Paintball industry basically chucks airsoft under the bus...

[Runestone]

Took the words right outta my mouth there Junto. Personally I was expecting the Paintball industry would do something like this, they always seem to do this to us, not because they don't like us, but because they want our money. Damn pillagers...

[The Giggler]

As Dan once said "they raped our livestock"

[LettuceHead]

... If anything we should be part of the firearms industry. Hell, we're at Shot Show. Airsoft products are being used as training tools in different branches of the military and by law enforcement. We need to embrace that, and if it means Airsoft guns are more regulated like firearms then fine - we'll weed out a bunch of retards.

That's a viable plan, but it also brings up the question... Does the firearm industry or the gun lobby such as the NRA want anything to do with airsoft? The current track record suggests no, as they have had plenty of time to investigate its profitability (or lack thereof), its training potential (although I'm sure Simunition has better lobbyists and sales reps!) and its social acceptance and image (shaky half of the time).

The biggest hurdle is that using airsoft replicas to shoot at other players violates every rule of real firearm safety. Good luck convincing them to encourage that.

I like how you think, but its still going to need a lot of convincing and an Imperial buttload of money and organization. The airsoft industry... specifically, the manufacturers... need to start funding both growth and defense of the hobby/ sport.

[Unconventional]

Lettucehead
KA-BAR
Matt
Nasty &
Junto

+1

[Minerva]

Didn't they pass a law like this in NY but it got repealed due to police officers being shot and such by criminals painting guns bright colors. Haven't heard this being pointed out in any hearing however..

[icebullet]

You would be correct Minerva-

http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/subway-ad-toy-guns-real.jpg

Too big to link photo. (?)

Hence the Duracoat Bloomberg Colors

[Mr. Technicality]

That's a viable plan, but it also brings up the question... Does the firearm industry or the gun lobby such as the NRA want anything to do with airsoft? The current track record suggests no, as they have had plenty of time to investigate its profitability (or lack thereof), its training potential (although I'm sure Simunition has better lobbyists and sales reps!) and its social acceptance and image (shaky half of the time).

The biggest hurdle is that using airsoft replicas to shoot at other players violates every rule of real firearm safety. Good luck convincing them to encourage that.

I like how you think, but its still going to need a lot of convincing and an Imperial buttload of money and organization. The airsoft industry... specifically, the manufacturers... need to start funding both growth and defense of the hobby/ sport.

I don't see that "biggest hurdle" as being something that sets airsoft apart from Simunition. If anything, airsoft should be seen as superior to Simunition in this respect. With Simunition, only one thing needs to go wrong for someone to be killed. Just use the wrong ammo in your training gun. With airsoft you not only need the wrong ammo, but the wrong gun as well. And when you're loading your magazine it should be painfully obvious to you and everyone around you whether it's airsoft or real-steel. That is to say, even more painfully obvious than the difference in appearance between Simunition and live ammo.

[Tanto]

...If anything, airsoft should be seen as superior to Simunition in this respect. With Simunition, only one thing needs to go wrong for someone to be killed. Just use the wrong ammo in your training gun...

I don't think that'd work. Simunition provides a much more realistic training environment.

$$$ <- This is what you bring up.

Cost of BB's vs Simuntion & clean up

[Mr. Technicality]

...If anything, airsoft should be seen as superior to Simunition in this respect. With Simunition, only one thing needs to go wrong for someone to be killed. Just use the wrong ammo in your training gun...

I don't think that'd work. Simunition provides a much more realistic training environment.

$$$ <- This is what you bring up.

Cost of BB's vs Simuntion & clean up

I said "in this respect." As in, when it comes to safety, airsoft should be seen as superior to Simunition. I was not addressing realism or cost.

I was questioning a previous comment that the major problem with airsoft being adopted by the gun lobby is safety.

[Nimrod]

Simunition sounds great except for a couple of problems. You have to install conversion kits in your real steel in order to use simunition(so you can't f**k up and kill your buddy) or you can buy a dedicated simunition firing weapon both can only be purchased by military or law enforcment, and they shoot up to 650 fps and can go through clothing. So I'd leave it to the pros

[Mr. Technicality]

So I'd leave it to the pros

I don't think anyone suggested otherwise.

[Steve]

I don't see that "biggest hurdle" as being something that sets airsoft apart from Simunition. If anything, airsoft should be seen as superior to Simunition in this respect. With Simunition, only one thing needs to go wrong for someone to be killed. Just use the wrong ammo in your training gun. With airsoft you not only need the wrong ammo, but the wrong gun as well. And when you're loading your magazine it should be painfully obvious to you and everyone around you whether it's airsoft or real-steel. That is to say, even more painfully obvious than the difference in appearance between Simunition and live ammo.

Umm, no. Simunition won't fire through an unconverted weapon. Live rounds won't fire through a converted weapon.

I can't really say I blame the paintball industry for doing what they needed to do to save themselves. If that means throwing Airsoft under the bus, well, they not only save their sport, but gain potential clients from a failed hobby.

My objection to the bill is that painting airsoft guns up to look like toys increases the likelihood that stupid parents will buy AEGs that look like toys, and hand them off to their kids. The kids will be allowed to plamy without adequate adult supervision, since they are toys. And Timmy down the street is going to lose teeth or an eye. And once this happens often enough, there will be enough public outcry to demand airsoft is criminalized.

I'd support legislation to treat them like firearms at the point of sale. 18+ for rifles / shotguns, 21+ for pistols. NICS check required when purchased from a retailer. As long as there is a proviso that exempts them from the NFA requirements (no full auto, barrel length, etc).

I'd also like to see them treated by LE as firearms. No unsupervised posession by minors. No discharge within city limits outside of an approved range facility, and so on.

[KA-BAR]

damn steve... i do ready ups in my backyard....your killing me!


j/k

+1 to stevie....the world is ending. we agree on stuff.

[nb]

It would appear that we won. For now at least.