‘Kids don’t need to carry guns’

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A suspect armed with an Airsoft BB gun bandit was caught robbing people at a Portland park. And police said he’s only 13-years-old.

The dad of one of the victims came to the rescue, and said his son made all the right moves.

“I don’t understand why kids are doing this,” he told KOIN 6 News. “I’m from a small town. Kids don’t need to carry guns.”

“My stomach was turning,” said dad Matthew Campbell. “For something to happen like that, I was just really worried about my son.”

It happened at Glenwood Park in southeast Portland. Glenwood Park is normally filled with kids and families. But what happened Monday evening shook a lot of people up, especially two 11-year-old boys.

“He was like, ‘Hey, give me the board,’” said Gavin Campbell, who had his skateboard stolen Monday. “And he puts the [airsoft] gun in my face like this … like that far away!”

Eleven-year-old Gavin and his friend Kyle Neal were just walking through the park when it happened.

“I wanted to do something [to fight back] so bad,” Gavin said, “but I knew I shouldn’t.”

Just a day before this July 9, 2013, image, a 13-year-old with an Airsoft pistol was reported to have robbed an 11-year-old boy of his skateboard near this spot in Glenwood Park in southeast Portland. (KOIN 6 News, Gary Kahne)

So, Gavin gave up the skateboard to a 13-year-old boy carrying an Airsoft pistol — and Kyle stepped away to call for help.

“I got out my phone, and I went to my contacts,” Kyle said. Gavin’s dad Matthew picked up.

He and Kyle’s dad Ken jumped in the car and were at the park in minutes, as Ken’s wife called 911.

The 13-year old was still in the park when they got there.

“I immediately jumped out of the truck,” Matthew said. “And I snatched the skateboard from him and I saw  a [airsoft] pistol sticking out of his pants, and so I snatched the [airsoft] pistol out of his pants, and I said, ‘Let’s go find your parents!”

The boy’s parents weren’t there, but by that time Portland police were. They took the 13-year-old to juvenile detention.

As it turned out, the teen had been reported to have threatened several other people in the park before he turned on Gavin and Kyle.

“I think it’s pretty messed up,” Kyle told KOIN 6 News.

Matthew Campbell talks to KOIN 6 News about driving down to this park after his son was robbed of his skateboard by a teen with a [airsoft] mock gun. (KOIN 6 News, Gary Kahne)

Gavin’s dad Matthew said he’s glad that Kyle had his phone, and that Gavin gave up the skateboard.

“I did the right thing I think,” Gavin says now.

But both dads said it’s a shame that a 13 year-old tried to terrorize a neighborhood park.

“I don’t understand why kids are doing this,” said Ken, Kyle’s dad. “I’m from a small town. Kids don’t need to carry guns.”

Both Kyle and Gavin said they recognized the 13-year-old from the neighborhood. He’s now at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Home, charged with second-degree armed robbery.

(SOURCE)

Toy gun saves family from intruder

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A toy airsoft gun became just what a family needed to protect themselves from a would-be robber.

Monday night, Roland Stuart broke into a family's home and approached Jane Rainboth's room as she was sleeping. She then reached for the 9mm handgun that was placed by her bedside.

When the intruder caught sight of the threat at hand, he ran back outside the house for safety, where he would later be caught by Broward Sheriff's Office deputies.

The robber failed to notice the orange tip of the gun, giving away the fact that the 9mm was instead a toy gun.

The family's "attack dog" barked and gave Rainboth just enough notice to wake up and reach for the toy gun just as the robber was turning the corner to her room.

When Joshua Rainboth first spray-painted the gun, he never thought it would end up saving his mother's life. "It's funny because when I first did it they got mad at me," Rainboth said. "They told me I was going to get myself in trouble for spray-painting it black."

Due to the act of the crime, the judge decided to triple the fundamental bond to $75,000.

(Source)

One teen dead, another in custody after an attempted robbery with an airsoft gun

An attempted robbery by two teens Saturday night in Fort Wayne, Indiana, left one teen dead, another in jail and both empty-handed. Their would-be victim was armed with a .40-caliber pistol and when his safety was threatened, he opened fire, shooting and killing one, while the other ran off, the Journal Gazette reports.

It was right at 11 o’clock Saturday night when the resident, who has not been identified, walked outside and down the steps in front of his apartment home. According to the statement released by Sgt. Mark Brooks of the Fort Wayne Police Department, the two teens then approached the resident and attempted to rob him. He responded by firing four shots, hitting one of the robbers in the chest. The resident immediately called 911. First responders attempted to revive the man who was shot, but he was pronounced dead on the scene.

Blake Stoneman, 21, lives in the same apartment house where the incident occurred. He said that he heard the gunshots, followed by screams, and ran outside to check on his girlfriend who had just left. His girlfriend was safely out of the area, but instead he found his neighbor who explained that he had just shot a man who tried to rob him.

