles).  The guns were what he called high powered airsoft guns for them to leave a blue and yellow mark almost a week old on his son who might I add is only 5.  After he heard about this he went out into the neighborhood in NORTHERN MADISON on the WEST SIDE OF I-55 and looked for these teens.  He told me that he was so upset that he didn't know what would have happened if he did actually find these teens.

I'm upset that this happened and scared as to what this could do to our sport if this continues.  If you or someone you know might have a knowledge of who these teens might have been or if you know someone in your neck of the woods that do something similar please step up and share with them your knowledge of the sport and how they need to stop doing the things they do.  And who knows maybe in the next 10 years we can still enjoy this sport without having the government limit us on when and how we can play if they even grant us that.

And to give you an idea of what could be printed in the sunday newspapers look at the title... Nothing I want to see.

compliments of Airforce on Mississippiairsoft.com

[MatthewTyson]

Seeing as how there are already plenty of laws in place regarding airsoft, I honestly can't see how it can get worse. Teens shooting kids for target practice? That's against the law as it is, plain and simple. When they get caught, they will most probably go to jail for assault with a nonlethal weapon.

All you really have to hope is that the media doesn't spin it into something ridiculous like "TEENS GO ON SHOOTING SPREE WITH TOY GUNS".

[AirForce]

First I would like to say Thank You Barricade for posting this for me...  In response it's currently not against the law in the state of MS to shoot another person with airsoft gun.  However Civil Lawsuit can be filed and the accused can be fined big time.  But here are some legit laws already passed within the USA.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

New York City requires that all realistic toy or imitation firearms be made of clear or brightly colored plastics. Furthermore, New York City makes possession of any pistol or rifle or similar instrument in which the propelling force is a spring or air unlawful without a license. See New York City Administrative Code 10-131(b) and New York City Administrative Code 10-131(g)(1)(a). According to New York state law, airsoft guns are classified as firearms and therefore must follow state firearm laws regarding possession and purchase. Due to this, "technically" airsoft replicas are legal in New York State. However, if players want to use them, it muct be done on private property.

Michigan allows the purchase of airsoft guns. However, they must have an orange tip on the barrel.

Texas allows airsoft guns to be owned, but most cities require that the airsoft guns be discharged only while outside city limits.

Some cities in Illinois consider shipping or distributing airsoft guns illegal. It is officially now not illegal to remove the orange tip of the airsoft gun.

In Minnesota, it is illegal for a child under the age of 14 to possess an airsoft gun unless under the supervision of a parent or adult. It is also illegal for any child under 18 to purchase an airsoft gun without parental permission. In Saint Paul and Minneapolis, airsoft guns cannot be carried in public unless they either have an orange tip, are clear or brightly colored. Airsoft guns also cannot be carried in public if they have a laser attached. It is legal to possess airsoft guns in these cities as long as they are transported in a closed and fastened gun case (in accordance with Minnesota firearm transportation laws) and unloaded. The vast majority of municipalities in Minnesota ban the firing of an airsoft gun within the city limits.

Arkansas has recently passed a bill that bans airsoft guns. The bill states that these replicas consitute a severe danger to the the health and safety of an individual due to Law Enforcement Officials being unable to determine whether a weapon is "real" or not. The bill does not ban imitation firearms (including airsoft guns) that are predominately coloured something other than black, brown, blue, silver or metallic, nor imitation firearms that are built of predominately transparent or translucent materials, allowing anyone to determine the contents of the firearm.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

That is only a few of the restrictions the government has reacted to here in the USA.  Look outside the country towards England or the Philippines (A permit to Tranpsort (PTT) airsoft rifle/ pistol shall be required for the transport of all airsoft rifles/ pistols from the place of residence to any game or exhibition site)  Other countries have laws in place and since theirs are set in stone, it's not long before the USA restricts us if Airsoft keeps getting a bad rep.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

References

^ http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/air_gun-arme_air-eng.htm
^ http://www.airsocom.com/Airsoft/airsoft_guns/Canada_Approved_Airsoft/
^ http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/514_54/index.html
^ http://www.airsoftarea.ch/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12723
^ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060038_en_1
^ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/uksi_20072606_en_1
^ http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/publications/home-office-circulars/circulars-2007/031-2007/
^ http://www.airsoftworld.net/
^ http://www.ukara.org.uk/node/3

[MatthewTyson]

wall of law

I stand corrected. And that's really kind of depressing...

[BARRICADE]

So Arkansas Basically banned all Airsoft weapons that of a EXACT Replica.  BUT the Only way to own one is for it to me clear in order to see its contents?  Is that the way I am reading that one?

[AirForce]

From what I understand in writing that's what I see also.  I'm sure however people get away with it since most laws are not enforced to full extent unless you come in contact with a by-the-books type of guy or get in trouble with law.  Then they slap it in your face.

[BARRICADE]

From what I understand in writing that's what I see also.  I'm sure however people get away with it since most laws are not enforced to full extent unless you come in contact with a by-the-books type of guy or get in trouble with law.  Then they slap it in your face.

  That is true...The Magee PD didn't even know that the the guns are required to have orange tips and they Buyer also had to be 18.  HAHAHA

[AirForce]

Well here under MS Law, we are only required to have an orange tip on the gun when selling or buying one.  The orange tip is allowed to be removed by the owner and does not require an orange tip for transport unless traveling on the Natchez Trace.

[MatthewTyson]

Well here under MS Law, we are only required to have an orange tip on the gun when selling or buying one.  The orange tip is allowed to be removed by the owner and does not require an orange tip for transport unless traveling on the Natchez Trace.

I hope it stays that way for a long, long time...

[AirForce]

Just wanting to say; if you know of anyone who lives in this area of Madison/Gluckstadt, that has operated an airsoft gun, it would be best to give them a talk.

[Scotland]

That is a real bummer.  If I hear anything I will let you guys know.  I don't mind having a license for my airsoft guns as long as we don't hear about things like this.  If the government has a list of airsoft owners then events like this won't occur as often and the culprits can be caught.  I would hate to have our sport go down the tubes because some punks don't have decency or common sense.