Originally posted by Gryphons
Once your son is 16 google "airsoft"
It blows paintball out of the water. Guns are full scale and work as closely to the real ones as possible. They shoot 6mm plastic bb's at 300-450ft/sec. The only unfortunate thing is that the bb's don't hurt as much as paintballs. I'm not sure about the States but in Canada you have to be 18 to own the guns and play, however, some places will let under-agers play at 16 if the parent is also playing.
Not trying to insult paintball, its a great sport. I'm just an airsoft nut
Gryphons and anyone else who has these guns. I'd like to share a story.
One day while on patrol, the police department recieved several 911 calls of a male walking down a road with an AR-15. The guy was reported to be in full camo as well.
Several patrols responded to the area since it was near a school as well. By the way, this happened last spring. I was the first partol in the area and I nearly ran this kid over. I jumped out of my cruiser and had my weapon drawn at the kid's head. I ordered the kid to drop the weapon and to take steps back and then to the ground. Now the real hairy part was the kid didn't understand what was going on. (After all, he turned out to be only 16 and wasn't sure what he had done wrong.) From a cop's view, he was moving too damn slow following commands and wasn't keeping his hand away from the trigger. This toy gun DIDN'T have an orange tip. Not that would have changed anything. (More on this later.)
I secured this toy gun and handcuffed the kid (who was now shaking like a leaf!) At this point, my back up arrived. I had a chance to inspect this toy. Now if anyone has ever handled a real AR-15, We happen to carry the exact model in our cruisers, this thing was IDENTICAL to what most cops carry in Massachusetts. There is a removeable magazine, the dust cover, forward bolt assist, and the combat stock. I had never seen the Airsoft products and was amazed at how lucky this kid was. Not to pat myself on the back, but if this kid ran up against a rookie, the outcome could have been devastating!
Many street survival courses that I've seen show horror stories how criminals will paint their weapons to look like toys. Anything to have that split second advantage over a police officer. Thats where the orange tip or any other color of the weapon comes into play.
The kid wasn't charged but his toy gun was confiscated and his parents were spoken to. It turned out that his father bought the airsoft for him, not realizing the dangers.
Don't get me wrong, I think paintball and the airsoft guns are a great way for kids to have fun. I did it (paintball) and had a blast. I just think that its safer if the kids are explained the potential dangers and Airsoft should pull those guns that look like the real thing!
Please everyone, be careful out there!!!!!
Obie:aok