According to Stoneman, "He said, ‘I need to go call 911; can you keep an eye on this guy’? and there’s just a guy laying there motionless." He added that his neighbor "wouldn’t hurt a fly unprovoked, so it was definitely in self-defense."

Stoneman, who has a two-year-old child, says that he is considering moving out of the apartment. "Just with the initial shock and paranoia, it seems right to move and it seems there’s not a lot of places you can go that are safe in Fort Wayne," he said.

And he’s not the only neighbor that feels that way either.

Tyler Junk and his fiancée, who both live in that same apartment house, moved out Sunday following the Saturday night incident. Although Junk admits, "I carry a gun myself, and if it was me, I’d have done the same thing," he says he still worries about having to face the same or a similar situation as his neighbor did on Saturday night.

Junk, who often likes to relax on the same front steps of the apartment where his neighbor was almost robbed, said that he talked with him after the incident and according to Junk, his neighbor said that before he shot the would-be robber, the two got into a scuffle. He said that the teen attacked him, beating him on the head and when he tried to yell for help, his attacker tried covered his mouth. It was then, with his one free hand that the resident reached for his firearm and shot him, although Brooks would neither confirm nor deny that account.

However, Brooks did confirm that a weapon was found near the body of the man that was shot, but a report released today confirmed that one of the robbers carried an airsoft-type handgun. Although police have not said whether this was the weapon that was originally mentioned or if there was another involved. It is unknown at this time whether the resident knew it was an airsoft gun.

Authorities also said that the resident suffered from a gunshot wound to the foot. He was treated at a local hospital and released and is said to be recovering and in good condition.

The county coroner’s office also released today the name of the man who was shot. He was identified as 18-year-old Jaquese N. Dandridge of Fort Wayne. His accomplice, a 16-year-old whose name has not been released, is also now in custody. Authorities said that during the investigation they came across information that helped to identify the second suspect, and police arrested him yesterday without incidence.

The shooting has been ruled a homicide, but appears to be justified as self-defense. "If someone tried to rob you on your front porch … you could be justified in using force to protect yourself, including deadly force," Brooks stated.

The investigation is ongoing as a cooperative effort of the police department, the prosecutor’s office and the coroner’s office.

(Source)

Ammo shortages force CA cops to use Airsoft

The nationwide ammunition shortage isn’t just affecting civilians — it’s hitting law enforcement.

"Everybody is fighting for what is seems like a shrinking amount of ammunition out there," said Lt. Louie Tirona, firearms and tactics instructor for the Richmond Police Department.

With backorders on ammo stretching up to 12 months, law enforcement in the Northern, California, town have opted to train with Airsoft.

"We can do simple drills with Airsoft that would mimic what we would do with live fire," Tirona said. "They shoot small plastic [airsoft bb] pellets that still pack a punch."

According to sources, the [airsoft] guns used by the department look, feel and function almost like the real thing.

The neighboring town of Albany has followed suit. "It’s become harder and harder to get the ammunition we need to train our officers on a timely basis," said Albany Sgt. Dave Bettencourt. "We’re using Airsoft as an affordable option to try to maintain the officers’ skills."
 
(Source)

   

East Bay Police Train With Airsoft Guns Amid Ammo Shortage

RICHMOND (KPIX 5) — A nationwide shortage of ammunition has forced several police departments, including Richmond, to find a backup solution for training rounds. Officers said the solution is just as effective as live ammo, not to mention cheaper.

"Everybody is fighting for what is seems like a shrinking amount of ammunition out there," said Lt. Louie Tirona, firearms and tactics instructor for the Richmond Police Department.

Tirona came up with an idea: using professional-grade Airsoft guns for some of the training.

"If we get to a situation where we’re low on ammunition, we can do simple drills with Airsoft that would mimic what we would do with live fire," Tirona said.

The Airsoft guns used by the department look, feel, and function almost like the real thing. They shoot small plastic [airsoft bb] pellets that still pack a punch.

There is also another advantage, according to Tirona. "With Airsoft, its pennies compared to dollars with live ammunition," he said.

Tirona is also using laser firearms for scenario training.

Neighboring Albany is joining Richmond in using Airsoft guns for training.

"It’s become harder and harder to get the ammunition we need to train our officers on a timely basis," said Albany Sgt. Dave Bettencourt. "We’re using Airsoft as an affordable option to try to maintain the officers’ skills."

Sources told KPIX 5 that El Cerrito, Emeryville and Berkeley are looking for more training ammo, but still have enough for regular patrol duty.

Officials said with some backorders for ammo stretching up to 12 months, they are not sure when the shortage will end. Other local departments that are training with real ammunition told KPIX 5 they are being cautious not to use too much.

