Four arrested in Broomfield bank robbery, suspected in 9 others

FBI: '3-2-1 bandits' found with Airsoft pistols

By Erica Meltzer, Camera Staff Writer

Four people arrested in connection with the robbery of a Broomfield bank Tuesday night are suspected in as many as nine other bank robberies, according to an arrest affidavit.

The suspects, who displayed what looked to bank clerks like a semi-automatic handgun, were found with BB guns in their car.

An FBI spokesman said investigators believe some of the suspects are the "3-2-1 bandits" connected to robberies in Englewood and Aurora and may also have committed two bank robberies in Lafayette, including one earlier Tuesday night.

Those arrested are: Justin Ray Boykin, 26; Audra Boykin, 32; Christy Ann Hull, 28; and Eli Joseph Shortt, 29. The criminal complaint does not specify their towns of residence. Their mug shots were not released because they are being held in a federal facility, and the Justice Department has a policy of not releasing booking photographs.

According to the arrest affidavit made public Wednesday, Audra Boykin entered the TCF Bank, 4100 W. 144th Ave., around 6:35 p.m. Tuesday. She was wearing a black bandanna over her face, a black hoodie and sunglasses. She had what appeared to be a black semi-automatic handgun in her right hand and a white plastic bag in the other, the document said.

Boykin told the tellers, "You know what time it is," and handed the tellers the plastic bag, the affidavit said. Along with $1,418 in cash, the tellers included an electronic tracking device in the bag. Justin Boykin, who was serving as lookout, entered the bank, asked Audra Boykin if she was alright, and then they fled together on foot, according to the affidavit.

Using the tracking device, Broomfield police pulled over a Ford Windstar at Broadlands Lane and Lowell Boulevard. Hull was driving the car, Audra Boykin was in the front passenger seat and Justin Boykin was in the back, the FBI reported. The bag of money was clearly visible on the passenger-side floorboard, the affidavit said. Officers also found two Airsoft pistols under the front seats.

Hull later told investigators she served as a driver in four other bank robberies but did not participate in any of the planning for the robberies. The affidavit said she dropped off the Boykins and Shortt at the Broomfield TCF Bank on Tuesday night.

Audra Boykin told investigators that Shortt used his cell phone to give the Boykins updates on police presence. Shortt denied any involvement, as did Justin Boykin.

Audra Boykin told investigators she participated in nine other robberies in the Denver metro area with Justin Boykin, the affidavit said. According to the document, Audra Boykin told investigators she told Hull where to park, then she and Justin Boykin rode to the bank on bikes. They were trying to find Shortt on Tuesday night when police stopped them.

All four face federal charges of armed bank robbery and aiding and abetting. The charges carry a penalty of up to 25 years in prison.

FBI spokesman Dave Joly said investigators are reviewing pictures and videos from other bank robberies for connections to these suspects. They believe the Boykins may be the "3-2-1 bandits" suspected of robbing the Bellco Credit Union in Englewood and a Bank of the West location in Aurora earlier this month.

Investigators dubbed them the "3-2-1 bandits" because they were heard to say "3-2-1 go" to each other before one of the robberies.

Another TCF Bank at the corner of U.S. 287 and Baseline Road in Lafayette also was robbed Tuesday night around 6 p.m. According to police radio traffic, the suspects in that robbery were a man and a woman with bandannas over their faces. They fled on bicycles, as did the suspects in the robbery of a Lafayette Chase Bank branch earlier this month.

Joly said it's possible the same group carried out those robberies, but investigators are still reviewing the evidence.

AirSoft backer expands search for place for gunplay

It looks like local entrepreneur Mike Darmody's dream of developing an eight-acre leased site for AirSoft war games in a San Clemente park isn't going to happen.
City parks commissioners declared it isn't an appropriate use of vacant land at Richard T. Steed Memorial Park. The commission's Nov. 9 opinion is to be forwarded to the City Council. Darmody says he won't pursue that proposal further. But he's not giving up.
AirSoft uses replica firearms shooting 6mm or 8mm plastic Airsoft rounds. A plan to set aside part of Richard T. Steed Memorial Park in San Clemente for AirSoft games was rejected by the city parks commission.
"We are pursuing options with much less red tape," Darmody said via e-mail. "The youth of San Clemente are playing AirSoft unsupervised in every street, back alley, empty lot or park they can – a lot like skateboarding 15 years ago. We are not down or out. We will do everything we can to find a safe place for the youth of San Clemente and surrounding areas to play AirSoft."
Darmody said he has no specific airsoft sites in mind but is prepared to look all over south Orange County. Darmody is a San Clemente resident who runs an online business, AirSoft GroundHard LLC, that sells replica airsoft guns and airsoft accessories suitable for airsoft games whose participants wear protective airsoft gear and simulate airsoft battle with small plastic airsoft rounds – sort of like paintball without the paint.

David Vs. Goliath - the anti-American actions of H&K against US toy companies

ARCADIA, CA – November 3^rd 2010

There’s a strange game afoot with the venerable Heckler and Koch. In the past year, the German firearm company has been on a wholesale crusade to protect anything that even remotely resembles their line of products. The strange thing is that H&K isn’t going after another gun manufacturer copying their weapon designs. This isn’t corporate espionage, where blueprints are secreted away in the dead of night and briefcases are exchanged in airports and shady bars. The target in their crosshairs: toy stores and paintball shops. What makes the matter worse is that no law is actually being broken on the part of the defendants. The actions being taken by H&K can be considered Un-American, extortionist, and detrimental to these small businesses that and their hard earned profits, almost reminiscent of organized crime behavior consistent with RICO statutes.

Paintball guns are well known in this country, and in the past decade the sport of airsoft has been picking up steam in the US. Similar to paintball, airsoft guns are replicas made to look close to real firearms that fire large plastic BBs and are used for training, simulation, and play.

Airsoft has been a boon to local police departments, SWAT teams, and US military personnel for their ability to practice tactics, methods, and maneuvers in a safe yet realistic manner. “The worst that can happen with proper eye protection is a sting and red mark where one is hit,” says David Diblee, A former US Army soldier and two tour veteran of the Iraq War.

On Justia.com (a public listing of dockets and cases), one can find H&K as plaintiff in thirteen separate cases of trademark infringement against US companies, namely distributors of paintball and airsoft supplies. Representing H&K is Continental Enterprises, a company (not law firm) that specializes in intellectual property and trademark law. The sudden rush against the Airsoft industry is spearheaded by a Ms. Darlene Seymour Esq. , legal counsel to CE.

There’s a long established history about CE and their exploits. There’s the example of CE going as far as protecting the copyright of a local high school mascot (so even parents couldn’t print out fan t-shirts on game day), or sending a cease and desist letter to a beverage review website that was going to post a picture of the Monster Energy drink they were reviewing (Which clearly falls under fair use) There’s a website devoted to their less than stellar practices called the “Trademark Extortionists Hall of Shame”, where they colorfully describe CE’s “only source of income is trademark extortion.”

www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/. They make profit by latching onto the success of small American start-ups and entrepreneurs.

Trademark Protection or Trademark Extortion?

Companies like CE solicit a company with a well established brand. Representing said company, they scour for “trademark infringement” of a brand. They find would be offenders, and shotgun out cease and desist letters, demanding payment from the alleged infringers to avoid lawsuits. If the small company pays, CE splits this profit with the company they represent. For the branded company it’s no investment on their behalf, with nothing but profit to gain. This would be well in line with upholding copyright and trademark law, but in fact CE has little disregard to the letter of the law, and is twisting it into a form of predatory extortion.

This isn’t an isolated event, but rather a disturbing trend with large corporations and their intellectual property. In 2008 Professor Kenneth L. Port, of William Mitchell College of Law, wrote a paper titled Trademark Extortion: The End Of Trademark Law. In his paper he outlines the procedure and reason companies are bending their interpretation of copyright law.

“......Today, trademark holders are using this course of conduct to expand their trademark rights, not just to object to truly objectionable uses. That is, some trademark holders send thousands of cease and desist letters….. [these suits], if prosecuted to a trial on their merits, the trademark holder/plaintiff would likely lose because they are not always meritorious claims...Their objective is to raise the cost of market entrance or continuation for the competitor.”

The cost of “market entrance” for a competitor equates to astronomical legal fees for any small business willing to stand up to the funds, resources, and legal team on retainer for H&K. Raising the entry price to start one’s own business is the antithesis of the American dream.

CE sent out various cease and desist letters warning that they would file suit if these airsoft distributors didn’t pay a settlement fee and stop all sales of their products. They claimed H&K’s unalienable right to the iconic design and appearance of their line of products, such as the MP5, G36, USP series of weapons. Because these airsoft companies sold toys that resemble these weapons, they were damaging HK’s image and profiting from their hard earned design. This argument falls short on various grounds.

No Legal Footing

The most amazing thing is H&K’s hands are covered in blood from being disingenuous. In 2004 H&K was contracted by the US Delta Force to create a new weapons platform. They created the HK M4, which was a modified version of the Colt Armory’s iconic M4 rifle. They made some changes, such as the gas cycling system using a piston, and an elongated Picatinny rail for scopes and flashlights. However, everything else, from the trigger group, grip, receiver, stock, and bolt assembly, was a 1:1 scale copy of Colt’s design. Colt Armory filed suit on multiple grounds, claiming infringement upon the name “M4” and copyright of the design of the guns parts.

