Monday, May 30, 2005

In Chandler, toy guns now legal in public

CHANDLER - People who carry toy guns that look real won't be breaking the law here anymore. The City Council rewrote a municipal weapons ordinance that used to make it a misdemeanor to carry a loaded air gun, BB gun or paint-ball gun in a public place even though it is legal to carry real guns under state law.The council made it legal to carry the less-lethal weapons but not fire them or display them in a threatening manner on public property. It's still legal to use them on private property. The law came under fire from parents who said the toys aren't dangerous and the restrictions were too harsh. But school and police officials said they are concerned about the real-gun appearance of toys and the potential for injury from plastic projectiles. David Layman, 50, said he has been complaining for months about the city's ban on carrying toy guns. He said the new wording is a step in the right direction but violations should be civil matters, not criminal offenses punishable by up to six months in jail and up to a $2,500 fine.Layman's 16-year-old son is scheduled to appear in municipal court soon to defend himself on criminal charges related to his use of an AirSoft gun. Police helped draft the changes. Officers are most concerned with the use of toy guns that look real, said Chandler police spokesman Mark Franzen. "It's not a good thing to take those toy guns and point them at someone who can misjudge them as real weapons," he said. "Somebody could get hurt."

Friday, May 27, 2005

Ann Arbor News POLICE BEAT

Man beaten at
after-work party
A gay man was severely beaten early today by two or three men who made anti-gay statements as they were punching and kicking him, Ann Arbor Police said.
The 21-year-old Canton man was at an after-work party in the 400 block of Felch Street at 1:45 a.m., reports said. He told police a few people who showed up at the party had a problem with him being gay, so they were asked to leave, reports said.
A 22-year-old Pittsfield Township woman said she asked one of the men as they were leaving if she could have a drag off his cigarette, and he spit and threw a beer at her, reports said. The victim said he walked over to defend the woman, and the man began attacking him while uttering gay slurs, reports said.
The victim likely had a broken nose and was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center, reports said. He was unable to give a detailed description of the attackers, who left before officers arrived, reports said.
Police are attempting to identify the assailants.
Men point air pistol at sixth-grade girls
Ann Arbor Police confiscated an airsoft pistol after a man reportedly pointed it at three sixth-grade girls who were walking home from school Thursday afternoon, city police said.
The girls said they were walking in the 400 block of Ventura Court at 3:15 p.m. when two men ran from a home, and one pointed a gun at them, reports said. They believed the gun was real and ran home to tell their parents, police said.
Police went to the home and spoke to an 18-year-old Ann Arbor man and an 18-year-old Gregory man, reports said. They had an airsoft pistol that is a replica of a Beretta handgun and shoots plastic pellets, reports said.
Police are seeking charges of disorderly conduct.
Stranger attempts assault, takes phone
A 23-year-old Ann Arbor man said a man attempted to strike him with a beer bottle and stole his girlfriend's cell phone at an Ann Arbor bar late Thursday, city police said.
The man said he was at Damon's in the 3100 block of Boardwalk Drive at 11 p.m. when a stranger tried to hit him with a beer bottle, reports said. He said he blocked the bottle, and the attacker ran out with his girlfriend's cell phone, reports said.
Officers found the 31-year-old suspect at a nearby hotel, and he was arrested for felonious assault and larceny, police said.
Basement fire injures 1 in Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti fire investigators are looking into the cause of a fire that started in the basement of an apartment house this morning.
Firefighters were called at 1:40 a.m. to a house in the 300 block of West Cross Street. The fire was mostly contained to the basement, according to the report. An occupant in the basement was treated for smoke inhalation. First-floor residents got out of the house safely.
Damage was estimated at $6,000.
Robber takes money from gas station
Van Buren Township police are looking for the man who robbed a BP gas station at Rawsonville and Martz roads early Thursday.
Sgt. Greg Laurain said the clerk told police that a man went to the counter and selected a cigarette lighter. When she told the man how much the lighter cost, he jumped over the counter and told her to "stay back or I'll kill you," police reported. The man took money from the register then pushed the clerk into a rear room and told her to stay there, Laurain said. The clerk later called police.
The robber got away with $430.
Putnam Twp. home destroyed by blaze
A Putnam Township home was destroyed by fire early Thursday, officials said.
Firefighters responded to the 1600 block of East M-36 just before 7 a.m. and found the single-family residence engulfed in flames, said Assistant Chief Mark Coddington of the Putnam Township Fire Department.
No one was home at the time. The fire took nearly three hours to extinguish and the home was deemed a total loss, Coddington said.
The cause of the blaze remains undetermined and it was referred to the Michigan State Police for further investigation.
Firefighters from Hamburg Township, Howell, Dexter, Green Oak Township and Unadilla Township assisted.
Kitchen fire caused by unattended food
Dexter firefighters stopped a fire from destroying a house in Dexter Township on Wednesday night, officials said.
Firefighters responded to the 9000 block of Ann Court at about 9:30 p.m. and found the kitchen of a single-family residence ablaze, said Inspector Donald Dettling of the Dexter Area Fire Department.
Residents were evacuated when firefighters arrived and no one was hurt. Firefighters contained the blaze to the kitchen but no damage estimates were available Thursday. The cause of the fire appeared to be food left unattended on a stove.
News staff reporters Amalie Nash, Art Aisner, Tom Gantert and Liz Cobbs compiled this report.