(Source)

Target selection for NRA's new Airsoft 3-Gun competitions

Fairfax, Virginia - Sam and Andy begin a long trip today. Ten hours to be exact. Ten hours down I-85 from Fairfax, Virginia to Marietta, Georgia for the NRA's first official Airsoft 3-Gun event. Hosted by the good folks at the SAS Black Ops Range, the day is divided into two three hour segments; one at 2:00 and the other at 6:00. They'll be traveling with plenty of baggage too. Airsoft guns, Airsoft plans and Airsoft targets.

"We had a pretty good idea where we were going with the [airsoft] guns," said NRA Recreational Shooting Specialist Andy Lander. "It's the targets that provided the real challenge."

Airsoft targets are a challenge because you can't 'cheat' them in the same way you can with the .22 targets. Though not ideal, a range can use the same steel targets for a .22 event that they use in a regular event; you just have to play closer attention. With Airsoft you need something different.

According to Lander's counterpart, one Samantha Olsen, "There are Airsoft target opportunities out there. You just have to know where to look."

Where they're looking is a combination of targets from ShootmyAsh, Challenge Targets, and BAM Airsoft.

ShootmyAsh.com is an electronic Airsoft targeting system. The name comes from the first prototypes. Initially made of Ash, the company changed to more of a hickory based platform following the infestation of the Emerald ash borer.

"When you hit the target, it registers the strike on a computer through a USB," explained Olsen. "It also provides an online leader board … kind of like Call of Duty. That means you can compete here in Fairfax against a guy shooting in Russia, Brazil or Japan.

"They also have a laser based border. There's a laser at the beginning, around the borders and at the end. It automatically starts when you cross the line, stops when you hit the finish, and penalizes you for going out of bounds."

Challenge Targets are your more conventional reaction targets. Simply put, you hit them and they move. Maybe they fall, maybe they swing, but one way or the other there is motion. That means the shooter knows they hit the target and can move on to the next one without losing any time.

"You knock 'em down and they get back up again," said Lander. "Just like the song says."

Finally there is BAM Airsoft.

BAM stands for Burt and Martin … the inventors of the product. And what they came up with is pretty interesting.

"BAM sells metal targets mounted on hard plastic tops. All you have to do is attach the tops to PVC pipes and you're good to go."

Here's the genius part; instead of selling you the PVC pipe, they sell you the design. You buy the PVC at your local hardware store.

"It cuts down on the shipping cost and allows you to customize the pipes to suite your needs."

Now we're not going to tell you which of these targets they'll be using this weekend at SOS Black Ops. For that, you'll just have to make it down to Georgia.

(Source)

Teen mistakenly points Airsoft gun at officer

Posted on: 4:25 pm, March 22, 2013, by Barrett Tryon, updated on: 05:32pm, March 22, 2013

MERRIAM, Kan. — It’s a case of mistaken identity that could have ended a lot differently for a Merriam, Kan., teen.

Someone called 911 Friday morning and reported three men were wearing camouflage –and armed with rifles —  and jumped out of a car and began to run around a home.

When Merriam police showed up, officers were confronted by two people carrying rifles. That’s when one teen pointed the gun at an officer.

Thankfully, the officer noticed a small amount of orange paint on the barrel of the rifle and decided to tell the teen to “drop the gun.” He complied and was taken into custody.

However, when police picked up the rifle they quickly noticed it was an “Airsoft” gun — a non-lethal weapon that shoots [airsoft bb] pellets by compressed air.

The teens said they were practicing for an Airsoft game later in the day and thought the officers were another team.

No charges were filed, police said.

(Source)

Student Faces 1-Year Expulsion After Bringing Airsoft Gun To School

Posted on: 2:59 pm, March 7, 2013, by Shain Bergan
 

 

A Bentonville student faces the possibility of a one-year expulsion after bringing an airsoft gun to school earlier this week, according to the Bentonville School District.

The third-grade student brought an airsoft pellet gun to Thomas Jefferson Elementary on Monday. A teacher discovered the [airsoft] gun and notified administrators, said Mary Ley, a spokeswoman for the school district.

The student was automatically expelled from school for 10 days, after which an appeals hearing will be held to determine whether a student should face the state standard of a one-year expulsion for bringing a [airsoft] gun to school, Ley said.

The incident marks the third time in the last month a Bentonville student has brought a [airsoft] gun to school, Ley said. No one was injured in any of the incidents.

An eighth-grade student at Bentonville’s Washington Junior High School brought an air soft gun to the school with the purpose of selling it to another student in February, according to the school district. A few weeks earlier, a student brought a BB gun to Mary Jones Elementary School, Ley said.

The students involved in those two incidents had their recommended expulsions overturned by Superintendent Michael Poore following an appeals hearing, Ley said.

Airsoft: Not just for kids these days

Posted in Firearms and Ballistics on March 6, 2013 by Mike S.

