(Newswire.net — November 25, 2019) — Communities with low crime rates used to think nothing of young teenagers carrying around realistic toy guns. Airsoft games between young teens are common in their neighborhoods and local parks. Recent events are bringing awareness to the firearms community regarding their role in educating children about airsoft game safety.
Are Airsoft Guns Dangerous?
Although they don’t use real bullets, airsoft pellets still hurt. If fired at close range they have enough velocity to penetrate the skin. Airsoft rifles are non-lethal, but there are still safety procedures to follow when they are in use.
Children and young adults who are not trained to handle firearms adequately are putting themselves at risk. The most common injury in airsoft is being shot in the eye. Indoor and outdoor areas require full seal goggles designed for paintball and airsoft.
However, the greatest danger that comes with handling airsoft guns is other people mistaking them for lethal weapons. The user may view it as a toy, but law enforcement doesn’t see it that way.
Airsoft Guns Are Being Mistaken for Firearms
At a glance, even gun experts have a difficult time telling the imitation apart from the real thing. Airsoft guns are classified as “look-alike firearms” and are regulated as such.
U.S. Federal law states that approved markings are mandatory for easy identification, the most common one being an orange plug placed at the muzzle of the barrel. Despite these efforts, airsoft players tend to black it out with a marker to improve its appearance.
Not all countries follow the same regulations. For instance, Canada does not require the orange plug, but it doesn’t make them any less cautious. The largest Airsoft Canada retailers sell realistic airsoft rifles, but still urge customers to treat their guns as if they were real, and conceal them in public areas to avoid panic.
Tragedies Involving Children and Airsoft Guns
Two students were arrested after a gun scare in a Polk County high school. Officers were called to the scene to stop the shooters, only to find teens with realistic replicas.
Amid the tension of recent mass shootings, police departments and the public are on the lookout for any signs of further trouble. Many times, children do not know how to react in law enforcement situations if they are mistaken for a gunman at a school or park.
Safety for Toy Guns and Their Counterparts
Professionals advise parents to educate their children about how to use airsoft rifles. Like any firearm, we should limit the equipment to designated private facilities. Everyone should abide by the regulations before being allowed to participate or own a gun replica.