The State of the Airsoft Industry

[ogrejager]

Heh.

I told my students recently that I spent the weekend getting shot.

"You play paintball?"

Yeah, airsoft could use better PR.

[graham.]

it seems strangely fitting that the next section in the document after the beaverton airsoft code has to do with indecent exposure.

In more ways than one.

Good article Ben.

[Matt]

The idea of a national Airsoft organization is not a new one. There have been several failed attempts in the past. Some of them were just a cover-up for greed, others were disorganized, others were extremely unprofessional looking and they wonder why nobody would contribute money.

One of the most admirable attempts was FAST US, Federal Airsoft Standards & Training - backed by FPS Magazine, NEASG, TASO, Airsoft Pacific and others. We had a professional website, a professional logo, and a lot of help and support from various communities. The trouble was, all of the work involved literally ran everyone ragged.

Some try to make it a sports league thing. Like we're all here to compete and we need to register in different states. That's a bad idea. This isn't a spectator sport and it never will be. It's not the NFL or the NBA. They get wrapped up in rules - people get offended and don't want to be controlled. Nobody listens.

In my humble opinion there needs to be a completely non-profit organization to work with insurance companies, the government (local and federal), and the ASTM to established standards and regulations. Standards for safety equipment, acceptable limits, and apply these certifications to products on the market. Focus on the safety and the legality of it - that's it.

Most people underestimate the amount of money, time, and effort that goes into keeping up these kinds of connections. Just flying to all the ASTM meetings alone can be time consuming and costly. Not to mention appearing at court hearings, writing proposals, etc. Most non-profits bust their a$$ and spend all of this time doing that work because they make grant money. Grant money doesn't go to violent hobbies involving mock guns, so it's hard to justify spending all of the time and effort.

But why don't we all just pay dues, you ask? Well, in case you haven't noticed, Airsofters are cheap. Why not just have the business owners support it? Well, again, maybe you haven't noticed how fraught with peril most Airsoft businesses are. They can't even trust each other with money, let alone trust an organization. They would see it as an unnecessary cost that doesn't help them at all. That is, unless said organization was incredibly amazing. It's kind of a catch 22.

[Fluffy]

I read it all but I wanted to comment on the "how you tell people you airsoft" part. I for one have trouble with this because when I tell people I play airsoft most people will say they've done that years ago. I then tell them how much the replicas cost and how realistic they are. And they I show them one of the scars on my arm and explain it's from one of them and how old it is. Most people get the picture fairly fast that they aren't the cheapo crap sold in most stores.

Otherwise I've always been annoyed as well that these real steel companies don't embrace the airsoft guns as they should. The hot wheels analogy was perfect.

[DevilPup93]

Why not just get the NRA involved so they can help protect the rights of citizens owning airsoft guns?

[Martin.]

Why not just get the NRA involved so they can help protect the rights of citizens owning airsoft guns?

AONW contacted the NRA when the whole ATF ordeal went down, and they more or less gave us the cold shoulder, a "well, here's some lawyer contacts, good luck" sort of thing.

if anyone wanted to help it was the GOA (gun owners of America) they seemed to be interested in helping as much as they could

[Manicotti Airsoft]

Why not just get the NRA involved so they can help protect the rights of citizens owning airsoft guns?

because A. its not a right to own an airsoft gun.
and B. the NRA as a Politcal Action Committee is so fraught with dickwaggers that it would be dertrimental to airsoft to be represented by that group...Politically

[LiquidSnak]

Why not just get the NRA involved so they can help protect the rights of citizens owning airsoft guns?

because A. its not a right to own an airsoft gun.
and B. the NRA as a Politcal Action Committee is so fraught with dickwaggers that it would be dertrimental to airsoft to be represented by that group...Politically

This

[Archangel 06]

If you get the NRA involved, there is no way a concerned parent would ever let their child get involved in a sport that is backed by a real steel organization, because there are too many disillusioned people who believe that this is simply training the youth to shoot up their schools.

While a National Airsoft Organization sounds great on paper, as Matt said, the idea is fraught with problems.

[Matt]

No children you say?

Let's do it!

[Manicotti Airsoft]

No children you say?

Let's do it!

wow i did not see that impact, Ill call their head office today

[KA-BAR]

the NRA fully supports alot of programs that involve getting kids intrested in shooting.

first shots is a prime example.

If you get the NRA involved, there is no way a concerned parent would ever let their child get involved in a sport that is backed by a real steel organization, because there are too many disillusioned people who believe that this is simply training the youth to shoot up their schools.

please get the facts strait before posting nonsence.


for more facts about this issue....

http://www.nrahq.org/youth/

read on there.

[Archangel 06]

I understand that the NRA tries to get youth involved - in target shooting and hunting. They are in no way encouraging kids to shoot at each other in a military scenario.

[Matt]

NRA might have other conflicts of interest. Other gun manufacturers with copyright concerns.

[Martin.]

I think this group should be formed from the top down, and what i mean is that U.S. retailers, distributors, and NPO's like AP.com form a coalition that can influence not only legislation, but the manufacturing process as well.

this group also needs to offer a big enough incentive for players and promoters to support the effort. there would have to be an annual fee, but in return the players could be covered under the non-profit's insurance policy but only if they adhere to the insurance company's standards of safety.

So if the insurance company allowed, let's say a maximum of 2 joule games, then people could have their high FPS games insured while larger communities like AP.com could play at their standard yet be insured under the same umbrella.

another benefit of having the retailers and distributors being involved is that they would have the economic power to start regulating a standard for what enters the US. that way companies that are apart of the organization would be less likely to run the risk of receiving illegal products.

Not only that, but the organization would have the monetary power to promote proper public relations, and show the country that the industry is serious about safety and the proper use of Airsoft.

But then that leaves it up to the retailers and distributors who are already at odds with each other. I guess the next step is going to have to be an open letter to the major retailers and distributors and see what kind of response we get.