Thursday, May 26, 2005

Chandler, Arizona may ease play-gun ordinance

People who carry toy guns that look real in Chandler won't be breaking the law any more if the City Council makes expected changes to the ordinance tonight.Members will likely approve re-wording of the city's weapons ordinance that now makes it a misdemeanor to carry a loaded air gun, BB gun or paint ball gun in a public place. Offenders can be punished by up to six months in jail and up to a $2,500 fine.The law has come under fire recently from parents who say the toys aren't dangerous and the law is too harsh. But school and police officials have said they are concerned about the real-gun appearance of toys and the potential for injury from plastic projectiles.
The proposed change would make it legal to carry such devices, but not fire them or display them in a threatening manner on public property. Use of the devices has been and would continue to be legal on private property. David Layman, 50, said he has been complaining for months about the city's ban on carrying toy guns and didn't know the council was voting on a change this week. The new wording is a step in the right direction, but inadequate, Layman said. "The City Council is passing a law that seeks to criminalize petty acts by citizens. I think their purpose would be better served by a civil fine," he said.Layman's 16-year-old son is scheduled to appear in municipal court next week to defend himself on criminal charges related to his use of an AirSoft gun. The father said the gun was fired from his son's car by another youth. "I'm not happy with my son's actions," Layman said, "But the actions of the police and our government are way out of line considering the offense." The gun, which shoots a plastic pellet, is safe enough for him to allow his son to play with it around the family cars, he said. "It doesn't scratch the car or crack windows," he said.In a memo to the council, City Attorney Dennis O'Neill said the display or discharge of "weapons other than firearms can create a significant enough danger to warrant criminal prosecution." However, a misdemeanor gives judges the discretion to defer prosecution and levy reduced fines or jail time, he said. Police helped draft the changes. Officers are most concerned with the use of toy guns that look real, said Chandler Police spokesman Mark Franzen. "It's not a good thing to take those toy guns and point them at someone who can misjudge them as real weapons," he said. "Somebody could get hurt." Tonight's meeting is at 7 at 22 S. Delaware St.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Airsoft guns at center of Florence school incident

Watch Video
Updated: May 17, 2005 8:43pm
Central Texas school officials suspended some students and teachers after an altercation on campus. It happened last week and involved something called ‘airsoft’ guns at Florence High School, between Killeen and Georgetown on Highway 195.

Florence High Principal Marilyn Hill says, “The potential for danger with these air guns seems to me like it's definitely there.”


The so-called air-soft guns come in all shapes and forms. The guns fire plastic bb's at about half the speed of a typical bb gun.


