Springfield Airsoft
General Category => General Airsoft => Topic started by: Supercell on December 18, 2010, 09:53:45 PM
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http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lapd-pellet-gun-20101219,0,7799943.story
Please guys and girls be responsible with these Replica's. If approached by law Enforcement immediately put your Airsoft gun on the ground. Do not attempt to try and show them your Airsoft gun with the orange tip. This will come across as a threatening jester and bad things can happen.
Comply completely with any Authorities.
This kind of thing is what will get Airsoft outlawed here in the USA. There are already city's that have bans on the use of Airsoft guns in the city limits.
Case those Airsoft guns. Or at least transport them in their original boxes. Never flash around your Airsoft guns in public and when you are playing be sure you have permission from the property owner(s) and there isn't any visible public in the area. I am just trying to say we need to be very careful!!!!!
Jon
So go Airsoft
Supercell
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MidmoAirsoft.com had our incounter with county this weekend.
Our land owner forgot we where on the field saturday and Called the County sherrif, As we exited the field I Saw them at the end of the driveway to the field standing behind one of our customers vehicle. As i lowered my rifle to the ground and took off the holster with my pistal in it lowered it to the ground and walkout off the field telling my costomers to drop all gear and stand still.
As I walked towards them I kept my hands up and in the open to show no threat. When I got 35 to 30 feet from a deputy Realizing it was a deputy I am aqaited with and realized who I was he stepped out from behind the car with his loaded "shotgun", His partner had his pistol drawn. As we exchanged greeting They holstered and put away the shotgun told me what the situation was and I told all my costumers to come fourth as I did. Nothing came of this once the land owner saw It was me and he realized what the date was aand told them it was false alarm.
Such things will happen with old age. as we all laughed and carried on. We released with nocharges. As the deputy I know I know from when I went to the police academy. I was also comended on how I aproached them and how i told everyone to stay put til told to.
When it comes to any sport that has weapons of any kind Do youself a favor and put the weapon on the ground and keep hands in the open and palms towards the officers.that you provide a chance to show your coopperation and nonhostile actions. It will improve the situations more if both parties remain calm and collected.
I can talk for ever on this but I will end it at that.
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Sounds like you did the right things. I know it is just a matter of Airsoft retailer and organization to help educate all the new airsofters coming into the sport. At So Go Airsoft we are always talking to the kids and parents about the safety and the proper way to use these things. I know parents sometimes don't realize what they should do with Airsoft guns.
Jon
So go Airsoft
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I dont blame parents or children.
I blame EVERYONE because even if it is NOT YOUR CHILD, its EVERYONES responsibility on the protection and education of safety in all type of gun care.
If Everyone did thier part we wouldnt be readng about this kind of tragedies.
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Well i do agree on the saftey matter... i mean for real why would you not just drop the weapons... i understand that they are young but still you would think that they would be scared of the cops not approach them.
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Another note, if you get stopped in your car with them in the vehicle, keep your hands on the steering wheel(as you always should) or dash if you're in the passenger seat, and promptly inform the officer you have replica firearms not capable of firing live ammunition. I've found many LE haven't even heard of airsoft.
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Actually if you are traveling, the AEGS and Pistols need to be cased, and not where you can reach it.
Like for me, behind the seat of the truck, or in the cargo area.
Unless you have a blue/black sticker on the car, indicating you have a concealed carry permit ( in most states) it's illegal to transport guns of any sort, even bows and crossbows with-in usable distances uncased.
My sister got a big charge on her for having an unloaded .22 in the glove box of her car, because it was easily reached, and no case or permit. ( The fact she didn't have any bullets at all didn't matter.)
It would come down to an actual Judge or the judgment ( and I wouldn't bet my free life on a LE's comprehension level. ) of an officer as to not try and stick an airsoft "toy" as a concealed "firearm".
Just don't take the chance, and do things as if it was real steel... and all should be good.
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I agree with dragon on this because my trips i take to springfield for my sogo partys i useally have at least 5 to 6 guns in my hatchback. But they are all cases or in duffles either way they are not seen. Not to mention that i have a sheet that i put over them. I have gotten pulled over once and asked about it i just told them i have Replica "BB" guns in the back and they useally understand. If they ask to see them then i show them the orange tip... the ones that have asked have been kind of impressed on how far Airsoft has gotten.