Colt lost the case. The only change they were able effect was to change the name from “HK M4” to “HK416”. H&K won, because the M4’s function dictates its appearance, and functionality does not claim uniqueness and protection under IP and copyright law. Just like something as a shovel or a toaster can’t be copyrighted, they are shaped around how they function.

Furthermore, Colt’s M4 and M16 have been around for the past 50 years, and that design has been used, copied, and interpreted by dozens of companies over the decades. The length of time on market and its ubiquity makes it public domain. The same exact thing has gone on with H&K’s weapons. The most well known of H&K’s line, the 40 year old MP5, is currently being copied and sold by 4 separate firearm manufacturers. GSG5 Arms, Vector Arms, Coharie Arms, Redrock Arms all make functioning firearm clones of the MP5. It’s common practice by gun companies to take what’s useful in a competitor and integrate if not copy the design wholesale. It strikes false when H&K and CE go after toy companies instead of real gun companies, who don’t even use the same mechanisms as firearms

One of airsoft companies that responded to my inquiries was Airsplat.com , the largest airsoft distributor in the United States. We asked them what the main components of an airsoft gun are. Their CEO Kenneth Woo, was able to lay it out, “you have three main components, the body (outer shell) , the gearbox, and the motor. The motor is the same kind you’ll find in an RC car, the gearbox functions under the same principles of compressed air, like foam dart guns. Nowhere do we use explosives to propel the bb like a real gun. It doesn’t make sense to be sued for copying a design when it’s just the shell that looks the same.”

Since airsoft replicas don’t even function the same way a real firearm does, it rests within the protection of parody and reference, and does not fall under the ‘trade dress ’ and ‘trade function’ argument that CE is accusing companies of.

For example, in another set of suits filed by CE, they represented Jack Daniel Inc. - makers of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whisky. They filed suit against t-shirt print shops and bumper sticker makers that parodied the Jack Daniel’s logo or referenced the Jack Daniel’s name. Most of these are small garage operations, who taking advantage of being able to easily cheaply sell online. Parody or reference is clearly protected under copyright law. The mom and pop shops that CE filed suit against weren’t doing anything illegal. This wide ranging and loose interpretation used by CE highlights their for-profit nature, scaring small business owners who might not know any better for the possibility of a payout.

Also, Airsoft and paintball manufacturers have been creating these similar looking items for past 20 years, with no prior legal action from H&K before Continental came into the picture. This falls under the legal doctrine of laches. According to Black’s Law Dictionary, Laches is to neglect to assert a right or claim after an unreasonable lapse of time, thus the plaintiff loses the right to pursue said claim because of negligence. It would be fair to assume that with airsoft guns, having been 20 years in the market, there was more than enough time for H&K to have taken action.

Goliath vs. David, Goliath can wait it out

When small companies are threatened by a huge corporation, it seems easier to pay off and back away out of fear of long drawn litigation, they often settle by paying the settlement amount. That’s what CE wants. However, there have been many right minded CEO’s and airsoft companies, who know their rights and are fighting back.

Even if airsoft/paintball companies fight, H&K knows that with their large legal stall on retainer, they can wait it out, it doesn’t even have to reach trial, and these small companies bleed dry by legal fees and long waiting periods.

For an example we go back to Airsplat.com and their CEO Kenneth Woo. While unable to give specifics of the proceedings, he was able to comment on the overall effect it’s had on his company. “We’re lucky we’re big enough to stand up to this kind of bullying. They have no real argument to win on, but the formality of legal proceedings and lawyer fees is hurting us when it shouldn’t occur at all. That’s the most egregious thing of this whole affair. A lot of the smaller airsoft startups here, aren’t going to do as well….they have a much larger monetary burden to bear for legal fees in relation to their earnings.” When asked about reaching a possible working settlement with CE, wherein AirSplat settles while still being able to sell their goods, Woo had this to say: “Listen, we’re not doing anything wrong. I started this company a decade ago from a one man operation and brought it up to a 40 employee staff; I earned every bit of it the American way, through hard work and persistence.”

It’s odd that H&K and CE go after toy companies - the distributors - rather than the actual manufacturers overseas. If they were truly protecting copyright and intellectual property, they would go to the source, but nowhere has there been any filing or claim made against manufacturers in Asia. Why? Large airsoft manufacturers have the monetary resources and lawyers to hold their own, they can defend themselves. Because of this, it would be too expensive for CE to even try, with little to no possibility of a payout for CE or H&K. In the end CE and H&K are going after American companies who make an honest living because they’re the easiest targets.

I myself am a firearm enthusiast, and I like to head out to the range every so often. I know all about how gun companies operate, and are “inspired” by each other’s designs. It only makes sense that good designs sell, which is why they’re constantly piggybacking on each other. But next time I go to a gun show, or flip through the newest issues of firearm magazines at the bookstore, I’ll pass over the H&K items. Tim Ellwood, blogger, law enforcement trainer, and one of the earliest proponents of airsoft in the US, explains how companies like H&K are undercutting a huge portion of their potential profits.

“To a lot of airsofters, this is the way they are learning about what they like to use. When they reach 21 and buy their ‘Real Steel’ guns they will have already made up their minds and buy what they have been collecting and using for years.
It is impossible to buy that kind of brand loyalty, no matter how much you spend on advertising. On the same page though, brands that go out of their way to target these potential buyers and their sport [negatively], will be remembered when the time comes for money to be spent.”

Ideas should and will be protected, but Intellectual property in and of itself cannot be wielded as a weapon against other entrepreneurs in the manner that H&K has in their partnership with CE.

Teen turns backyard into war zone for airsoft guns

NATCHEZ — When Dale and Renee Henderson moved to their Horseshoe Drive house nearly 20 years ago, they never thought it would eventually be a war zone.

But when The Dart landed at the Henderson’s house, a quick tour of the backyard revealed a permanent protection wall, wood pallets used to construct temporary fortifications and bullets scattered across the lawn.

The Henderson aren’t alarmed though. The forts were their idea and the bullets are pellets from their son Dustin’s Airsoft gun.

Dustin, 13, and many of the neighborhood boys have taken over the Henderson’s backyard as their Airsoft battle field.

“On Saturdays there are at least five boys here, and they stage Airsoft wars every weekend,” Renee said. “They really get into it.”

With faces protected by safety goggles and paint ball masks and arms covered in long-sleeves and coats, the boys take sides and take aim against each other. Each Airsoft soldier gets three lives, and more if they can convince the opposing side they weren’t actually hit, Dustin said.

The guns fire up to 1,200 round, plastic pellets per minute, Dustin said. Those pellets can fly as far as 400 feet.

“It isn’t cheap,” Renee said. “The guns can cost as much as $120 when you order them, and we probably buy the bb's once a week.

“We do it because when the boys are here, we know what they are doing. They are having good fun.”

The guns sound remarkably real, but Dustin ensures that the only injuries he has sustained are small scrapes and maybe a bruise or two.

“It doesn’t hurt when you get hit, that bad,” he said. “Well, you get used to it.”

Dustin, a seventh-grader at Adams County Christian School, said he likes the excitement the airsoft games offer. He said standing behind the green and brown fort in his backyard, aiming at the enemy with his electric rifle gets his heart pumping.

“We just have fun,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter who wins. We just like doing it.”

For Renee, she just stands back, watches her son and his friends and worries just a bit.

“It sounds bad,” she said. “For Dustin, nothing too safe is fun. I stay inside and watch them.”

But standing back and observing isn’t for her husband, Renee said.

She said, if Dustin is into something, Dale does what he can to help.

“When Dustin was into skateboarding, they built a ramp,” Renee said. “When Dustin got into the Airsoft, Dale and Dustin built that fort.

“Dale does whatever he can to be involved with Dustin.”

Even if that means dodging flying projectiles, Renee said.

“He’s pretty much our world,” she said. “He’s a good kid, and has good friends. We love having them all here.”

Fourth grader brings airsoft gun to school

A fourth grade student was removed from class Thursday morning at Oak Hill Elementary after bringing an airsoft pellet gun and pellets to class.
According to Newton County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Lt. Tyrone Oliver, the student brought the gun and showed it to another child in the class. That child told the teacher, who confiscated the gun and removed the boy from class. Oliver said that the boy told investigators that he intended to play with the airsoft gun after school and had no intention of harming anyone.
“The preliminary investigation is that it wasn’t brought to harm anyone and it isn’t a real gun,” said Oliver. “We have not brought charges against him, I am unsure as to what the school system will do.”
A comment from Sherri Davis-Viniard, director of public relations for the Newton County School System, says “the school system is following the procedures listed in the district’s elementary school student handbook.”
The handbook section on weapons reads, in part, “A student shall not supply, possess, handle, use, threaten to use, or transmit any weapon or any other tool or instrument capable of influencing bodily injury and intended for use as a weapon, in a school safety zone, at a school building, school function, or on school property or on a bus or other transportation furnished by the school.” Part of the description on what are considered weapons includes pellet guns, look-alike firearms, or any weapon designated or intended to propel a missile of any kind, whether loaded or unloaded.
According to the handbook, “Any student bringing a gun (including a firearm as defined by federal law) or airsoft gun onto school property shall be referred to the Disciplinary Hearing Officer(s). If the Hearing Officer(s) determines that the student did possess a gun on school grounds, the student shall be suspended for not less than one year.”