As we all try to cope with the "Great Ammunition Crisis of 2013", Tactical-Officer.com will explore and share different methods to help our readers with regard to training. Today, we will take a realistic look at airsoft.

As a firearms instructor the most common question heard is "How do I improve my skills as a shooter?" The answer is often one word: “Practice". When ammunition supply was normal and prices were stable, this typically meant going to the range and sending lead downrange. Although most shooter look back on 50-round boxes of pistol ammunition for less than $10 as "the good old days", there were still plenty of shooters who found that to be expensive.

Instructors would commonly speak of the virtues of hand loading or training with 22 lr instead of the costlier center fire ammunition. Sadly, reloading components and rimfire ammunition are becoming as hard to find or almost as expensive as regular ammunition.

Last week we reviewed a great dry-firing training aid put out by Laser-Ammo, but dry firing is still only one piece of a complete training regimen.

The realities of airsoft

Being a dyed-in-the-wool shooter, I tended to look down on airsoft gear. This was mostly due to frustration when trying to find gun parts and seeing cheap knock-offs made overseas that looked too much like the real thing being sold as something they were not.

That all changed when I met the owner of an airsoft shop who was dedicated to putting real parts on his airsoft guns. While most airsoft guns at their essence are lightweight pieces of plastic that bear a superficial resemblance to real firearms, there are some that have the same weight and handling characteristics of their real counterparts.

The principles behind shooting an airsoft gun are the same as shooting a real firearm. The shooter must acquire and maintain sight alignment, obtain sight picture, breathe and follow-through. This can be accomplished by obtaining spring operated plastic guns at a discount store or by special ordering a custom piece that mirrors the shooter's sidearm in form and function.

As with regular shooting, airsoft shooting requires safety equipment. A good rule of thumb is to keep muzzle velocities under 450 feet per second for safety reasons as a fast pellet can break the skin. This time it is in the form of eye protection in case pellets should bounce back or if they are used as described in the next section.

Force-on-force training

Airsoft can be taken a step further and used in force on force training. This is being performed by tactical trainers in the military and law-enforcement realms throughout the world. However, this type of training is a bit more rigorous than plinking away in the garage with a $10 to $50 spring loaded handgun or carbine. A more rugged and robust airsoft arm is needed for this method with an entry-level price closer to a $200 for a [airsoft] handgun and $400 for a [airsoft] carbine or rifle that runs on compressed gas or is battery operated. Despite this initial investment, the long term cost of airsoft is low as [airsoft bb] pellets can be purchased in the thousands for less than a $20 bill.

Force on force training with airsoft can point out tactical errors such as exposing body parts when moving from cover or how difficult it can be to hit a moving target that is firing back at you.

While airsoft will never be a complete substitute for live firing, it does offer some advantages beyond the low cost and its use in force-on-force training. Most higher end airsoft guns have full-auto capability that may not have much of a tactical or practical use, but can be a fun way to spend a few hours on the weekend.

Charges dismissed against teen who took Airsoft pistol to school

By Robby Korth
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Omaha World-Herald

A judge dismissed charges against a Bellevue East High School student Monday after prosecutors said he took an Airsoft pistol to school, causing a lockdown.

Daejawntae Goings, 16, of Bellevue had been charged with tampering with evidence, a felony, and making terroristic threats, a misdemeanor.

Assistant Sarpy County Prosecutor Stephanie Martinez said Goings made terroristic threats by brandishing the [airsoft] weapon at two girls. Prosecutors allege he then tampered with evidence after he told police he didn't know where the [airsoft] gun was but later admitted that he had “stashed” it where officers found it.

Goings' lawyer, Patrick Boylan, chief deputy public defender, said Goings never threatened anyone out loud, so he couldn't be charged with terroristic threats.

“He never threatened those two girls,” Boylan said. “How could my client be charged with terroristic threatening?”

Sarpy County Judge Robert Wester decided he couldn't, and dismissed both charges.
Prosecutors said they plan to refile charges.

According to police, Goings pulled the [airsoft] pistol out of his waistband and cocked it in front of the two girls on Feb. 6.

An Airsoft gun looks like a real pistol, but it fires non-lethal plastic [airsoft bb] pellets.

The [airsoft] gun didn't have the orange tip usually used to distinguish toy guns from real guns, and it had a red Heckler & Koch emblem on the butt of the pistol, Detective Francis Gallo said during the hearing.

The girls alerted school administrators, who called police about 2:15 p.m.

Goings first went into a bathroom and then to the high school's career center, where he told a teacher and six students that there was a school evacuation. The teacher told students to remain where they were and left to investigate. Goings was working alongside other students at a computer when police arrived, officers testified.

About 20 officers descended on Bellevue East in response to an alleged gunman.

“When I arrived, students seemed scared,” Police Officer Tim Janda said.