School officials say eight high school boys were driving around the school parking lot and shooting the air-soft guns at middle school students


“I'm so grateful no child was hurt beyond the one child and apparently there was no real damage to that person's eye,” Hill says.


The incident happened immediately after school, on campus and the eight students who were involved in the incident weren't the only ones who were punished. Hill says three teachers were put on administrative leave for several days because they knew students had the guns in their vehicles. The eight students involved were suspended for 2 days.


“There's a real potential danger if somebody were hit about the face and yet there seems to be a mindset among some in the community that this is just a major toy,” Hill says.


Parent Candy Bonnett says, “Personally, I think if the teachers or the students were shooting each other, then, after school hours, school should stay out of it, you know. Kids are going to be kids.”


School officials say they've had absolutely no problems since the incident. And even though Hill says the students were just joking around, administrators had to take the incident seriously.


STORY BY TIM SEELIGER

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Boy with pellet gun arrested at school

For the second time in a week, police arrested a San Diego high school student on suspicion of bringing a pellet gun on campus.
Yesterday, a 16-year-old Mira Mesa High School student was arrested without incident immediately after getting off a school bus at the Reagan Road campus, San Diego police Sgt. Rod Vandiver said.
On April 26, two Scripps Ranch High School students were taken into custody after a pellet gun was brought on campus. In both cases, police received a tip from San Diego County Crime Stoppers, a nonprofit private organization that operates a hotline to report campus incidents.
An anonymous phone call was made at 7:17 a.m. yesterday identifying a Mira Mesa student who "always brings a gun to school in his backpack." The caller told authorities he had seen the weapon, San Diego Unified School District officials said.
City and school police were notified and were waiting yesterday when the student's bus arrived on campus at 8:15 a.m. The 10th-grader was confronted at gunpoint and told to hit the ground.
As he did, what turned out to be an Airsoft pellet gun fell out of his pants, said San Diego police Lt. Shelley Zimmerman.
"The student argued that he had done nothing wrong because the gun was not loaded with pellets," Zimmerman said. "It looked like a real .45-caliber weapon."
The gun had no red or orange tip to identify it as a replica weapon and the grip was wrapped in a brown cloth known as a "do rag."
The student was taken to Juvenile Hall and faces expulsion.
Mira Mesa High did not have to be locked down. The arrest came as students were arriving.
School officials planned to send a letter home with students informing parents of the incident and reminding them of the school's zero-tolerance policy on real or fake weapons.
Officials also praised the person who phoned Campus Crime Stoppers, part of the countywide organization, with the tip. Callers remain anonymous and may receive cash awards up to $1,000 for reporting illegal activity, even if the tip does not lead to an arrest.
The money for awards comes from private donations and fundraising.
In last week's incident, the two Scripps Ranch students, both 16, were arrested. One said he bought the Airsoft handgun, loaded with pellets, from the other for $150.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

More ASR reviews -- Come and get it

As promised--- more reviews. The first is a review of the TM G36c by Dobbins87. If you are looking for a versitile gun with a pile of bells and whistles, maybe this is your baby!

One of the VERY few shortcomings of the G36c (and there is some debate as to whether it is really a shortcoming or not) is that it's stock foregrip only holds mini batteries. Here's a review of the CA version of the Large Battery Foregrip for the G36c.

Wait-- what about a sidearm? Well, how about a Western Arms 1911?

Of course, some folks find the 1911 a little old fashioned for their tastes. If that's the case, why not take a look at a Glock?

Are you now armed to the teeth and loaded for bear? All that makes no difference if your position gets given away because your buddy george decides to do a little play-by-play of his date last night on the radio just as the other team stumbles into your ambush. Check out this review on various radio accessories that can keep you in the loop without letting inopportune broadcasts give away your location.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!!!!
But that's all for today, I'm afraid.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Boy with pellet gun arrested at school

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20050503-9999-7m3pellet.html