Second shooting at Jutland school

Several young students at Vestervang School in the Jutland town of Viborg were able to provide witness accounts of a man they say shot an airsoft pistol toward the school building today, reports Viborg Folkeblad newspaper.
The incident is the second in two weeks were shots were fired at the school from a local path that goes through the school grounds. On 17 October, a six-year-old at the school was shot in the knee and had to have the airsoft pellet surgically removed.
This time, however, several students got a good look at the man, according to officer John Andersen of Viborg Police.
‘The kids are only 6 to 9 years old, but they gave very detailed descriptions of the shooter,’ he said.
Andersen said the suspect is likely a thin, young man who today was wearing a black hooded-sweatshirt with a white logo on the front. The hood was pulled tightly around the man’s head, however, so the children could not clearly see his face.
The students added the suspect wore blue jeans, had a blue and yellow wristband and wore white sneakers.
School authorities said they were closely monitoring the grounds and advised students to take extra care when coming to and leaving the school.

Should OP girl be suspended over toy gun incident?

An Overland Park girl has been suspended until January because she reportedly shot a boy with an Airsoft gun while they were playing on a school playground, though it was on a Sunday. (The incident led to a police report, though the boy's parents let the matter drop.) The school district isn't saying much beyond noting that its no-weapons-on-school-grounds is very clear.

Man charged with shooting son with BB gun

A Tuscaloosa County man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly punished his 8-year-old son by shooting his buttocks with a BB gun.
A school official at Lakeview Elementary School contacted officials after the boy reported the abuse last week, said Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. John Barker.
The child had several marks on his buttocks and upper thighs, he said. Some of the BBs had broken his skin.
Sheriff Ted Sexton arrested Lewis Terrence Brown Jr., 28, on Wednesday and charged him with torture and willful abuse of a child. He was released from the Tuscaloosa County Jail on $15,000 bail.
Investigators discovered that Lewis used an Airsoft gun that fires plastic BBs, Barker said. He had used the gun occasionally to punish his son.
“This is clearly willful abuse in my opinion. I appreciate the partnership between the county school system, DHR and the Sheriff's Office to bring this case forward for prosecution” said Sheriff Ted Sexton.

WestConn student issued summons in alleged AirSoft pistol incident

DANBURY -- University police issued a misdemeanor summons to a Western Connecticut State University student after he reportedly shot someone with an AirSoft pistol Tuesday on the midtown campus.
According to police, they received a report Tuesday at 5:23 p.m. to go to the midtown Student Center where a female allegedly had been shot with an airsoft BB gun.
Police said officers checked the area but found no suspect or victim. WestConn dispatch then reported that the alleged victim was at police headquarters, police said.
The woman reportedly told police she had been shot on the inner left thigh by what she believed to be an AirSoft pistol but reported she sustained no serious injury, just a small bruise to the left inner thigh left by an Airsoft BB, according to police.
Police said an investigation revealed that the alleged shooter was Newbury Hall resident Janzen Glahn-Janatka, and that an officer responded to Newbury Hall and seized an AirSoft pistol.
Glahn-Janatka was issued a misdemeanor summons for second-degree breach of the peace and carrying/brandishing a facsimile firearm.
He was released on a promise to appear and given a court date of Nov. 4.

The Academy Airsoft Facility to Become Maze of Spooky Delights

The Academy, a state-of-the-art firearms training center and Airsoft field that features the Coachella Valley’s only indoor shooting range, is converting its Airsoft and Tactical Training Center into a Haunted House from October 27-31st, with proceeds donated to the Drama Department at Coachella Valley High School and the Coachella Valley Latino Peace Officers’ Association (CVLPOA).
“We’re using a fog machine that will give our facility the look and feel of 19th century London,” says David Chandler, President & CEO of The Academy. “The students in the Drama Department are very excited to decorate and staff the Haunted House, which will have everything from skeletons to an operating room. We’re happy to provide these organizations with a fun way to raise some much-needed funds for their programs.”
Here are the hours and prices for the haunted house.
Hours:
October 27-28: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
October 29: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
October 30: 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
October 31: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Prices:
11 and Under = $4
12 and Older = $6
55 and Older = $5
Patrons are encouraged to come in costume.
“Our continued success would not be possible without the support of agencies like The Academy,” says Manuel Lopez, CVLPOA President. “We are able to provide thousands of dollars in student scholarships each year, and are proud to play an active role in the local community.”
The CVLPOA was formed in the late 1980’s and sponsors, supports, and volunteers at numerous community service programs. The organization presents annual awards and student college scholarships, and its members consist of peace officers, retired peace officers, law enforcement personnel and associate members in related fields.
The Academy is located at 38-698 El Viento Road, just north of Interstate 10. The 40,000 square foot facility features 14 indoor firing lanes, a tactical training center, youth programs, self-defense classes and security guard and taser training. Firearms, rentals, uniforms and accessories are available for purchase. Airsoft is an activity where participants work in a simulated urban environment, using replica firearms to shoot plastic pellets for purposes of recreation, teambuilding and training.

Air rifle owners will need licence

Powerful pre-charged air rifles will be treated as firearms from Friday, requiring a firearms license for their possession. Police say they will take an educative approach on the law change initially and owners will have a three-month grace period (until January 2011) in which to obtain a firearms license or dispose of the weapon by selling it to a licensed person or surrendering it to the police. Airsoft (which fired plastic bullets) and paintball guns were excluded from the law change. Current legislation in NZ is that you must be 16 years and over and have a A-category firearms license to own an airsoft gun, or be 18 years and over. Napier police firearms officer Dennis Hurworth has called for owners of all categories of air guns to act responsibly or they placed themselves in danger from armed police."For Armed Offenders Squad members the law change will make no difference to call-outs," he said."All situations are treated the same until a weapon can be ascertained as to whether or not it posed a threat."On Friday a 25-year-old man, arrested in Napier after an Armed Offenders Squad mobilisation, was found to be in possession of an air gun of the same potency as that used to murder a police officer in Auckland in 2008. In 2007 a seven-year-old Napier girl narrowly escaped death when a .22 calibre bullet from an air rifle lodged in her brain after her father recklessly discharged the weapon.

Contradictions in debate over carrying guns

t soon will be illegal in South Portland to carry a pellet gun, airsoft gun, slingshot or bow and arrow in public.
It will, however, be perfectly legal to carry a handgun in a holster or rifle slung over your shoulder.
Does this make any sense?
The South Portland City Council voted 6-1 last week to ban those far less lethal weapons at the urging of police Chief Edward Googins, who said the move was necessary to protect the community from "those who are acting unreasonably."
Googins, according to the Southern Forecaster newspaper, says the department has received calls about men in masks with guns, likely involved in airsoft war games with nonlethal airsoft guns. These are replica weapons that fire plastic airsoft BB pellets.
Which begs the question: How can a person carrying an airsoft gun in a public place be acting unreasonably when a person carrying a Colt .45 is not?
The new ordinance also comes on the heels of several recent open-carry events in Portland. These involved people with guns, but without the masks, simply making the point that they can carry their guns just about anywhere they like.
As we have pointed out in the past, just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should.
It is, indeed, legal for people in Maine to openly carry a gun. And nobody thinks twice about this when they see two hunters walking down a rural road with shotguns over their shoulders.
However, the same two men might cause a considerable panic if they strolled into the food court at the Maine Mall.
The chief had actually asked for a complete ban on pellet guns, slingshots, even on private property. The council thought otherwise, still allowing people to use pellet guns there.
The lone opponent to the new ordinance was Councilor Tom Blake, who argued that the city is over-regulating its residents. Blake did not believe the volume of police calls justified the ordinance.
"We're creating a regulation for a problem that doesn't exist," he said.
People with pellet guns, slingshots and bows and arrows do not belong in public areas or even in heavily used urban parks.
If they do not, then why do we think people bearing rifles and handguns do?
The Portland City Council's Public Safety Committee, meanwhile, voted Tuesday to recommend that the council seek legislation barring guns from public buildings.
Councilor Dan Skolnik, who proposed the measure, would like to ban guns from places like City Hall, Merrill Auditorium and the Cumberland County Civic Center.
Guns are already prohibited in schools and in the State House in Augusta.
"Guns in City Hall detract from an atmosphere of democracy," the Portland Press Herald quoted Cathie Whittenburg of Portland as telling the committee. "Guns introduce an element of intimidation that is contrary to the open exchange of debate on controversial topics."
Public meetings do get heated at times. Members of the public have even been removed from meetings for threatening behavior.
Who would feel comfortable sitting on a city council while being screamed at by a man bearing a gun?
Perhaps it is time for the Legislature to rule on whether guns should be allowed in government buildings.
After all, if legislators feel the need to ban guns in their workplace, why should guns be allowed in Portland City Hall?