At first, the only gun that police could find was a green plastic squirt gun in Goings' backpack. Police found the Airsoft pistol hidden under a stack of papers in a recycling bin.

Goings said he had the [airsoft] gun because he feared for his safety, Janda said.

Sarpy County Prosecutor Lee Polikov said he still believes that brandishing a fake [airsoft] gun and causing a school lockdown is illegal. His office plans to again charge Goings. Options include filing only misdemeanor charges, filing in juvenile court or filing in district court.

“There are charges we think we can hold him accountable for,” Polikov said.

Boylan, the defense attorney, said after the hearing that Goings is relieved but knows the case probably isn't over.

“Until it's ultimately decided, he is going to concentrate on his schoolwork and his responsibilities at home,” Boylan said.

Student Arrested For Bringing Airsoft Gun To School

Reported by: Jeff Stone
Email: JStone@WETMTV.com
Published: 3/04 11:52 pm
Updated: 3/04 11:58 pm

WELLSVILLE, N.Y. - Police arrested an Allegany County, New York student Monday after they say he brought an airsoft gun to school.

An airsoft gun shoots plastic [airsoft bb] pellets using compressed air.

The 12-year old Wellsville Middle School student is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a person under the age of 16.

Police say the [airsoft] weapon was never displayed in school and no students were threatened or in danger at the time.

Boy packs airsoft gun for school

AVON, Ohio (WKYC) -- An Ohio first grader is suspended after bringing an airsoft gun to school.

The child told Avon Police he and his cousin were threatened by another student. On Friday, the student carried it to the bus stop in his backpack, showing it to the student who threatened him.

When teachers found out, they took the [airsoft] gun and called police.

Now he could be expelled from school.

"The world, the way it is today, I can't blame them for throwing him out of school. But it's too bad," said his grandmother Mary Phillips.

Phillips says she understands why Avon Schools suspended her six-year-old grandson.

"He's never been dangerous. He's definitely not dangerous. No way," she said, of the boy.

Police say the airsoft gun was a clear, compact .45 caliber-like weapon, with a single green pellet in the magazine. The boy never used the [airsoft] gun and told others it was a toy.

Phillips says that while she knows her grandson is a good kid, the school can't take any chances.

"This is why they're taken extreme measures about it. Because there's so many kids doing these same things. You don't know what a kid is going to do," she said.

She says the boy [airsoft] got the gun from his mother's home, who didn't answer the door when our news crews stopped by.

Phillips says the boy's father has talked to him about what happened. Now he's hoping he'll be able to go back to school after a 10-day suspension.

"He feels real bad about what happened. It's too bad, you know, that he has to pay for it. Because you don't buy no kid, no six-year-old, a bb [airsoft] gun," said Phillips. "And who would have known he would take it to school?"

Idaho Teen Arrested for Shooting City Worker with Airsoft Gun

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) — A northern Idaho teen has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault after police say he shot an Airsoft pellet gun at a Sandpoint city worker. The Bonner County Daily Bee reports the 17-year-old was arrested Tuesday after police responded to a report of gunshots.

Police Chief Corey Coon says the high school student was riding in a pickup with friends when they mistook the worker for a sports coach and fired the plastic [airsoft bb] pellets as a prank. The style of air gun that police say the teen used typically poses little safety risk but can leave welts at close range or cause eye damage.

Airsoft guns look like traditional weapons though they are sold with an orange tip intended to identify them as a pellet [airsoft] gun.

1st grader at Avon East Elementary brings AirSoft model gun to school to 'shoot' mean classmate

Posted: 02/28/2013
By: Tina Kaufmann, newsnet5.com
 
AVON, Ohio - A first-grader at Avon East Elementary gets suspended for bringing an AirSoft model gun to school to shoot another student.
 
On Friday, the 6-year-old boy told the principal he brought the [airsoft] pellet gun to school to "shoot another student" because that student had threatened him with a knife.
 
Once school officials got in touch with parents, the boy's story began to change. The 6-year-old said he brought the fake [airsoft] gun to school because of an altercation at the bus stop between him and two other boys, hoping it would "scare" them.
 
The boy with the [airsoft] gun has been suspended for 10 days and expulsion has been recommended.
The other two boys admitted to the altercation, with one saying he did threaten to kill the 6-year-old.
 
The other students' guardians were contacted and said they would talk to their children about the incident.
 
Faculty members were alerted about the [airsoft] gun in the boy's backpack late in the day, something they said really concerns them. The other boys said they opened the 6-year-old's backpack at the bus stop not believing he had a [airsoft] gun.
 
Guardians of the other two boys were aware of the ongoing issues between their children, but not with the child who brought the mock .45 caliber compact [airsoft] weapon to school.
 
No charges were filed against any of the children. Mediation was recommended for two of the boys.
The 6-year-old was told if anything else like this happens again, he will be referred to Lorain County Juvenile Court.

