cops + airsoft = ?

[Zeta Crossfire]

Has anyone ever had the cops called out on them while playing airsoft?

This morning I was thinking about the first time I played Airsoft with checkmate and a few of his friends. We where outside a park in ST Helen (city) and where getting our equipment together when three police cars show up and they get out and walk towards us. It turns out some of the neighbors called 911 when they saw us and said "Al-Qaeda is here" and things along those lines. The police didn't draw there weapons on us but they did have there hands on the top of there gun's for a little bit. The area we where was a normal airsoft spot according to checkmate so we where un-prepared for the response. They made us take out the mags and we had to show them the bb's. They "suggested" we leave and find another spot because they said the neighbors where freaking out to much.

Anyone else had the cops called out on them while playing airsoft? Might be fun to share a few stories about it.

[AirsoftAmmoSupply]

We where outside a park

probally the issue right there

[Android]

I did some CQB training with DJ & a couple guys over @ Mt. Angel in an empty house his family was selling. The 1st thing we did when we got there was call the local cops & let them know what we were doing. That way if neighbors saw us through the windows and called 911 they'd know what's up. Two local cops came by to make sure we were legit, and we had a nice chat with them and showed them our goodies. They went on their way & we were able to do some CQB training uninterrupted.

It never hurts to let the local authorities know what you're doing if you're playing in a public park (I'm assuming this was a public one since you mentioned it in your OP).

[shreveswat]

First rule whenever our team plays is we alert the local authorities. We have had the Cops, Border Patrol, Shierf and even the Coast Guard loo into what we were doing. At one point the coast guard had a ship with 50 Cals. trained on us until the police showed up and told us we were about to be shot. So even when you contact the local authorities always be ready to deal with law enforcement. Be polite, place weapons on the ground and remove the mags. We also have had after the authorities show up convinced them to sometimes comeback and play with us a different weekend.

[Zeta Crossfire]

We where outside a park

probally the issue right there

From what I was told it was a normal spot for them to play airsoft. They had been there before a bunch of times and never thought it would of been a issue.

[Matt]

Yes.

First experience, a parking lot of a Safeway. Alex Pearson showing off an Uzi in the parking lot. In hindsight, not that smart, but we enjoyed checking out that Uzi. You see, there's a BANK attached to most Safeway stores. When you are outside in the parking lot with an Uzi, people wonder. So the cops went through all the guns and checked them out, you should have seen the look on passing shopper's faces when the cops were calmly chatting with Josh while a row of AK47s, M4s, M16s and the like were leaning against his back bumper. They did actually draw down on us too, we had guns pointed at us, and were told to keep our hands up. We explained they were Airsoft guns, and apologized for scaring people. Cops said the guns were cool, we went to our game.

Second experience. Salem. We had already called the local police prior to playing at this location. Somebody saw a guy on the highway gearing up, so they called the cops. A couple cops came to check it out, knowing we were already there. They wanted to make sure it was us and not some other group. After confirming, they watched the game for a while and went on their way.

Third experience. Vernonia. Cops knew we were there, they knew we were playing Airsoft, but they kicked us off of public land and told us we couldn't play there any longer. Vernonia had recently replaced all of their cops, and the new ones didn't like us. It was pretty obvious they had it in for us, we haven't played at the "ruins" field since.

Moral of those stories - make sure local authorities know you are playing Airsoft, where you will be, and when if you are playing on public land or anywhere near public. That way, when they get a call, they know what to expect.

[Unicorn]

Ok we were Airsofting at my friends house. He has a lot of land. Also his house is away form everything. The cops have showed up twice.
First time we were walking at the back of the property and there was little girls playing in a stream. There is a chain link fence in between us. They ran away. The cop showed up we talked to him and he was really nice also he said we really get into it.
Second time the cop showed up he said the neighbors heard gun shots and was hiding from bullets hitting their house. The cop rolled by said hello and we showed him our guns then left it took 5 minutes.

[terror management]

This is also were and when we started meeting our local law enforcement. I remember very clearly the first Sheriff encounter. We were shooting the shit out of each other at about 2-3am one weekday night when we saw a Sheriff car stop about a block away and then reverse very quickly. We knew right then that we would share some time with them very soon . So we called out to all the players and told them to stack their weapons on the curb. We did that and then walked away from them about the same as two more Sheriff cars rolled in. One guy got out in full tac gear thinking he was going to be in a battle. Well they lined us up on our knees on the sidewalk with our hands behind our heads. Now this next statement is one that will go down in my personal books as one of the greatest things I ever said "in the moment". As the Sheriff was walking past us looking us up and down I turned to Papaspank and said "man they are lining us up like circus seals... I aint suckin NO tool tonight!" as straight faced as those Easter Island heads, to which the Sheriff looks as if he bit into a lemon then looks at me and says "what the shazaam is wrong with you?" and then quickly walked away. They let us go and even told us we could play there all night as long as we "kept in down". From then on we had(and still do) a great report' with them.