Another Proposed Law to Ban Carrying Airsoft Guns in the Philippines

Philippine Airsoft Players really are having a bad year. They are prevented carrying airsoft guns to their game sites during the last national elections, now the ongoing campaign for the village and youth council elections, and soon they will have to face the prospect of not being able to play airsoft at all with a law being proposed by people's organisations in that country.
Mainly-led by Catholic Church-influenced organisations, this group is using the country's unique "indirect initiative" where they can directly draft a bill and have it tabled for debate by the Philippine Congress and have it approved to be signed into law. The justification for this proposed law is the proliferation of illegal firearms in the country used by private armies owned by politicians and criminals. The gun ban during elections this year have drastically reduced the number of crimes in the country and the groups advocating for stricter gun regulations have gone to high gear elated by the results of the election gun ban.
While it is understood that such regulation would control the proliferation of dangerous weapons used in crimes, the sweeping proposal also covers airsoft and other replica firearms as stated in Section 3 of the proposed law, called Citizen's Protection Act of 2010. According to the Bill... "Only the following persons who are in the regular plantilla of the PNP or AFP or other law enforcement agencies are authorized to bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons in public places." Licenced firearms of private citizens should be left at home.
In interviews with the news media, the proponents say that sports shooters can carry their firearms to shooting ranges. The President of the Philippines, Nonoy Aquino Jr., is a gun enthusiast himself and thus can carry firearms only for the purpose of bringing it to a shooting range. But going over the Bill, there is no provision whatsoever regarding such assurance for those who use firearms and replica weapons for sporting purposes. However, a law that gets approved in the Philippines needs Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), which then may define how firearms are to be transported through the issuance of "permits to carry".
Philippine airsoft players already enjoy such privilege through the Philippine National Police Circular No. 11 ("Revised Rules and regulations governing the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, possession, carrying of airsoft rifles/pistols and operation of airsoft game sites and airsoft teams"). However, since its an IRR, it may be overturned as the PNP will need to issue another circular as based on the Citizens Protection Act 2010, if it does get approved to be a law.
There's an ongoing friction between the Roman Catholic Church and the Philippine President over birth control, and this proposed law might just worsen that friction as the President himself is a gun enthusiast. The proposed law is actually a rehash of the proposed gun ban law in the early 1990s, during the time of the President's mother, Corazon Aquino, which never prospered.
However, airsoft players and responsible gun enthusiasts should not be complacent. The first thing that they need to do is to dialogue with the proponents to clarify what they mean by sports shooters being able to carry their firearms from home to the shooting/gaming areas. Transporting weapons, even if concealed, from one point to another, for legitimate purposes, would still cover "public areas", especially for players who use public transportation to get to game areas. Those who travel by car would be safe as cars are considered private property.
But then, the proposed law is not explicit on their explanation of allowing licenced owners to carry their registered weapons to shooting/gaming areas. If the text is loud and clear, then there might not be something for enthusiasts to be alarmed about and they may just support the proposed law in the name crime prevention.
You can read the proposed law by downloading the "THE CITIZEN PROTECTION ACT OF 2010."

Shootout training prepares campus for the worst

The question of how San Diego community colleges would respond to a potential school shooting has been thoroughly considered by the administrative and protective services of all three of San Diego's district colleges. With the average response time to most emergency scenarios being five minutes or more, it is a difficult subject for police to address. But some distinguished district officers have come up with an interesting solution to keep costs down, and police training up, by utilizing what some would call a popular kids game; Airsoft. Richard Ferrell, Police Officer and Firearms Instructor for the San Diego Community College Police Department since 2000, has stated that the SDCCPD has conducted mandatory school shooting trainings every six months paid for by the department since 2005. Known as "Active Shooter" trainings, these include 10-30 volunteer 'civilians', visual effects, professional audio equipment, true-to-life 'Airsoft' weaponry, and officers charged with the task of moving through the campus securing frightened students and mainly, eliminating those who are actively killing. They usually occur during the weekends when campuses are empty, and declare the area off limits using police tape.Shootings are a tricky issue because of the time gap between when the shooting starts and when officers arrive. Kristen Gelineau of the Associated Press has said, "Virginia Tech and city police spent three minutes dashing across campus to the scene and broke into the chained-shut building, which took another five minutes." According to several reports, most of the students who died at Virginia Tech died within those first several minutes.When asked about the time gap, Officer Ferrell said, "That gap in time is addressed in all of our trainings. We address breaching techniques and knowing the layout."Ferrell also mentioned how trainings cycle between all four of San Diego's community college campuses so they can stay up to date on the changing landscape as construction progresses to keep response time minimal."We do not wait for help, we do not wait for cover, that's how important this is to us. There are always police officers on all of our campuses," Ferrell said.He also mentioned a new initiative that the Firearms Tactics Unit, consisting of six distinguished SDCCPD personnel who have been working on pioneering as a public awareness campaign that is being shared with the SDCC staff."We have just started educating the leaders of each educational institution because those are the people that students will be in contact with," said Ferrell.If the county promotes the program, we could see teachers being trained by law enforcement on how to respond in a life-threatening situation, and some say that's just the solution that we need.Linda Farnan, a personal instructor of self-defense and the Co-Director of the Mesa Speech and Debate Team advocates training for teachers, saying that "Installing (training) programs is necessary if we truly want to prevent deaths from not just school shootings, but any disaster scenario.""This initial response is what needs to be trained," Farnan said. It isn't arguable that the police trainings are pivotal to student safety, and this highlight calls attention to the student's behavioral role that results in the deaths that occur during a shooting scenario.Mesa College student Andrew Smith, an anthropology major, said that if he heard muffled pops followed by screams on campus and didn't know what was happening, he very well might respond by investigating which could be dangerous."I would probably stop and look," Smith said.And Christian Alvarado; a biology major on campus, when asked if he knew what a gun sounded like, said he had only heard one gunshot in his life.This poses the question of who should be receiving the training, the teachers or the students?And Kim Gerhardt, Co-Director of Forensics and professor at Mesa College says, "We are the front line between the gunman and the students."Officer Ferrell agreed that gunshots can be difficult to identify depending on the location, surroundings, and environment, "We do exercises to train officers on hearing gunshots. It's difficult to identify if they're coming from inside or outside." Ferrell said.It's training programs like Officer Ferrell's and the Firearms Tactics Unit's public awareness initiative that are being looked at as effective safeguards worthy of financial investment.Being on duty during the time of the interview, Ferrell said if he heard a gunshot he would not be afraid to put himself in harm's way.But without taxpayer dollars, not even the training that's happening today would be possible.Robert Paul Frigerio, a volunteer coordinator for 858airsoft, one of San Diego's biggest Airsoft communities and a participant in the Active Shooter trainings says paying for the whole program is pivotal."What it really comes down to is funding. Since Active Shooter does not yet have a prescribed and established funding technique, the department has an issue with who it sends its funds to."Frigerio continued by advocating for Airsoft as a way to keep costs down over other department standards."The Airsoft way is financially more viable. Even using blanks in a real weapon is much more expensive."And that's something that Officer Ferrell was happy to put his name behind,He described one of the districts current standards, 'simmunitions'."Simmunitons are actual bullets with the metal tips replaced by a small plastic paint filled capsules and officers use actual firearms during simulation. The bullets are about $2.50 cents a round and we use roughly 2,500 rounds in a training course."That's $6,250 per training spent on ammunition alone.Officer Ferrell then expressed his approval of Airsoft as a new department standard, saying "The initial cost for training with Airsoft equipment is probably around $15,000, then $100-$200 annually for ammunition and upkeep. Airsoft is chump change compared to everything else."With San Diego's huge budget deficit and the crippled United States economy, it will be interesting to see where the city decides to send its taxpayer dollars.If you're interested in finding out more information or becoming part of the program as a volunteer, contact Officer Ferrell at rferrell@sdccd.edu or visit the forum at 858airsoft.com.According to Rob Frigerio, "We are always looking for volunteers."

It’s kids’ play at the bi-annual Knob Creek shoot in Kentucky

BULLITT County, Ky. – The machine gun shoot this weekend isn’t all about the adults — there’s really fun for the whole family. Apart from the live music and cotton candy, there were plenty of pint-sized weapons and toys for the kids (or more squeamish adults).
There were blowguns and mini cross bows. And then there were the airsoft guns.
Airsoft guns have been criticized in the past few years for their incredible likeness to real thing, except of course, the bright orange tip.The toy gun shoots a hollow, plastic pellets. Operating usually with a spring mechanism or a battery powered source, the guns are pretty fun toy.
Airsoft designers have taken pains to make the replicas as varied and detailed as the real thing. You can find a toy M4 3181 Rifle with a grenade launcher, a bolt-action sniper and a tactical M515 pump action shotgun. Wooho!
So while other merchants totted heavy artillery and state-of-the-art firepower, one merchant at the machine gun shoot dealt in plastics.

Youth busted for shooting fake gun near school

Brandishing replica weapons can have dire consequences, including death, because they look very similar to the real deal. In August, a man was shot and killed in Colorado by Denver officers after brandishing a replica airsoft handgun.A Safford juvenile was referred to juvenile probation for disorderly conduct Sept. 16 after admitting to shooting an airsoft rifle near the Safford High School tennis courts. Airsoft guns are typically replicas of real firearms and are either spring-powered BB guns, electric-powered machine guns or gas powered. Airsoft guns are designed to look very realistic and can shoot small plastic pellets up to a range of 25 to 100 meters at speeds of about 75 to 150 meters per second.
The Airsoft gun, top, and the police rifle are similar enough to be mistaken for each other.

Safford Police were called to the school after an employee saw the juvenile shooting the gun. The airsoft weapon was located in the back seat of the juvenile's vehicle, but nobody was in the immediate area.The owner of the vehicle later approached the officer and admitted to firing the replica airsoft weapon.The juvenile said he was shooting the gun in the dirt because it was jammed and not working properly. He said it was his friend's gun and was given to him to paint.The juvenile was referred to juvenile probation for disorderly conduct for disturbing the peace of the employee who reported it and believed it was a real gun.Safford Police Chief John Griffin said officers and civilian gun owners probably would not be able to tell the difference between a replica airsoft weapon and a real weapon, especially in the heat of the moment."(That) could make someone pointing it at the wrong person very dead," Griffin said.