Sandpoint teen arrested in Airsoft incident

Posted: Thursday, February 28, 2013 12:00 am | Updated: 1:40 am, Thu Feb 28, 2013.           

By CAMERON RASMUSSON/Hagadone News NetworkThe Coeur d' Alene Press

SANDPOINT - A 17-year-old male was arrested Tuesday afternoon on felony charges after shooting an Airsoft gun at a city worker.
  Sandpoint Police officers responded to the Spruce Street around 3 p.m. to investigate the possibility of gunshots, according to Police Chief Corey Coon. The unnamed high school student, riding by in the passenger seat of his friend's pickup truck, used an Airsoft gun to fire plastic [airsoft bb] pellets at a Sandpoint Public Works employee, Coon said.
 
Responding officers charged the Airsoft shooter with aggravated assault and took him to the juvenile detention facility, Coon said. The driver of the vehicle was not arrested but was instead referred to his probation officer assigned from a previous offense.

"The thing that kids often don't understand is how quickly a situation like this can turn tragic," Coon said.

That proved true for the city employee who found himself targeted by Airsoft fire. He had no association with the teenagers, and Coon said he experienced a moment of confusion and panic when he suddenly found himself being fired upon with what appeared to be a normal gun.

For their part, the teenagers weren't targeting the city employee randomly, nor did they intend any malice toward him. As they drove by and spotted him, they mistook him for a sports coach and decided to play a prank on him. The Airsoft-style gun they used typically poses little safety risk, but more powerful models can leave welts at close range or cause eye damage in the case of a particularly unfortunate shot.

Airsoft guns are required by federal law to be shipped and sold with an orange tip, but no such laws govern the actual ownership of the faux weapons. That means that many Airsoft guns could hypothetically be mistaken for a real weapon, and that could turn a prank into a more serious situation.

"Our officers receive training to distinguish between (Airsoft guns) and real guns, but oftentimes, the average citizen can't, and they might choose to respond with deadly force," Coon said.

Mom demands discipline after students shot with Airsoft gun

by Karen Grace / KENS 5
Bio | Email | Follow: @KENSKarenGrace

Posted on February 27, 2013 at 4:32 PM
 Updated Wednesday, Feb 27 at 5:28 PM

A local mom says her 10-year-old girl received a death threat days before she was shot in the classroom with an Airsoft gun.

She discovered a letter the same day she received a phone call from Woodlake Elementary telling her that her daughter was shot with an Airsoft gun -- a weapon that looks like a real bullet-shooting gun but instead fires plastic [airsoft] pellets with a spring-lock device or compressed air.

According to school officials, the shooter got the [airsoft] gun from a boy in class and fired at two girls.

The mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said she fears the bullying will only get worse once the student is allowed back on campus.

"Shes been bullied by this girl quite a bit already," the mother said. "It's the same girl that wrote the letter and she shot my daughter, laughing, with the pellet [airsoft] gun," she said.

Steve Linscomb, a spokesman for the Judson Independent School District, said the shooter and the boy who brought the [airsoft] gun to class have been suspended for three days.

"This is something that we absolutely can't tolerate," he said.

A hearing before a judge has been scheduled for March 1 to determine if the students will be sent to alternative school.

"I just want to know, because my daughter is going to transfer out of this school," the mother said. "I'm not going to have my daughter here when she can't tell me if she can be safe."

Hydro Man Arrested For Shooting Airsoft Gun At Children

Posted: Feb 26, 2013 1:56 PM PST Updated: Feb 26, 2013 1:56 PM PST
By News9.com

HYDRO, Oklahoma -
A man in Hydro, Oklahoma, is in trouble for shooting an airsoft gun at children.

The kids told police Jeremy Whisman began chasing them and shooting at them [with an airsoft gun] while they were having a snowball fight.

Whisman told police the boys had attacked his girlfriend's son, and he was just trying to scare them off, not injure them.

Whisman has been arrested for assault and battery.

Airsoft game at Budget Host draws authorities

By JOE SUTTER, lifestyle@messengernews.net , Messenger News
 
Police responded to an incident that turned out to be a "big misunderstanding" involving Airsoft guns Sunday night at the Budget Host hotel, according to Fort Dodge Police Lt. Joe Bates.

Multiple Fort Dodge police cars and the Webster County Sheriff Department responded to the hotel at about 6:30 p.m. Bates said some residents in the hotel rooms were playing a game of Airsoft war, and had ordered a pizza.

"When the pizza delivery person came to the door, the people inside thought it was other guys coming after them, so they had their airsoft guns pointed at the door, ready to ambush them," Bates said.

The delivery person didn't see the orange tips on the guns, and called the police, he said.

The players later apologized, and the police took away the Airsoft guns, Bates said. The delivery person declined to press charges.
--

I can’t believe their guns were confiscated. They were in their own rooms, they have the right to play as they want to in their room and it’s not illegal, why were the airsoft guns confiscated?

