Is Airsoft legal under this law????

[remarker]

Our law reads: It is unlawful to shoot, fire or discharge .... an airgun or spring gun ...

And an airgun is defined as "any BB gun, pellet gun or any other gun operated by compressed air or compressed gas"

And a spring gun "includes any gun ... in which a spring or springs furnishes the power to propel the pellet, BB, bullet or other projectile"

Our son wants an Airsoft gun. Is Airsoft an airgun or spring gun or neither?

Thanks. From concerned parents.

[Pope_Alex_Kaeda_I]

Airsoft IS legal. It may not be legal to discharge it within city limits, and if it is used in the commission of a crime, it will be treated as a real gun. If its taken to school, expect it to be treated like its real.

The way I read the Oregon Revised Statutes, an airsoft gun IS considered a firearm in the eyes of the law.

As in - dont let your son go to the park with his friends to play with it, or goof off in the back yard where a neighbor could get freaked out and call the cops. Dont let him take it to school, on the bus, to the store, etc.

If you're going out in the woods with your son, bringing him to games with us-all, its not illegal to own/use. Its all in whats being done, and where its being done. With good supervision, and positive role models, should be good to go.

Thanks for coming around here to ask

[Kendodude]

Remember, you can always say no to your kid if you believe it's too much for him.

[remarker]

Thank you for your information. We don't live in Oregon, so, while we are trying to interpret the law and not knowing much about guns, we are at a loss as to how Airsoft operates. Is it air or gas-powered or is it spring-loaded? If it is neither, then we assume that Airsoft is ok to use in our city ... of course, being used responsibly.

[Eyes On]

Airsoft guns are perfectly legal to own in California, but do not fire it within the incorporated area of your city (or any other city for that matter).

Here is a California based group who can give you more local advice, or at least point you to a more geographically relevant information: http://www.cimmerians.org/

I commend you on your decision to insist on positive, responsible ownership and use.

Edit to add: Airsoft guns fall into the same category as BB guns as far as how they operate. They are basically either spring or gas powered. Even the electrically driven variety is little more than a motorized spring system. The specific mechanics beyond that are not relevant, but they are interesting from a novelty perspective.

[Starcommander]

I would suggest to get him a pistol (spring would be good). Springers (as there called sometimes) are a little on the powerhungry side (raingeing from 200-300 fps (feet per a second)). I have one that at first shot at 260fps but after a few times takeing it aprt to get a stuck bb out it shoots round 235fps. Now anything over 200fps is gonna have a little sting at close rainge the worst that can happen is a welt which gose away after a day or so. My suggestion for a gun (thats for if he wants to kick around with his friends) would be the Glock 18c. Its semi-automatic and full-automatic but only shoots at 190fps which is weak by most guns standerds. It uses 4 AAA batteries to operate so no need of any special chargers. I myself have 2 of them and play with my siblings all the time they don't hurt at all if your a few feet away. Be shure to get a few extra magazines for it because it has a short 15 round one that comes with it. He will have a blast with it because if his friends have pistols too (because there cheap the Glock 18c is $45) he will surprise them when he switches it to full-auto. As in terms of leagle issues. Here in Washington, as far as I know, there fine to use responably take heed to the posts above there have been insedences where people have mistaken airsoft as real and called the cops and ect ect ect.... Hoped I helped a little in the "what gun to get" process. You can find this gun here at www.redwolfairsoft.com thats where I got mine.

[Catch22]

They weren't asking "wut gun shood I git?" They were asking about the legality of airsoft under their laws.