Boys accused in bike path shootings

Two Blaine County 11-year-old boys might be in trouble with the law for allegedly firing airsoft guns at people using the Wood River Trail bike path north of Hailey.
The Blaine County Sheriff's Office investigated the seemingly random shootings after receiving a complaint in the Cloverly Lane area on the afternoon of Monday, Sept. 13.
Sheriff's Lt. Jay Davis said the boys are accused of "shooting at people going by on the bike path." At least one woman was struck by a plastic airsoft BB fired from one of the airsoft guns.
Davis said Monday that it hasn't been determined if the boys will be charged with a crime, though information from the investigation has been forwarded to the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

"The parents and victims have discussed it, but we don't know if it's going to be pursued," Davis said.
Airsoft guns are replicas of real firearms that use compressed air or springs to shoot plastic pellets or BBs.
Davis said the sheriff's office and other police agencies commonly use airsoft guns in training exercises.
"You can feel it if you get hit, but they don't hit hard enough to leave a bruise," Davis said. "I guess if you had it pumped up enough it would sting a little."

New indoor airsoft facility allows participants to safely engage in combat

Wearing a camouflage uniform, Charlie Graham crouched down and aimed his weapon through a small window. Then he opened fire.
But the U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan was far from danger — as were his targets.
Graham, manager of the Tactical Training Center at The Academy, wasn't firing bullets.
Instead, he shot small plastic airsoft pellets at his colleagues from the firing range as he demonstrated The Academy's new airsoft facility near Palm Desert, which opens today.
“This is kind of like a big playhouse for me,” Graham said.
The 18,000-square-foot airsoft facility is the valley's only indoor range dedicated to airsoft weapons, which are realistic replicas that don't shoot lethal ammunition.
“It's actually weight, shape, size and function identical to what the Navy uses,” Richard Martin, director of the Airsoft Tactical Training Center, said while holding one of the airsoft guns.
“We're going to provide these to law enforcement as well as civilians so they can actually use airsoft replica guns as similar training weapons.”
Because airsoft weapons are so similar to the weapons they're modeled after, they're marked with blue tape and the federally required orange tip, he said.
Participants also are required to wear airsoft safety gear because the pellets can sting or even chip a tooth on a direct hit, Martin said.
One side of the facility is a maze that can accommodate recreational airsoft users, team building activities and training exercises.
“It gives kids something to do,” Martin said. “A lot of kids own airsoft weapons, and they have no place to play.”
The other side of the facility is set up like a house and is designed for law enforcement training. It's outfitted with moving targets and can also provide other challenges to training officials, Graham said.
“We have fog machines that blow smoke in here and we have the ability to provide an intense amount of background noise,” he said. “We try to make these scenarios as realistic as possible.”
David Snellings, The Academy's commander of operations, spoke highly of the experience after suiting up and testing out the new facility Friday.
“It felt you were in combat. At times, I felt like I had to defend my life,” he said as blood trickled down his cheek. He didn't wear a full face mask, which isn't required, but recommended.
“I got pelted a few times, but again, I didn't start to feel the pain until everything was over with. Survival mode kicked in, and that's what it's about.”

Windows shot out

About 20 vehicles in the Crescentwood and River Heights areas had their windows shot out by someone armed with a pellet or airsoft gun Sunday night, police say.
No injuries were reported and no one has been arrested.
The vandalism occurred on Corydon, Grosvenor and Kingsway avenues about 10 p.m., police said. Someone called police upon hearing the sound of gunshots.
It’s believed the suspect or suspects were in a vehicle when the shots were fired. Police didn’t release a description of the vehicle or its occupants.
Police are looking for witnesses. Anyone with information about the incident or suspects is asked to call the Division 16 crime unit at 986-2877 or Crime Stoppers at 786-8477.

TOO REAL LOOKING

On June 11, a Sherwood Family YMCA employee called police to report a teen pointing a gun at people in the facility’s lower parking lot. Less than 10 minutes later, three Sherwood police officers, a Tualatin officer, two King City officers and a Washington County sheriff’s deputy headed toward the teen, a patrol car leading the way down the street followed by the officers who had shields, hand guns, beanbag weapons and rifles drawn.
A moment later, Nick Dailey, a 16-year-old Sherwood High School student, and seven of his friends were lying face down on the ground, handcuffed.
What police didn’t know was that Dailey’s weapon was actually an airsoft pistol, a replica of a handgun that shoots hard 6mm plastic pellets instead of bullets. After confirming that the gun wasn’t real, Nick and his friends were quickly released.
However, the incident illustrates a growing problem among local law enforcement officers: Airsoft weapons look real with the exception of an orange tip that can easily be removed or altered to resemble a real gun.
That’s something that worries Walina Dailey, Nick’s mother, who fears that a situation could turn out tragic if police think a teen has a real weapon.
“That’s my biggest concern,” said Dailey, adding that her son never pointed the gun at any of the other teens that night.
Incident was unusual
“The mere fact of owning (an airsoft gun) is not a crime or against our city ordinance,” said Hanlon. He added, however, that it is against the law to fire such a weapon within Sherwood city limits.
Although the majority of Nick’s airsoft gun was transparent, police say they can’t take any chances in assuming it’s a toy gun, pointing out that more and more components of handguns are being constructed with clear polymer plastics.
Hanlon noted that at least one airsoft gun police have previously come across, looks identical to the MP5 weapons Sherwood police formerly carried in their patrol vehicles.
Even the weight of the airsoft products are similar, said Hanlon. That makes police treat such situations as if they’re dealing with someone holding a real weapon.
“A gun is a gun even if it’s fake,” Hanlon pointed out.
While the YMCA encounter was a rare incident, police say the approach was necessary because they didn’t know whether or not they were dealing with a real weapon.
What made it more confusing was that it was a third party calling in the information with the call coming in as “a possible shooter,” causing more concern than normal.

Plea deal reached over robbery charge

WOODSTOCK - A 20-year-old Cary man accused of trying to steal marijuana and money during a drug deal accepted a negotiated plea today. Erick Blanco, of 750 Blazing Star Trail, pleaded guilty to felony criminal damage to property in exchange for prosecutors dropping a more serious charge of attempted aggravated robbery. Blanco admitted to breaking the rear driver’s side window of a vehicle and was ordered to pay the car’s owner $410.As part of the agreement, McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather sentenced him to two years of probation, 30 days in jail, a $500 fine and 50 hours of community service. He also was ordered to complete any drug and alcohol counseling recommended after an evaluation and to pass at least 10 urine tests while on probation.Police had said Blanco came from behind a bush with an Airsoft gun and approached two people involved in a drug deal in June 2009, at 2709 Crystal Lake Ave. in Cary. He tried to take about 8 ounces of marijuana and less than $300 cash, police said shortly after his arrest.The more serious charge he originally faced was a Class 2 felony, which typically is punishable with probation or up to seven years in prison.

War games centre plan gets council approval

PLANS for a war games centre have been given the go-ahead by planning chiefs despite objections from nearby residents.
Airsoft Skirmish CentreEast Staffordshire Borough Council’s planning committee passed the application for the Airsoft Skirmish Centre at the former barracks, in Stubby Lane, Marchington, by a majority vote of eight.
The decision on the application, submitted by Shawn Sowter, has been a long time coming after it was submitted in December.
It went before the committee in March but the decision was deferred after it was decided that more information was needed on the noise impact.
In April the application was withdrawn following concerns over the impact on protected species in the area, chiefly bats.
Speaking at the meeting, Ms S Fulford asked the committee not to accept the plans saying she was speaking on behalf of all the residents as there was no independent noise survey carried out.
As well as concerns about noise, she also spoke about protected species living on the site.
Ms Jillian Peto also told the meeting that the plans were totally inappropriate for the area and said that residents’ human rights had to be taken into consideration. She said that vandalism on the site had been exaggerated to support the application.
Mr A Rice, the agent for the applicant, said no further delays would be accepted as his client had agreed to ‘a number of compromises’.
He said that the council’s experts had accepted the plans and had said it would be unreasonable to object on the grounds of noise.
Councillor Robert Hardwick expressed concerns about barn owls and great crested newts that could be living on the site.
Other councillors were also concerned for wildlife living on the site and the impact on neighbours.
Councillor Trevor Hathaway said the games centre would only be used 28 days of the year, which worked out at one day a fortnight, between 10am and 6pm.
Therefore, he said it would not be that much of a disruption to the wildlife and the noise was not excessive.
Councillor David Brookes, chairman of the meeting, said: “We could find better use for this site as I do not think that this is appropriate.
It has been derelict for the best part of 30 years.”
Planning delivery team leader Jo Roebuck said it was a fine balance with arguments on both sides and the five-year approval gave the opportunity for this impact to be reassessed.

The plans were approved with the conditions set out by the planning officers which include pyrotechnics limited to a maximum sound level of 70dB when measured at five metres, no more than 60 people in a game and the submission, approval and implementation of a bat activity monitoring scheme.