Three men use Airsoft-type gun in attempted carjacking

Victim shot in nose after calling gun a "toy"

STOCKTON, Calif. (KCRA) —Three men confronted a man at his home in Stockton with an Airsoft-type gun and demanded the victim's car keys.
 

The 39-year-old male victim arrived at his home on the 600 block of West Rose Street in his vehicle when he was confronted by three men around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.
 

One of them pointed an Airsoft-type gun at the victim and demanded that the man hand over his car keys.
 

The victim told the trio that the [airsoft] gun looked like a toy.
 

The man holding the [airsoft] gun shot the victim in the nose and all three ran off.
 

Police said that two of those who fled were described as black males armed with a black Airsoft or BB pistol.

Airsoft Guns Confiscated at Permian High School

Posted: Feb 12, 2013 9:32 AM PSTUpdated: Feb 12, 2013 6:16 PM PST

Staff ReportNewsWest 9

ODESSA - A gun scare at Permian High turned out to be a false alarm.
It turns out they were airsoft guns.

School officials received a tip around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning that a student may have brought a weapon to school.

School officials and district police were able to find him quickly and found the two airsoft guns along with [airsoft BB] pellets in his backpack.

The student will not be facing any charges since those airsoft guns are not considered firearms but he is facing discipline from the school district.

UPDATE: Big Island police locate missing Airsoft player

UPDATE: Big Island police have located a 20-year-old man who was reported missing on Sunday in the Ookala area.

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Big Island police are asking for the public's help in locating a 20-year-old man who was reported missing.

Daysen Masuda was last seen Sunday in area of Ookala on the Big Island.

According to the Hawaii County Fire Department, a group of 40 Airsoft members were searching for a Masuda after their lunch break. They conducted several searches of the area with no luck prior to HFD and HPD arrival.

HPD, HFD, and group members searched the area until dark.

HFD continued the search for Masuda at first light Monday, utilizing Chopper-1.

Officials say the Airsoft game area is a 21-acre heavily forested area with ravines, and surrounded by large eucalyptus forests.

Masuda is described as 5-foot-6, 150-160 pounds with short "buzzed" hair. He was last seen wearing black long sleeve T-shirt and camo pants.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call the Police Department's non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Detective Richard Miyamoto at 808-889-6540.

Detective Miyamoto may also be reached by email at rmiyamoto@co.hawaii.hi.us.

UPDATE: Missing Airsoft Player Found Injured in Ravine

by Dave Smith

***Updated at 12:10 p.m.***

A man who went missing Sunday while taking part in a simulated combat game on the Hamakua coast has been located.

Capt. Richard Miyamoto of Hamakua Police said Hawaii Fire Department rescuers located Daysen Masuda in a ravine this morning.

Masuda had sustained a leg injury, Miyamoto said.

Posted at 9:04 a.m.:

A day of play warfare near O`okala turned serious Sunday when one of the participants in an Airsoft competition went missing.

A spokesman for the Laupahoehoe Fire Station said a group of 40 participants began searching for a 20-year-old member after he turned up missing after a lunch break.

The man was identified by police as Daysen Masuda, who weighs about 155 pounds and has "buzzed" hair. He was last seen wearing a black long-sleeve t-shirt and camouflauge pants.

After searching without success, the group called for help from the police and fire departments shortly before 5 p.m.

A total of 17 members of those departments and group members continued their search until dark. It was to resume at first light today with the assistance of the fire department’s Chopper 1.

Airsoft pellets. Wikipedia photo.

Airsoft involves the use of replica [airsoft] guns firing round plastic [airsoft BB] pellets.

The station spokesman said the game area near the intersection of Ka`ala Road and Niupea Homestead Road was a 21-acre, heavily forested area with ravines and surrounded by tall eucalyptus trees.

Anyone with information on Masuda’s whereabouts is asked to call the police department at 935-3311.

Teen accused of bringing Airsoft gun to school faces felony charge

PAPILLION, Neb. —

A 17-year-old accused of bringing an Airsoft gun to school faces a felony charge.

According to investigators, Daejawntae M. Goings was detained by police after a teacher saw what looked like a gun with the student on Wednesday.

Goings did not point the [airsoft] weapon at anyone, and no one was hurt, according to police.

 

The school was evacuated as a precaution.

 

Goings was booked on charges of terroristic threats and disturbing the peace.

Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov said Goings also faces a felony charge of tampering with physical evidence. That charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both.

 

Last year, Goings was charged with assault, disturbing the peace and obstructing an officer.

Another teen was charged with terroristic threats and disturbing the peace in a separate incident. Authorities said Brandon Kloberdance, 17, threatened students and staff Thursday.

Polikov is looking to see whether there's a link between the incidents.