For the second time in a week, police arrested a San Diego high school student on suspicion of bringing a pellet gun on campus.
Yesterday, a 16-year-old Mira Mesa High School student was arrested without incident immediately after getting off a school bus at the Reagan Road campus, San Diego police Sgt. Rod Vandiver said.
On April 26, two Scripps Ranch High School students were taken into custody after a pellet gun was brought on campus. In both cases, police received a tip from San Diego County Crime Stoppers, a nonprofit private organization that operates a hotline to report campus incidents.
An anonymous phone call was made at 7:17 a.m. yesterday identifying a Mira Mesa student who "always brings a gun to school in his backpack." The caller told authorities he had seen the weapon, San Diego Unified School District officials said.
City and school police were notified and were waiting yesterday when the student's bus arrived on campus at 8:15 a.m. The 10th-grader was confronted at gunpoint and told to hit the ground.
As he did, what turned out to be an Airsoft pellet gun fell out of his pants, said San Diego police Lt. Shelley Zimmerman.
"The student argued that he had done nothing wrong because the gun was not loaded with pellets," Zimmerman said. "It looked like a real .45-caliber weapon."
The gun had no red or orange tip to identify it as a replica weapon and the grip was wrapped in a brown cloth known as a "do rag."
The student was taken to Juvenile Hall and faces expulsion.
Mira Mesa High did not have to be locked down. The arrest came as students were arriving.
School officials planned to send a letter home with students informing parents of the incident and reminding them of the school's zero-tolerance policy on real or fake weapons.
Officials also praised the person who phoned Campus Crime Stoppers, part of the countywide organization, with the tip. Callers remain anonymous and may receive cash awards up to $1,000 for reporting illegal activity, even if the tip does not lead to an arrest.
The money for awards comes from private donations and fundraising.
In last week's incident, the two Scripps Ranch students, both 16, were arrested. One said he bought the Airsoft handgun, loaded with pellets, from the other for $150.

Friday, May 06, 2005

Girl, 17, accused of BB drive-by shooting

THREE RIVERS (NEWS 3) – A 17-year-old girl from three Rivers is accused of shooting an 11-year-old boy with a BB gun. The boy told police that he was riding his bicycle when a female passenger in a passing vehicle fired the BBs at him. Police found the vehicle at Scidmore Park. Police say the teen was in possession of an "Airsoft" BB gun, which are replicas of actual firearms and shoot 6 mm plastic BBs that can cause serious injury. Under state and federal law, the use of an Airsoft gun in a crime is equivalent to using a firearm. The girl was charged with felonious assault. She is being held at the St. Joseph County Jail.

http://wwmt.com/engine.pl?station=wwmt&id=16249&template=breakout_local.html

Thursday, May 05, 2005

New Hero Arms Parts for G&G M14 Rifle

The G&G M14 rifle has just been released and we are already seeing aftermarket parts being manufactured for it. Hero Arms has taken the head start and has already released a new flash hider, reinforced outer barrel and scope mount for the G&G M14 rifle. The Hero Arms M14 scope mount features full Springfield Armory trademarks and looks very authentic. WGC Shop has these parts in stock and ready to ship, however, the G&G M14 is out of stock in most retailers at the moment.

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Guarder / STAR M14 SOPMOD AEG

The joint project development of the M14 SOPMOD AEG between Guarder and STAR has finally completed and this newly designed airsoft rifle is already available from retailers in Japan and Hong Kong. It will be interesting to see what the cooperation of Guarder and STAR has done to this airsoft rifle. This project is really the first of its kind in terms of two airsoft companies cooperating together. My guess it that Guarder did the main design and internal work while STAR manufacturered most of the asthetic components. Whether this partnership worked well will really depend on quality and reliability.

Great Links

The New Google Shopping Tool
http://froogle.google.com/

The great Search Engines
www.yahoo.com
www.msn.com
www.google.com

Free Mail:
www.hotmail.com
www.gmail.com
mail.yahoo.com/

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

New stocks from G&P

Cat at G&P has sent over news of some new six position stocks that they are now carrying, currently available in black and sand colour:
GP379 M4A1 6 Position Sliding Buttstock (Black) (New Model)GP380 M4A1 6 Position Sliding Buttstock (Sand) (New Model)