A warning....

CrazyRabbit

...of what can happen if you display a realistic looking toy gun/airsoft gun/replica gun in public.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2402762.html?menu=news.quirkies

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Armed police corner boy, 10


A boy of 10 was surrounded by armed police after he showed off his new £10 toy gun to pals.

Officers with dogs ordered Brodie Pearsall to put down the 18in weapon, reports the Daily Mirror.

Neighbours had called police after spotting the realistic-looking gun.

But Brodie's mum Gail, of Cradley Heath, West Midlands, said: "Brodie was in tears. They were shouting at him instead of talking to me. I think the whole thing is ridiculous."

A police spokesman said: "We were called following a report of a group of youths, some with a firearm. Officers responded accordingly."

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Now, I know that there is no mention that this is about an airsoft gun, but it's about a realistic looking gun, which can include airsoft guns.

I think it's a relevant warning to everyone...don't display airsoft guns in public!

Evolute

Dude we know not to walk around with our equipment on veiw. You would have to be a moron to do that.

Shiva

Evolute wrote:

Dude we know not to walk around with our equipment on veiw. You would have to be a moron to do that.

Dunno if you've noticed, but there isnt exactly a shortage of morons out there...


http://www.airsoftireland.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8024

Evolute

Shiva wrote:

Dunno if you've noticed, but there isnt exactly a shortage of morons out there...



http://www.airsoftireland.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8024

True but i would like to give everyone who is involved with airsoft and on these forums the benefit of the doubt that they wouldnt do something as retarded as that.

Hivemind187

CrazyRabbit wrote:

...of what can happen if you display a realistic looking toy gun/airsoft gun/replica gun in public.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2402762.html?menu=news.quirkies

==========
Armed police corner boy, 10


A boy of 10 was surrounded by armed police after he showed off his new £10 toy gun to pals.

Officers with dogs ordered Brodie Pearsall to put down the 18in weapon, reports the Daily Mirror.

Neighbours had called police after spotting the realistic-looking gun.

But Brodie's mum Gail, of Cradley Heath, West Midlands, said: "Brodie was in tears. They were shouting at him instead of talking to me. I think the whole thing is ridiculous."

A police spokesman said: "We were called following a report of a group of youths, some with a firearm. Officers responded accordingly."

===========

Now, I know that there is no mention that this is about an airsoft gun, but it's about a realistic looking gun, which can include airsoft guns.

I think it's a relevant warning to everyone...don't display airsoft guns in public!

Ah yes the daily mail, a bastion of journalistic integrity.

"Algerian Lesbian Asylum Seekers Have Big Ricin Dildo's And Are Going To Bugger Us In Front Of Our Children" - and thats a quote (albeit from Mark Thomas on "The Night War Broke Out".

The Daily Mail, a tree died for that rag. I wouldnt worry about it. Only people who vote BNP and the Irish Equivalent (probably Fiana Fail) actually read it.

Chances are that its mis reported, and where its not it is an example of over-the-top-policing rather than of "dangerous-not-quite-but-look-close-guns".

Voodoomelon

Evolute wrote:

True but i would like to give everyone who is involved with airsoft and on these forums the benefit of the doubt that they wouldnt do something as retarded as that.

It doesn't necessarily take an idiot to be misunderstood by an onlooker. Anyone that can see into your garden may call the Gardaí, or even whilst loading airsoft gear into your boot on the way to a site. Sure it should be covered or bagged, but you cannot be 100% sure all of the time that no-one is watching.

The biggest threat to airsoft anywhere is those cheap-ass springer pistols. And there is very little that can be done to stop their sale.

Fallschirmjager

Voodoomelon wrote:

It doesn't necessarily take an idiot to be misunderstood by an onlooker. Anyone that can see into your garden may call the Gardaí, or even whilst loading airsoft gear into your boot on the way to a site. Sure it should be covered or bagged, but you cannot be 100% sure all of the time that no-one is watching.

The biggest threat to airsoft anywhere is those cheap-ass springer pistols. And there is very little that can be done to stop their sale.

that is one of the reasons the IAA should look for legislation and be seen to look for it...that way we can seen as we are....professional...IMHO

extremetaz

Fallschirmjager wrote:

that is one of the reasons the IAA should look for legislation and be seen to look for it...that way we can seen as we are....professional...IMHO

not gonna get into this in depth because it's just too messy but the IAA would *love* to see legislation on the sale of airsoft replica's.

if the govt. brought that in it would save us having to set up our own database for retailers.

but the bottom line is that it's not going to happen simply because they can't be arsed!

they'd sooner just throw in an outright ban on replica's - that only takes one line in the next bill as opposed to a whole new paragraph (god forbid!)

so it's up to us to be responsible with our replica's and see to it that we don't contribute to any such event happening again.

for what it's worth though - i think the police acted correctly in the given instance (report of a gang of youths - some with firearms).

the problem stands with the gobsh*te who rang in the report - but that's what we're dealing with. the stupidity and pettiness of the bored housewives association knows no bounds!