[Steve]

Yes, and it was a bit of a scare. Playing on private wooded land attached to a rental house just inside Beaverton city limits less than a year after 9/11. Washington County Sherriffs blockaded the road north and south of the property and TNT raided us with submachine guns, body armor, and zip strips. I think they were more spooked than we were, really.

After we were in custody, the replicas checked to make sure they were fake, and officers had talked to a good number of us individually, they let us go after running our ID for wants and warrants. They suggested that playing there was not exactly the best of ideas.

A few days later, we got a letter from the property owner advising us that when our lease came up for renewal, it would not be extended.

[Manicotti Airsoft]

So Bad Karma and I were returning from Salem, Just prior to this we had stopped to see if a crash that just happened needed any assistance and had waited there until the authorities had arrived. We had lost a bit of time and being as headstrong as he is, Karma was speeding.
I had just purchased a A&K Massada and was checking it out in the passenger seat when Karma blew past a Officer doing a speed trap. He realized it and I struggled to get the replica out of sight. To no avail I could not get the replica out of sight so as the officer approached we both placed our hands on the ceiling of the truck. Before the officer began processing Karma's $400 ticket we explained that the firearm was a replica. The officer asked me to pull back the charging handle so he could inspect the chamber. I did so and he acknowleged that it was a replica and began to process the ticket while I was allowed to place it back in its box.
Fun Times

[DJ]

I can speak from both sides of the issue. Nationally, some criminals have painted real guns with orange tips so as to gain time when dealing with LE. Result .....some shot cops. Some of the active duty cops that I know have told me that they could care less what color end of the gun is. They take a " better safe than sorry" approach to dealing with weapons, real or otherwise. I personally have had several airsoft guns displayed ( that is pulled out from under /between seats) while on traffic stops at night. Both by unthinking teens. Both were subjected to muzzle inspections of a Glock from the business end. I have responded to many calls of " man with a gun" , only to have it turn out to be unthinking teens having skirms in view of the public.

The moral to the story? avoid displaying AS guns where they can be seen in public. People only see guns. They do not see the orange tip because of ignorance, bias against guns etc.... Call the local police dispatch and introduce yourself, tell them what you are doing , what you are wearing and where you are playing. Be prepared for people who have not got the message (Cops, dispatchers etc) to show up and challenge you. There are some liberal cops who don,t like guns ( believe it or not). In closing use discretion and common sense and you will be good to go. Know what the local laws are if any regarding Airsoft guns.....DJ

[Pope_Alex_Kaeda_I]

Yes.

First experience, a parking lot of a Safeway. Alex Pearson showing off an Uzi in the parking lot. In hindsight, not that smart, but we enjoyed checking out that Uzi. You see, there's a BANK attached to most Safeway stores. When you are outside in the parking lot with an Uzi, people wonder. So the cops went through all the guns and checked them out, you should have seen the look on passing shopper's faces when the cops were calmly chatting with Josh while a row of AK47s, M4s, M16s and the like were leaning against his back bumper. They did actually draw down on us too, we had guns pointed at us, and were told to keep our hands up. We explained they were Airsoft guns, and apologized for scaring people. Cops said the guns were cool, we went to our game.

I was showing off an Uzi?

I didn't get my uzi until a couple years ago, I haven't taken it to a game yet, and I lack an air rig for my uzi . . . . .

[Manicotti Airsoft]

Yes.

First experience, a parking lot of a Safeway. Alex Pearson showing off an Uzi in the parking lot. In hindsight, not that smart, but we enjoyed checking out that Uzi. You see, there's a BANK attached to most Safeway stores. When you are outside in the parking lot with an Uzi, people wonder. So the cops went through all the guns and checked them out, you should have seen the look on passing shopper's faces when the cops were calmly chatting with Josh while a row of AK47s, M4s, M16s and the like were leaning against his back bumper. They did actually draw down on us too, we had guns pointed at us, and were told to keep our hands up. We explained they were Airsoft guns, and apologized for scaring people. Cops said the guns were cool, we went to our game.

I was showing off an Uzi?

I didn't get my uzi until a couple years ago, I haven't taken it to a game yet, and I lack an air rig for my uzi . . . . .

Maybe Matt misunderstood that you wanted to look at his hot dog!

[Matt]

Might not have been an Uzi. Or maybe you had Jesse's (Nukeproof) Uzi? Anyway, I just remember the shopping cart guy from the store was asking that other guy's girlfriend to not feed a stray dog in the parking lot - after she went in and bought it dog food. The Safeway employee was like "Holy SHIT, what is that?" So we let him see it.

[MitchD]

You showed the shopping cart guy your hot dog?