Airsoft Handguns – The Perfect Gift For Every Thirtysomething Kid

They’re not in the same category as toys but airsoft pistols are an ideal hobby for any adult or young adult. Unlike paintball guns or normal airguns airsoft hanguns are designed to look just like the real thing. This has posed a problem for airsoft gun owners over the years due to airsoft pistols being used in “armed” robberies. Believe me when one of these is pointed in your face it looks just like the real thing. To combat this danger airsoft manufactures are now making many of their airguns in clear plastics and/or with an orange flash at the tip of the barrel to counteract this problem.
Your airsoft pistol is capable of firing a 6mm plastic bb at speeds of up to 300 feet per second which while not dangerous to exposed arms or legs could definitely cause damage to unprotected eyes. Always, always use safety glasses when firing an airsoft gun indoors or outdoors. A ricochet can happen quite easily and the results can be horrific. The actual power of your handgun will depend on the firing mechanism used. Your choices are spring, gas and electric. Spring and gas offer the highest power range but the newer Airsoft AEG blowback handguns look pretty neat too.
Bear in mind too that a spring airsoft gun will need to be cocked for every single shot whereas the gas and airsoft AEG models offer fully automatic fire rates. The spring pistols will be cheaper but are a little bit more clumsy to use. The gas blowback models really mimic the real thing – especially when the topslide flies backwards after each shot.
One thing you won’t need to worry about when buying an airsoft handgun is finding your favourite weapon. The choice is truly staggering with all the popular brands making an appearance – Glock,Beretta and the Desert Eagle being amongst the most popular. For the true airsoft nut you can even get the Robocop M93R handgun – although these are getting tough to find nowadays.
Just like the real thing your airsoft handgun needs to be loaded before firing so you’ll need to fill the clip with bbs before you can start target practice. The bbs themselves are available in a variety of colors and styles – including paintball and glow-in-the-dark; so there’s a bb to suit everyones taste.
Indoor or outdoor airsoft handguns offer a fun and entertaining hobby that can be enjoyed safely by just about the entire family. As always these airsoft guns are not really toys and should not be used by children unattended.
Also please do check local laws in relation to owning an airsoft handgun – they are banned in some countries. Check your local, state and national laws to ensure that possessing an airsoft pistol isn’t against the law. There have been several cases of airosft guns being mistaken for real weapons by police forces worldwide – sometimes with tragic consequences.

Paintball Guns VS Airsoft Rifles

Crucial difference between this two types of guns: airsoft guns shot plastic BBs and paintball guns shot paintballs. This is THE difference, but we cant forget what is inside of those guns, their mechanisms are totally different also.
Lets start with looking into paintball gun: they use either compressed CO2 or regular compressed air. It’s a quite simple mechanism. But it’s another story with airsoft guns… They use gear boxes, electric motors, batteries… Its look like lots stuff is needed to fire a simple plastic sphere.
Inside of an automatic electric airsoft gun is interesting indeed. A number of gears are turned by small electric motor. This part of mechanism is used to cock back a big plunger/spring, which is used to compress air in a airtight chamber. When compressed air reach a certain pressure, a release valve is opened, this allows air under a big pressure to propel out the plastic BB. This process happens very fast and allows airsoft guns to fire around 15 shots per second.
Also, few more airsoft guns type exists. Most popular and notably is airsoft sniper rifle. Sniper rifles are manually cocked, single shot airsoft guns. They don’t have gears inside. They are not for “trigger easy” people, since you need to manually cock mechanism before every shot, but their advantage is superb accuracy and high velocity of BBs.
Paintball guns function on a similar way, with air thank filed with compressed air or CO2. Most common is CO2, since its more powerful (more pressure on the same cubage). Its also last longer then plain compressed air. Most of paintball guns are semi-automatic, which is disadvantage comparing to fully-automatic airsoft guns. Bot types of guns have a similar problem: paintball guns need to refill their gas thanks, and electric airsoft guns need to change their batter fairly oftern.
In the game, main difference is that paintballs leave visible mark of color on the hit place. On the other hand, BBs don’t leave any mark (beside pain) so player have moral obligation to yell “hit” if he’s shot by another player. Small but very important thing.
Game tactics are pretty much the same, used terrain is similar, urban (towers, bunkers, buildings, etc.) and rural (forest, fields, etc.) Since both types of guns fire their ammunition at the same speed (FPS) they are both safe to play indoors and outdoors.
Conclusion: if you wanna mark your opponents with a large paint mark, and cause them fair amount of pain (if needed equipment is not worn) then you should chose paintball. But, if you wanna get trigger happy and fire more then 15 shots per sec, pouring storm of BBs on your foes, then you should try airsoft. Also, price of paintball ammunition is fairly bigger then plastic BBs. My opinion: try them both, and see what type of ammunition you prefer to fly over your head

DA won’t pursue charges against LAH resident: Healy brought air rifle to Gunn High School

Los Altos Hills resident Weston Healy will not face criminal charges for bringing an air rifle to Gunn High School last month, prompting a lockdown and full-scale police response.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office June 9 decided not to file charges against Healy, a senior at Gunn.
DA spokeswoman Amy Cornell said applicable law didn’t warrant charges.
“The Airsoft Rifle didn’t qualify as a firearm under law,” Cornell said.
Because Healy’s Airsoft Rifle uses plastic ammunition instead of metal, Cornell said, it didn’t violate Penal Code 626.10, which prohibits stabbing instruments, razors, tasers, stun or pellet guns on school grounds.
Weapons charges could have resulted in either a felony three-year maximum prison sentence or a misdemeanor one-year county jail sentence for the 18-year-old Healy.
Healy’s attorney, Los Altos resident Eric Geffon, said his client left the Airsoft Rifle in his trunk a day prior to his May 27 arrest. Healy and a friend drove to a nearby hardware store to purchase supplies for their robotics club. Healy’s friend Mitchell (last name not provided) came across the rifle while putting supplies in the trunk and was “checking it out in the passenger seat” of Healy’s car when they returned to campus.
A city worker spotted Mitchell inspecting the rifle and called the police, who issued a “Code Red” lockdown on campus that eventually lead to Healy’s arrest. He spent one night in jail.
Palo Alto Police Department spokesman Max Nielepko said police cited and arrested only Healy because he was the owner of the vehicle and Airsoft gun.
Cornell said Healy’s young age, acknowledgement of responsibility for his action and “significant punishment” from the Gunn High administration also played a role in his not being charged. School officials suspended Healy, an Eagle Scout, and did not allow him to participate in graduation ceremonies June 9. He received his diploma Thursday.
Cornell said Healy’s family will reimburse the Palo Alto Police Department “a little over $2,000” – the cost of the response, which included dispatching a SWAT team.
Healy has been admitted to Cornell University, and Geffon said he is working out issues with the Palo Alto Unified School District to ensure Healy will be able to attend.
“Cornell (University) knows what’s going on,” Geffon said. “Our goal is to deal with Cornell to make sure they get the info they need. … (Gunn) suspended him with a recommendation of expulsion. The expulsion is still out there. … We’re optimistic about it. It’s been a tough couple weeks for him.”

Police give citation for second fake gun incident in two weeks

For the second time in less than two weeks, a fake firearm caused disruptions in Silverton.
A woman called 911 Wednesday afternoon to report that a man had approached her vehicle on Oak Street with a "gun and a note."
The Silverton Police Department began searching for the suspect, who was described as a scruffy male wearing yellow and white shorts, a dark T-shirt and fuzzy bath slippers.
Nearby Mark Twain Middle School was placed on lockdown about 2:15 p.m.
By 2:25 p.m., the suspect, Joseph Tobar, 33, of Silverton, was in custody.
Capt. Jeff Fossholm with the Silverton Police Department said officers found Tobar at his home.
He reportedly had gone to get his mail and saw a woman sitting in her car on Oak Street. He went over to ask her what she was doing.
He was carrying an Airsoft gun — a replica firearm that shoots plastic pellets — on top of the mail.
The woman was unable to tell the gun was fake, sped away and called 911.
Tobar was cited for second-degree disorderly conduct.
Last week, six teens and one adult received the same citation after they panicked a neighborhood while playing with Airsoft guns in a Silverton field.

No charges for Gunn student who brought airsoft rifle to school, DA's office says

No criminal charges will be filed against the Gunn High School senior who brought an Airsoft pellet rifle to the Palo Alto school, triggering a 45-minute campus lockdown last month, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has determined.
After considering the "specific facts and the applicable law," prosecutors opted not to pursue the case against 18-year-old Weston Healy, district attorney spokeswoman Amy Cornell said Wednesday. Healy was arrested May 27 after someone spotted him and a friend driving into the school's parking lot with the gun.
Healy could have been charged with a felony and sentenced to up to three years in prison, Cornell said. But the California Penal Code provision under which prosecutors considered charging Healy specifies that the kind of firearms prohibited on school grounds are those that shoot a "metallic projectile." Airsoft guns wouldn't fall under that provision because they shoot plastic pellets instead.
Healy still could have been charged with bringing a knife onto school grounds, a misdemeanor, Cornell said. Police found the military-style blade in the trunk of his car.
"We also considered factors related to the suspect, including his youthful age, his acknowledgment of responsibility for his actions, and the significant administrative consequences being imposed by his school," Cornell wrote in an e-mail.
Healy's lawyer, Eric Geffon, said the Gunn graduate and his family are "relieved and grateful."
A "bad set of circumstances" led to Healy's arrest, Geffon said. The Eagle Scout and honors student had put the Airsoft gun inside the trunk of his car a couple of days before the May 27 incident. He intended to take it to his mother's house to compare it with his brother's new Airsoft gun, Geffon said.
But Healy forgot about it until he and a friend went to buy supplies for Gunn's robotics team at a hardware store, Geffon said. His friend noticed the gun, asked if he could look at it, and was holding it as they drove to school, Geffon said. Minutes after they were spotted, authorities locked down the school and began searching classrooms.
Police said they also found a shovel with a 4-inch pick and a hatchet with a removable saw in the trunk of Healy's car. Healy took the items with him on a recent camping trip with friends and had not yet removed them from the trunk, Geffon said.
Healy was suspended from school for the remainder of the year and wasn't able to walk in Wednesday's graduation ceremony, Geffon said, but he will receive his diploma.
He's also "doing everything possible" to make sure he can still attend Cornell University in the fall as planned, Geffon said.
"They know about this and he's in communication with them," Geffon said. "They were waiting obviously to see what happened with the DA's office, so I'm sure this will help."
Healy's family is paying the costs of the police response, Geffon said, which totals about $2,100.
In the meantime, Gunn students and others in the community have rallied around Healy. A "FREE WESTON!!!!!" Facebook group has more than 800 members, and more than 600 have signed an online petition urging Gunn administrators to "exercise reasonableness" in disciplining Healy.
"Thank you to all of those who have supported me," Healy posted on the Facebook group Wednesday. "I want everyone to know that I am really sorry for my thoughtless decisions. I did not mean for any of this to happen. I have been humbled by this experience and see how unintentional choices can lead to unwanted and unexpected events."