Fallschirmjager

extremetaz wrote:

not gonna get into this in depth because it's just too messy but the IAA would *love* to see legislation on the sale of airsoft replica's.

if the govt. brought that in it would save us having to set up our own database for retailers.

but the bottom line is that it's not going to happen simply because they can't be arsed!

they'd sooner just throw in an outright ban on replica's - that only takes one line in the next bill as opposed to a whole new paragraph (god forbid!)

so it's up to us to be responsible with our replica's and see to it that we don't contribute to any such event happening again.

for what it's worth though - i think the police acted correctly in the given instance (report of a gang of youths - some with firearms).

the problem stands with the gobsh*te who rang in the report - but that's what we're dealing with. the stupidity and pettiness of the bored housewives association knows no bounds!

wow..if i remember last time you were recommending we solve world hunger with airsoft...if i am incorrect, my apologies...

well lets agree to disagree...

i dont believe its likely to ban, particularly if we show a positive action, but if we sit back and feel depressed and not accept ownership...well then surely we deserve what we get.

extremetaz

Voodoomelon wrote:

It doesn't necessarily take an idiot to be misunderstood by an onlooker. Anyone that can see into your garden may call the Gardaí, or even whilst loading airsoft gear into your boot on the way to a site. Sure it should be covered or bagged, but you cannot be 100% sure all of the time that no-one is watching.

exactly right dude.

and the transferring of airsoft equipment from house to car is one of the most vulnerable times.

we're trying at the moment to come up with some sort of defense for anyone who gets caught out in this situation but it's one of the reasons why the owners register will be so important.

Mr.Magoo2007

hey just think of those of us who have no car to get to sites. always uncomfortable going around town with my gun bag on my back

ScumLord

This is just daft. I use to play with toy guns when I was a kid and no body assumed they where real.

I don't know whats wrong with people these days they live in fear of the worst, they read these stupid rags like the sun and want to be part of the circus.

If my neighbour had gotten my ten year old son surrounded by armed police I would have given the ****er the beating of his life. The cops went overboard too though what where they going to do shoot a 10 year old?

tonyj_mc

in fairness there is a huge diffrenece between the toy guns i used to play with and the AEGs i play with now.

that being said put yourself in the cops position they get a call saying there are a group of lads on a street corner with what looks like a couple of handguns, can't blame them for being cautios.

Plus we don't kow what they had in their hands could have had spud guns for all we know

Col Austin

I have to agree with how the cops reacted. They were called to an incident and were told there was a gun. They had to assume the worst

its something were all going to have to be careful about.
Be careful when moving your gear and keep it out of sight.
But as others have pointed out there are morons out there who will spoil it for everyone

ScumLord

Well it doesn't say if the cops where actually pointing their guns at the kid but a 10 year old would more than likely be scared out of his mind if he was surrounded by cops (armed or not) and would have given over the gun if asked. I'm not saying the cops shouldn't have turned up but I just hope they didn't go in with guns drawn.

The neighbour was a tool calling out cops on his neighbours 10 year old son. I suppose that's the world we live in now neighbours don't talk to eachother and this is the result. If they got on well together the neighbour would have been able to go over and cheak it out for themselfs without hidding behind the curtan and wasting everybodys time.

I don't like the way people just assume the worst, the vast majority of people are generally good decent people, we just live in a society where the media like to scare everyone into thinking the worst about people.

Miscreant

I think it is incumbent on us all to make sure that we are not seen with any of our Airsoft equipment in public. I can guarantee that the armed garda response to a teenager or adult with an AEG would be a hell of a lot more forceful than that for a child of 10.
I don't think it will ever be a case where Joe/Joan Public will ever understand completely what this sport is about and seeing as there have been a lot of shootings (real) in this country over the last few weeks I don't really blame them for being panicked when they see someone holding what looks to be a gun. That said though, they should have checked with the kid's parents or at least spoken to the kid first before getting the Law down there to sort it out.

CrazyRabbit

We live in a world now where kids DO bring guns to school & out on to the streets and actualy shoot people.

You can't really blame the neighbour or the police for how they reacted. Remember, in the UK, we've seen 10 year old kidnapping and killing 2 year old kids (The Bulger case). And there have been cases of children getting hold of their parents guns and shooting themselves or others by accident.

So it doesn't really matter what age you are...if you are carrying what appears to be a gun in public, then there is a very high risk that the police will appear, guns drawn, and yelling at you. They may even shoot.

While I'm sure this is obvious to people here on the board, I felt it was important to hightlight how badly things can go if you display in public any item that looks like a gun. There are people who may visit this forum and use airsoft guns to go plinking in their back garden. After reading this, they may want to consider informing the neighbours about their hobby (if they haven't already done so). The same goes for anyone bringing AEG's from their house to the car boot.

o1s1n

Moral of the story. If you produce a replica in public, you deserve all you get.

Let this be a warning to anyone thinking about attempting a Skirmish on unsecured land.

Anyway, I think this thread has run its course.