Air Soft Pistol Leads to School Evacuation

UPDATE: The juvenile male was arrested for Terroristic Threats and Disturbing the Peace and was transported to a juvenile detention facility.

BELLEVUE, Neb. (KPTM) – Students were ordered to evacuate campus when police arrived to investigate whether a student had a gun.

Turns out it was an Air Soft pistol that caused the brief chaos at Bellevue East High School Wednesday.

A teacher saw the 17-year-old male pull the [airsoft] weapon out of his backpack. The student did not point the [airsoft] weapon at anyone. Police said no one was hurt.

The student is in the dean's office. All students were allowed to return to their extracurricular activities shortly after 5.

Police are investigating why the student brought the [airsoft] weapon to school.

Information Parents Should Know About Airsoft Guns

Part of the reason for Wednesday's panic is that the teenager's airsoft gun looked an awful lot like the real thing.

Captain David Stukenholtz is with the Bellevue Police Department. He placed his gun next to the airsoft gun that a 16-year-old Bellevue East High School student brought to school. They looked almost identical.

"If you see that, you're just going to think that that's a real weapon," Captain Stukenholtz said.

Especially because the airsoft gun was missing one key piece.

"This is considered a toy," Jeff Childers with Canfield's said. "That's why they have orange tips on them all."

Toys that are very popular among 12 to 14 year olds. Childers explained why. "You'll have different teams and you dress up in different colors and stuff, point systems, and areas that are designated for airsoft games," Childers said.

An airsoft gun shoots small, plastic balls. "We recommend eye protection and face protection," Childers said. "However, like I said, they aren't enough to break the skin."

Not enough to harm, but enough to frighten students and parents. "They (airsoft guns) look so realistic that taking it to school with all the stuff that's been going on with guns, its just a really, really bad choice," Childers said.

Man Accused of ‘Hog-Tying,’ Shooting 4-year-old Girl with Airsoft Pellet Gun

EVERETT, Wash. (KCPQ) — A 26-year-old Lynnwood man was being held in the Snohomish County Jail Friday night after a 4-year-old girl who lived in his home told authorities he shot her multiple times with an airsoft pellet gun and had “hog-tied” her by tying her hands behind her back as a form of punishment.

Stetson Tedder was arrested Thursday for investigation of second-degree assault of a child and unlawful imprisonment. Bail was set Friday at $25,000.

The Everett Herald reported the girl is Tedder’s stepdaughter, but that could not be immediately confirmed.

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Wow, there are crazy incidents and people in Everett, WA!

Florida man launches pellet gun attack on couple in parking lot after asking "Are you Muslim?"

In what is, perhaps the strangest news to date, a blond haired white man attacked a young couple in a Walmart parking lot in Florida after approaching them and asking "Are you Muslim?"

"The first question to the male was ‘are you of Middle Eastern descent?' " explained Doug Tobin, spokesman for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Tobin said the male victim responded, "No, I'm not."

Then the man asked another question: "Are you Muslim?"

The victim again responded, "No, I'm not a Muslim."

Deputies say the suspect then yelled a racial slur, alluding to the fact the victim was "with a white woman."

Then the man pulled out a BB or air soft gun.

"The suspect shot about 20 rounds of this air soft/Pellet gun, toward our victims. Fortunately, they weren't seriously hurt. But it's a serious crime," Tobin said.

The attack is being treated as a hate crime.  The male victim was treated and released at the scene, and the young woman who was with him was not hurt.   The perpetrator escaped, and is still at large. The attack is being treated as a hate crime.

While airsoft guns are considered to be toys, the truth is that they are projectile weapons capable of inflicting harm. Findlaw.com adds:

Airsoft is considered illegal in various countries such as Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, and some countries like Canada prohibit the importation of "replica" Airsoft guns. However, federal importation laws in the United States simply require that all Airsoft guns transported within or imported into the country have barrels with a minimum 6mm wide blaze orange tip, so as to avoid confusion with real firearms. Most retailers of Airsoft guns have disclaimers stating that their Airsoft guns are sold with an orange tip, and that it is illegal to remove the orange tip.

Furthermore, individuals in the U.S. must be 18 years of age or older to purchase an Airsoft gun. On the other hand, Airsoft guns are not classified as firearms and are legal for use by all ages under federal law. However, some municipalities and states place restrictions on Airsoft guns. New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, and parts of Michigan outlaw Airsoft guns entirely.

Some countries have specific restrictions on Airsoft guns, such as maximum muzzle velocity standards, restrictions on use of trademarks of real firearms, and required use of 'unrealistic' coloring to distinguish Airsoft guns from actual firearms.

Finally, states such as California have laws that make it a crime to brandish a look-alike gun in public. Furthermore, individuals using an Airsoft or replica gun to commit crimes will invariably be treated as though they had used an actual firearm.