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I just keep them in my trunk. I have been looking for a case will continue to look but LE cant search your car trunk without a warrant or permission.
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I just keep them in my trunk. I have been looking for a case will continue to look but LE cant search your car trunk without a warrant or permission.
That really depends nowadays , after 911 there are lots of loop holes LE can use to get what they want.
In most cases, they aren't going to bother, unless they can already see something they "perceive" as being wrong. ( Such as a glock uncased in the floorboard... they aren't going to care about the orange tip, or if it's not a real firearm at first.)
If it's put away where you can't reach it, like the trunk... then it should be fine. I was talking about the instances people just toss em in the back seat with-out a case on em.
Just be careful when LE is concerned, period.
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Speaking of loops holes.
I just went through the Police academy. in Columbia.
If a police officer asks to search your car and you say no. They can not say "well what are you hiding"
and Yes you can tell them , Yes officer you can search my car but only the drivers area. They the officers have to obide by that.
If you say yes officer you can search the hole car that does not mean the trunk. the trunk is a sperate part of the car the is not accesssible to passengers in the vehicle.
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interesting
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Hmmm. The guys at Loftis pawn in Springfield said I could keep a loaded gun in my car, doesn't have to be cased, as it is my property and you can also "open carry" here. If that's the case I don't see why I would have to case an airsoft gun for travel. (though I do case both my airsoft and real steel). Are the loftis guys wrong about Missouri law? I'm 23.
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I'm not to sure about MO laws... it's a bit more strict here in AR I do think. It would be something I'd look up or ask a real legal rep.
I know that AR , OK, TX, NM, and MS require the fire-arms of any sort to be cased, locked ,breached, or un-usuable or out of reach when traveling.
I don't see LE in any place making an on the spot distinction between airsoft and real steel. Possibly if they already know what airsoft is... , but most don't, or wouldn't take the time to look into it anyways.
I think it's just better to not give any reason for any bad publicity, or defiance of any law ( even if it's only a perceived defiance , and it isn't actually "wrong" ) to further give congress/fire-arm haters any more excuses to bust down our fun little hobby. By the looks of things, you have media and governmental and legal reps just looking for any excuse to jump on the hobby in any negative light they can.
Just look at the article posted above.
True, the boys should not have been out in public with airsoft guns. They should have complied with the LE.
However, I don't see them as completely at fault.
The LE could have done a number of things ... pepper spray, shock-taser, and other non-lethal methods come to mind.
Of course, I wasn't there in the situation to know for sure..., but it's really hard to imagine it was 100% all the kid's fault.
But if you look at the way it's written... it's rather pointing the finger at the kids as being the culprits. It points out airsoft guns as the blaming factor.
" Another Kid shot because of Airsoft Guns " is how it reads.
not...
" Another Kid shot by officer in misunderstanding."
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Yes Missouri is an open carry state.
I can walk down the street with my thi holster loaded 9mm in it and they cant do anything.
but they can stop and ask questions and such.
It just depends on your area and the Law enforcement in your area.
Dont forget about city Ordinances!
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hrmm.. looks like the TIMES there did some editing from last I had read it.
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The LE could have done a number of things ... pepper spray, shock-taser, and other non-lethal methods come to mind.
I know for military on post and police officers there is or should be a Escalation of Force. The basics could go as such:
Unknown person approaches, Guard uses voice and hand signals to halt or ID individual
Unknown person pulls object from pocket, Guard raises weapon and again uses voice and arm signal
Unknown person points weapon at Guard, Guard (depending on situation) fires warning shot or lethal shot.
I know that is the basic one for us currently overseas depending on the local ROE. From the article given the officer should have been at the 2nd stage. If the kid was stupid enough to not say anything and point a "fake gun" at a police officer then they obviously where not taught weapon safety or cared to have common sense.
I feel its tragic that stories like this one are blown out of proportion and try to get rid of airsoft. Though I doubt I will see many stories telling how Airsoft got an obese kid to get skinney and possibly saving his life, because good wholesome stories about better people never make it on the news.
Lastly I hope the officer thinks of better ways to influence how situations go and is able to communicate better with individuals so messages are not misinterpreted.