Most Gardai Don't Know What Airsoft Is

From my experience this is actually of an old wives tale, a lot of Gardai are well aware of airsoft of course there are some that may not know as much about the hobby we would like but you have to understand that airsoft is only a small area that they have to have knowledge in,

As with customs they generally know more than they let on

I know for a fact that there is a lot of internal communication about airsoft within the Gardai

when you say there not taught properly about airsoft what information do you think there lacking?

Puding wrote: »

when you say there not taught properly about airsoft what information do you think there lacking?

They don't take thier hits.

I think the fact a lot of them aren't clued up on actual firearms is more worrying.

Inari wrote: »

Can I ask where this thread came from?

You must be new around here, basically we just type the random **** that comes into our head and have a chat about it.

So Geese....whats the story with them like ?

TheDoc wrote: »

You must be new around here, basically we just type the random **** that comes into our head and have a chat about it.

So Geese....whats the story with them like ?

I carry one in a safariland holster, serpas are for NUBZ.

ronan keane wrote: »

Maybe it's just the Gardai in Galway.....

Exactly what situation brought their airsoft knowledge or lack thereof to your attention?

ronan keane wrote: »

Going to a skirmish The boot was full so I had my gun Locked in a gun case under a sheet and they asked to open the case when they moved the sheet asked what it was I said an "RIF for Airsoft" He asked what airsoft was then he let me on

i would put money on the guy/gal knowing what airsoft was and was more interested in your response, a common technique used by customs as well

ronan keane wrote: »

It happened 6 times....

What exactly happened to you 6 times?
I don't think the average garda member from the traffic core or elsewhere
would have a thorough understanding of the firearms laws but in my brief
interaction when it comes to them at least they do know of the 1j Limit
and replica guns when it comes to airsoft. or have a glimmer of the notion that it existes in Ireland.

What exactly happened 6 times ? can you clarify each of the separate events and let us know exactly what happened from start to finish each time please ? (I'm nosy and curious )

When you say boot was full, Does that mean full of airsoft guns? or full of other stuff where you could not put your airsoft guns in the boot?? if so
maybe not a good idea to travel unless you can put them in the boot
Question arises why cant you empty boot before you travel with airsoft guns?? if going to a skirmish site??

does that mean you had guns in back seat covered with a sheet 6 different occasions or the boot of the car itself??

at any time were you asked to open the boot of the car by the Gardai ?
why did they stop your (or the car you were traveling in) car in the first place?

was the car yours? or were you a passenger?

In all the time I've traveled with real firearms and airsoft guns I've yet to
run into a situation where a member of the Gardai feels the need to ask me to open the boot of the car or look in the back seat.
(I've always been a passenger in another persons car with guns in the boot)

Once or twice there were road checks where a Garda member stopped cars
on a road and asked us where we were from and where we were traveling
but other than that have had no hassle with the boys in blue.

A guy I went to school with is with the Gardai the last two years, I recently bumped into him on my way to a site at a petrol station. He was on duty filling the squad car with another member of the force sitting in the car. We had the usual "how are ya?, long time no see" conversation you would have with an old mate from school. The conversation then drifted to what i was up to that morning (not in a garda/suspect type of way). When i explained ,he had a look on his face like a dog that had been shown a complex card trick.

He had no clue as to what the sport was what the legal requirement for aegs where. I went as far to ask the other member of the force he was with, could he explain to this chap what it was or had he come across them in traffic stops etc. Again i got the same furrowed brow expression. So There you have it , Two gardai and not a clue between them. Now I dont draw any conclusion from this it is just an example of SOME members of the gardai not being fully trained in regards to dealing with airsoft or AEG's

I hope I did my best to explain to them at the time that we are a responsible community as a whole and they are now able to deal with airsofters with with a bit more information than they would get in templemore.

I asked my sister in law who is in the special crime unit and carries a weapon.

She says that most common or garden gardai don't know specifically about airsoft and don't need to. If a guard sees you carrying a firearm or a replica firearm they will stop and question you as they would if you were doing anything else suspicious.

You can then offer the excuse of going to a skirmish and they will take it from there, a phone call or radio call back to a sergeant or inspector will instruct from there.

If there is a shop or site in the locale they will generally be known about.

She also said that if you were stopped and asked why you had guns in the car 6 times that you must be either.

Highly unlucky.
Highly suspicious looking
Known to the guards
An idiot.

Or all of the above.

Was stopped before, had a nice conversation with them and they said they would love to try out airsoft, they knew their stuff.

I'm sure Ronan is a teenager anyway, and not old enough to drive? Surely that poses a 'minor' kink in this entire episode?

Thing is the Gardai are not meant to be experts on the law. They are employed to enforce certain laws and generally protect the comfortable status quo. The Gardai are not the courts nor are they expected to make judgements or interpretations of the law. Think about it - if they were nothing would ever get done because they would spend every waking minute arguing over the legality of the first Fiat they find on a double yellow.

We live in a system of checks and balances (or at least were supposed to). The idea being that the Gardai arrest you and file charges - they do not get to try you or judge you. That must be done by an impartial body of your peers (or as close an approximation of that as we can manage). Expecting the Gardai to be expert, or even familiar with the complete Criminal Judicial code and still be John McClane is asking a little much.

If you are confronted by a Garda who doesnt understand airsoft or thinks you are doing something illegal and you aren't then simply remain clam, answer the questions you are asked, get the officers number and phone a solicitor. If you were within the law then you are golden. If not ... well I hear Brazil is nice this time of year.