Election Gun Ban Ends, Philippine Airsoft Enthusiasts Rejoice

The Philippine election gun ban effectively ends today, and airsoft players from all over the islands can now heave a sigh of relief as they can start oiling and cleaning their airsoft guns and gear and join in many airsoft events being organised all over the country to welcome the new airsoft year, especially by this weekend, 12-13 June 2010. Philippine airsoft forums are abuzz as players come out of hibernation.

There is an even more cause to rejoice as the newly elected President of the country, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, is not keen on extending the permanent gun ban after the elections, as he himself is a gun enthusiast and does not see the a total gun ban is a not the answer the crime problems. Even the Commission on Human Rights, while it may be the bastion of gun control, don't see it the same way, as they say there are already strict laws existing to control the proliferation of illegal guns, and the police need to just enforce these.

The PNP said that on Tuesday (June 8), police arrested 4 civilians and seized 11 firearms and a knife. From January 10, a total of 3,041 people, including 2,769 civilians and 272 government employees, were arrested for violating the gun ban. Aside from the low-powered and high-powered firearms, police also seized 862 airguns, airsoft guns and gun replicas; 692 bladed weapons, and 292 explosives and grenades.

Popular Airsoft Kami Wars preparation for the Philippine airsoft community has now started, with the kick-off event originally slated for 12 June 2010, slated on the 19th of June 2010, and is a 2 day-event of gruelling military simulation. More details to follow on this this week. However, we were informed of another gun ban, in accordance with the election laws of the country, as the Barangay and SK (Village and Youth Council) elections will be held on the 25th of October 2010. Which means another 30-60 days of no airsoft joy for the community.
But still, a great cause to rejoice for the local airsoft community.

Poll gun ban ends; 2,647 firearms seized

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday reported a total of 2,647 firearms were seized during the 150-day implementation of the nationwide election gun ban.
The election gun ban ends at Wednesday midnight. Its implementation started last January 10.
The PNP said that on Tuesday (June 8), police arrested 4 civilians and seized 11 firearms and a knife.

From January 10, a total of 3,041 people, including 2,769 civilians and 272 government employees, were arrested for violating the gun ban.

Aside from the low-powered and high-powered firearms, police also seized 862 airguns, airsoft guns and gun replicas; 692 bladed weapons, and 292 explosives and grenades.

The PNP believes the big firearms haul lessened the number of violent incidents during the elections.

Replica firearms lead to citations

A group of Silverton parents are upset with the way police officers handled an incident last week involving several teenagers and fake guns.
Six juveniles and one 20-year-old were cited for second-degree disorderly conduct on the evening of May 30.
The teens were playing with Airsoft guns in a field when neighbors complained.
Airsoft guns are replica firearms that shoot round plastic pellets.
The neighbors called the police and locked themselves in a room in their house after hearing someone say, "Put the gun down."
Silverton city ordinance prohibits the firing of any gun or weapon within the city limits.
Silverton Police Department responded and officers spotted a pickup near Rosemary Way and Sage Street off Hobart Road.
Two people were in the truck and two people were in the truck bed.
Police reported that the two in the truck bed were holding AR-15 assault rifles and that one of them ducked when confronted.
Other suspects reportedly were in the area on foot and carrying weapons.
Three Marion County Sheriff's Office deputies, one Oregon State Police trooper and one Mt. Angel police officer also responded.
After several of the suspects were detained, officers learned that the weapons were replica Airsoft guns with the red safety tips removed.
According to Angela Fleshman, the mother of two of the teens involved, what happened next was overkill.
Fleshman lives near the field and was present when officers arrived. She said even after police learned the guns weren't real, they continued to use force.
She also said that not all of the guns were missing the safety tips, and that the teens had permission from the landowner to use the field for their game.
"The problem is not what (the boys) were doing or where they were, it was the behavior of the officers," Fleshman said. "It was pretty disheartening."
Capt. Jeff Fossholm with Silverton Police Department did not respond to this particular incident, but he said during training, officers are taught to assume weapons are real.
"As a police officer, if I'm dealing with a weapon and I can't determine if it's real or a replica, I have to assume it's a real weapon and treat it as such," he said.

Former San Ramon Valley school principal sues district

DANVILLE — Former Monte Vista High School principal Rebecca Smith, removed from her job after an incident involving an Airsoft pistol and a student, has filed a lawsuit that claims she was the victim of age discrimination and a district campaign to force her out.
Smith, 58, was principal since 1996. She was put on paid leave in the fall after the Airsoft incident. In 2007, she had been accused of misappropriating nearly $100,000 in student-raised funds — something that Smith explains in the suit as not being her fault.
Smith, who could not be reached for comment is seeking an unspecified amount in damages. Kathryn Dickson, her attorney, declined to speak about the suit, that was filed in Contra Costa Superior Court in April.
Besides age discrimination, Smith also claims the district defamed her by publicly discussing some issues and did not give her due process before demoting her to a teacher.
Court filings give Smith's description of the Sept. 29, 2009 Airsoft gun incident, which school district officials have not discussed in detail. Sources have told the Bay Area News Group the incident happened before a girls volleyball game, when a player had an inflatable toy that resembled a gun confiscated. In a disciplinary meeting with Smith, the girl allegedly felt threatened when Smith pulled out an Airsoft pistol and pointed it at her.

In her suit, Smith called it a "teachable moment." The suit says the principal kept the Airsoft pistol and other confiscated look-alike guns and weapons in her office, and when the student appeared unresponsive to Smith's counseling, the principal took the Airsoft pistol and held it so the girl could see how hard it would be for police to tell if it was real. The lawsuit also mentions other incidents leading up to her removal. Smith's suit says than in 2007 false allegations were raised by a parent about how money raised by the senior class was spent. Her suit says external and internal audits were done and found no mishandling. The issue arose after funds from that class were combined to an at-large student body account, and that it was done not by Smith's direction by the district's director of fiscal services.

At the time, the district said nearly $100,000 was spent without students' input.
Smith's suit also brings up other incidents she said were part of a campaign by Superintendent Steven Enoch, who was hired in summer 2008, to force her out. She was reprimanded twice in spring 2009 for incidents in which she felt she was treated differently than younger principals and administrators.

In one incident, a student was found with marijuana, alcohol and prescription drugs during the junior prom. Smith told on-duty police, who were reluctant to get involved because it would have elevated it to a criminal issue. She kept the items in a safe and presented them to the student and parents before giving them to a school police officer. Smith said she was reprimanded because the district believed she should have demanded police get involved.

Smith was also reprimanded shortly after because an assistant principal failed to file all the needed paperwork for a field trip out of the state for a robotics team.
Smith was then placed on a management assistance plan, which she said is a precursor to dismissal. She said district officials made comments implying she was old and should retire. Those comments, she says in the suit, included that she was trained by the old guard and times were changing, and that there would be no need for an assistance plan if she retired.

Koehne said Smith remains on paid administrative leave pending reassignment, but that job has not been determined. Koehne did not have her salary but said it was near the top of the salary schedule for principals, which tops out at $130,598.

Replica gun gets teen in trouble at university

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) - A teenager is in trouble after pulling a replica AK-47 airsoft rifle out of his SUV to show his buddies at Minnesota State University in Mankato.
The 17-year-old from Waseca has been cited for disorderly conduct and for violating a city ordinance.
Police say a security officer saw a group of people gathered early Thursday by the SUV, 1 of whom was holding what appeared to be an assault rifle. They also observed him appear to fire.
Police say officers responded with guns drawn, ordered everyone to the ground and handcuffed them. They found the teen had five Airsoft replica guns that fire plastic airsoft pellets. The youth and the airsoft replicas were handed over to his mother.

Innocent mistake' sparked Gunn lockdown

Weston Healy, an Eagle Scout with a 4. 17 grade-point-average, was about to complete his senior year at Gunn High School and looking forward to enrolling at Cornell University this fall. All that was jeopardized last Thursday after the Gunn campus was thrown into an emergency "Code Red" lockdown, terrifying students and parents and resulting in Healy's arrest on charges of possessing a weapon on a school campus. Today Healy, 18, is at home in Los Altos Hills, suspended from school, while his lawyer works with Gunn officials and the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office in hopes of ensuring Healy's plans for his future unfold as previously expected. It was all an innocent mistake, according to Healy, his father and lawyer Eric Geffon of San Jose. District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Amy Cornell said Healy's case is under review. A court clerk said an arraignment is scheduled tentatively for next Thursday, which is the day after Gunn's graduation ceremony. The weapon in Healy's car the day of his arrest was an airsoft rifle, a recreational weapon that can be purchased for $50 to $300. Unlike metal BBs from a BB gun, airsoft products shoot non-puncturing plastic BBs and are used in games similar to those played at the popular birthday-party venue Laser Quest in Mountain View. Purchasers of airsoft guns must be 18 or older because the products "look so realistic and could be mistaken for the real thing," a Big 5 Sporting Goods salesclerk said. Healy inadvertently had an airsoft rifle in his car when he drove with a friend onto campus last Thursday afternoon to drop off equipment for the robotics class, his lawyer said. A city employee saw the rifle and called police. "You can't blame them for calling the police, and you can't blame the police for responding as they did," Geffon said Thursday. After dropping off the robotics equipment, Healy and his friend were heading back to the car when the school lockdown was imposed, and the two were pulled into the nearest classroom, Geffon said. "Weston and his friend thought the Code Red was unusual, and Weston said, 'Do you think it's possible that we're the reason it's a Code Red?'" Geffon said. At that point, Healy approached the teacher and explained about the airsoft rifle, he said. Asked whether Healy still plans to go to Cornell, Geffon said: "Knock on wood he's still going. "Everything we're doing with both the school and the district attorney is to make sure he continues to graduate and go to Cornell," the lawyer said. Geffon said Healy realized as he was pulling into the Gunn campus May 27 that "having this (airsoft rifle) in the parking lot is a bad idea," but he and his friend decided to just put it in the trunk because they intended to be on campus for such a short time. "I have a growing list of 75 letters that I've been receiving from various people -- teachers, scoutmasters, friends of the family -- that speak in glowing terms about this kid," he said. "He's a really, really good kid, and this is a very unfortunate situation. "Geffon said Healy had owned the airsoft rifle "for some time" but that calling it a hobby "would probably be an overstatement. "Besides scouting and robotics at Gunn, Healy participated in water polo, swimming and wrestling and has been active in his Mormon church, the lawyer said. About two days before the Code Red episode, Healy had put the airsoft rifle in the trunk of his car to take it from his father's house to his mother's house in order to compare it to a new airsoft gun that had been purchased for his younger brother, he said. While Weston and a friend were at Orchard Supply Hardware purchasing supplies for robotics last Thursday, May 27, the friend commented on the airsoft rifle and asked to look at it and was holding it when the two drove into the Gunn parking lot, Geffon said. Among the items police reported they found in Healy's car were "two face masks, one spade shovel with a 4-inch pick, a hatchet with a removable saw and a military style knife with a 7-inch blade. "Geffon said what police called "face masks" were airsoft safety goggles used for eye protection while playing with airsoft guns. The other items had been left in the trunk after a camping trip Healy had taken with friends the weekend of May 15 to Tunitas Creek in Half Moon Bay. "He doesn't tend to clean out his car very often," Geffon said. "He removed the tent and a couple of chairs because he needed to transport a couple of kids home to do a project. So he moved the big things but left the knife and hatchet. "Gunn officials declined to comment on the Healy case. Geffon said Healy has been suspended from school until Monday and has not yet been told whether he will be permitted to participate in graduation. "Our concern is we make sure Weston is able to finish the school year and get his diploma," he said.

Pellet Gun Surprise

May 25- 5:26 p.m.- Police were dispatched to the area of Rosemary St. for a report of kids firing a Airsoft BB gun out of a window. Officers were met at the home by a juvenile, the latter of whom nwas asked to get an adult to speak with. Two parties came to the door and officers asked if they were aware of the shooting taking place. The parties stated that an Airsoft pellet gun was being shot from upstairs and out the window, but that the shooter was aiming at the fence and "didn't mean to hit the neighbors house."
The parties said that they were looking after the house while the owners were away at work. Officers confiscated the airsoft gun and called the boy's mother. The also spoke with the reporting neighbor, who stated that she heard the airsoft BB pellets hitting her house. She stated that there was no damage to the property and would not be pressing charges.
When the boy's mother arrived at the scene, police told her of the incident. She related that she had already taken a gun away before and "will address this matter accordingly." Shortly after, the boy's father arrived and was notified of the incident. He took the airsoft gun in question, as well as two others, and said that he would dispose of them.

Crosman Corporation Wins 2010 International Business Of The Year Award

Crosman Corporation Wins 2010 International Business Of The Year Award

Crosman

ROCHESTER, New York - Crosman Corporation, long known for innovation and quality in the shooting sports, airsoft and airgun industry, was named the 2010 International Business of the Year at the First Annual Upstate New York Trade Conference last night.

The International Business Council of Greater Rochester, New York (IBC), an affiliate of Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) hosted the conference to provide Upstate New York businesses with the resources to succeed in international trade.

Crosman Corporation Wins 2010 International Business Of The Year Award

The award celebrates the achievements and successes of Upstate New York companies trading internationally, whose international business success impacts the prosperity of the region, according to Laurie DeRoller, IBC’s Executive Director.

“Crosman’s ability to embrace the challenges of global competition, display resiliency in our economic climate and achieve sustained growth is remarkable. This award recognizes Crosman as a worldwide ambassador for our region’s industry, innovation and expertise,” said DeRoller.

Ken D’Arcy, Crosman’s President and CEO says Crosman thrives on challenges presented in the diversity of the worldwide marketplace.

“We recognize the need for a tailored, strategic approach in each international market and adapt our products to meet local needs. Each market we approach has potential language barriers, differing distribution networks and distinctive regulations for product compliance. Our sales team works closely with each country’s distributors to execute country-by-country plans, allowing for customization of products, pricing and packaging,” said D’Arcy.

“By entering into new territories and adapting to the needs of the changing marketplace, we’ve seen increasing demand for our products all over the world.”

Marc Miller, Crosman’s international sales manager agreed. “Crosman recently entered into negotiations to open a European distribution facility,” he said. “Streamlining the customer’s order flow process to ensure faster delivery times will meet or exceed Crosman’s global supply chain standards. By reducing transport costs, improving delivery times and providing efficiencies in inventory management, merchandising solutions will be provided to European customers,” he continued.

“Crosman will now have the ability to offer a larger assortment of goods to markets with differing product and marketing requirements. We anticipate even more growth as a result of these improvements,” he said.

D’Arcy said that it is gratifying to have recognition from an organization whose relationships include some of the most successful international exporters in the US. “This is a solid endorsement of the strategic direction we’ve embraced.”

Airsoft Guns Growing in Popularity For Combat Sports Play

Airsoft is a relatively new combat sport in North America. It isn’t as well known as paintball, but the sales of airsoft guns are increasing steadily each year. The game is very similar to paintball, using strict rules for taking shots, keeping score and how participants are expected to maneuver throughout various types of competition. Such competitions include skirmishes and various types of military simulations.
While just beginning to gain popularity in North America, airsoft guns have been extremely popular in Asia for decades. They were first introduced f in Japan and East Asia in the 1950’s, when it was almost impossible for private citizens to get any form of firearm. To fulfill their passion for target practice and role-playing military games, airsoft guns filled a niche that quickly spread across Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea. Today the popularity of airsoft weapons is quickly spreading across North America and Europe, with interest particularly high in areas such as Ireland and the United States.
Airsoft guns are increasing in popularity in the U.S. in contrast to paintball guns for a number of reasons. One reason is that airsoft pellets themselves are less likely to cause damage to the guns during the course of play. There is no paint enclosed in the pellets, therefore there’s no opportunity for them to rupture in an airsoft gun’s chamber and damage the gun itself. Because of this, airsoft guns are easier to take care of, keep clean and maintain. They also have fewer mechanical parts to take care of and are less prone to break down, making them less likely to jam up or cause problems during game play.
The cost of airsoft guns and their ammunition is also considerably less than that of paintball weapons. While you can certainly invest a substantial amount of money in either form of combat sports play, the cost of a reasonably accurate and powerful airsoft gun is approximately twenty percent less than that of a paintball gun. Ammunition for airsoft guns is also less expensive; you can purchase about 5000 airsoft pellets for approximately twenty dollars. For the same price, you will get less than 1500 paintballs of similar quality.
Airsoft guns may not be as popular as some other forms of combat game play in North America, but it is quickly getting noticed not only for its affordability but for its flexibility. While there are fewer formal, organized locations for airsoft competitions and team play, this doesn’t limit anyone’s ability to enjoy airsoft guns. These combat play weapons can be used in almost setting, including empty buildings, wooded areas or on farms without damaging property because there is no mess from paintballs and far less debris from pellet shells.
You can use airsoft guns for routine skirmishes, the most common form of play that the casual player is familiar with, or military simulations that last for days at a time. Whichever form of play you favor you’ll use less ammunition and be able to travel lighter using airsoft guns.
If you are interested in learning more about airsoft guns, talk to someone who is a current player and ask them to teach you how to play. Keep in mind that you should always wear protective gear. Airsoft guns shoot their pellets with enough speed to cause bruising of the skin at relatively close range and serious damage to the eye. Properly designed goggles and padded clothing are a must any time you are playing an airsoft game.
Because of the many advantages of airsoft guns for your combat play, it seems certain that you’ll see them increase in popularity in the next several years. Give it a try the next time you have the opportunity and you may become a convert to what is often considered the most realistic form of combat play there is.