Should these things be banned ?

[Chesapeake]

This is a heated discussion on another sight. Just wanted to get opinions here...

These things are called "Air Soft" guns. They shoot a small cork ball at about 300 fps. They are cheap and as you can see very authentic looking.

Many a wanna be gang banger, small town drug dealer have these to intimidate their customers.

What do you think, should they be banned ?

The red end (which is used to identify a toy) can easily be removed or painted....


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[ducksoup]

Yes they should be banned -- too realistic -- already situations with these type of "guns" being used in robberies and even times when police responded in force because thought was real weapon -- police have no other choice as can't tell if real or not -- same problem with "replica guns"

[franklauzon]

I don't agree with the banning of anything. Personally if people use these, instead of real guns to rob stores even better as no one is likely to get killed, other than the person committing the crime, and I could not care less about them.

The banning of anything, leads to more restrictions, that why I feel strongly against banning certain breeds, banning semi-autos... You have to be careful that something you love isn't next... so myself, I don't support anything being banned. If you're ignorant to use these to commit crime, and get shot, then good for yah.

[Chesapeake]

I don't agree with the banning of anything. Personally if people use these, instead of real guns to rob stores even better as no one is likely to get killed, other than the person committing the crime, and I could not care less about them.


Never thought of it that way, You may have swayed my opinion.

One must consider the Police officer that shoots one of these scum bags. As tough as they appear, they're people too and have a conscience and will suffer the tragedy first hand. Taking someone's life, justified or not, can be extremely traumatic. Not to mention that the officer will likely be tried in a court of law....

How about this then, Require PAL to purchase them ?

Right now any punk can walk into canadian tire and buy one. I know there's the arguement that if they want it they'll get it.

Or the manufacturer compelled to make them less authentic looking ?

[franklauzon]

I play paintball, and they generally don't really resemble real firearms... This is what makes airsoft different, and have a following. People feel like it's more "real"...

Myself, I would certainly agree with making them look less real, many of the cheaper ones come clear with orange tips, but as mentioned, not too difficult to paint...

[verno]

I'm not too big on banning things either. At my part time job I have had 2 of these replica guns pulled on me. Once I knew it was a joke, but the first the kid was about 5 seconds away from getting shot. Just as I was drawing my gun I remembered seeing this kid behind the cash when I walked in the store.
I agree that if you want to mess around with these guns and act like they are real when commiting an offence, then be prepared for the consequences when you are treated like you have a real gun. That being said Chesapeake has a very good point. Had I shot that 17 yr old I would have had a lot to deal with over a toy gun.
When they banned them in scugog, I called everyone including the copper that was leading the crusade. Out here in Durham the bylaw doesnt take anything away from adults. I was worried about training with a starters pistol.
Maybe making them all out of clear plastic is about the best answer. If you take the time to paint it, pretty tough to say you werent trying to make it look real.

[Drew Good]

I also am not much for banning stuff but in a case like this I would have to say ban them or force the Manufaturer to re-design them so that they can easily be distinguished between the real thing. If made of clear plastic they will only paint them.

I would not want to be a cop or security officer and have one of these pulled on me.

Drew

[nimkii]

I have seen a lot of them made out of clear plastic. This however is paintable. They should make them out of plastic that would react with paint and the plastic would melt or corrode somehow. I don't agree with banning things, but to each their own.

My concern is the training pistols from a personal stand point. Mine looks just like a snub nose .38 and from someone passing by they wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

[waterfowler65]

I DONT THINK THEY SHOULD BE BANNED.
Anyone who purposely inflicts trauma may it be physical or mental on a inocent victim should be held accountable at all cost however extreme if deemed necessary!

This is typical Canadian spineless attitudes. "excuse my french". Why are we worried if we shoot and kill the guys that are commiting these crimes. They are imposing EXTREME fear in their victims. These scumbags are only using the toys as a steping stone they will most definately evolve to the real thing. The act is intentional and they are performing mental abuse on their victims. Dont blame the look alike toy blame the neglegent parents who are raising these low lifes with no morals.

If your offended by my rant Oh...Well....go hug your neighbours cat or a tree or something.

Later....Marc....

[Maverick]

I don't think they should be banned either. I was taught some valuable lessons as a child. One of the biggest being don't point a gun at anything you don't intend kill.
I think if children were properly educated in the use of firearms and what they can do there would be far less problems. But that is just my opinion.
Heck, if you point an orange plastic gun at an officer in a dark alley you best be prepared to meet your maker.

Mav......

[Kevin Hannah]

I tend to agree as well, even if it is a real gun they are using it in the hopes that the people it is being pointed at think it is very much real. As far as I am concerned if you are using it like it is a real gun then you should be treated in the same manner as you would if it was real.

Kevin

[Chesapeake]

Thanks to your input and professional debate my opinion has been swayed.

I agree that banning them is not the answer. Controlling the sale and manufacturing of them is the answer however.

There should be strict regulations on the manufacturers, compelling them to make them less authentic looking. (that'll never happen in the states though)

I see that the firearms act has in fact declared some replicas as prohibited. Now all that is needed is for the panty waist judges of our country to apply the appropriate sentence....

[Chesapeake]

This guy says it all...(click on the film)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/constabill/th_MediaGetsItRight.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v284/constabill/?action=view&current=MediaGetsItRight.flv)

[Maverick]

Amen to that!!

Mav....

[waterfowler65]

Amen to that!!

Mav....

I concur....


Marc...

[Drew Good]

:nice work: I wish more people in today's society thought like that.:spoton: :spoton:

[medic1050]

I don't think they should be banned. I have played airsoft, as an aside it is 6mm plastic BBs that they shoot up to 500fps in some cases. There are leagues that play at various paintball and private fields. Not all guns come with the orange tips. It is only a requirement if they came from the states. If used properly they are fine. If used improperly a screw driver is a deadly weapon. The reason we played on Paintball or private fields was for protection from the police. There were a lot of teenagers out in the woods trying to shoot each other. Should a real police officer respond they would be met by staff and instructed to wait for their and our safety. Real guns and toys dont mix well. Off site, if you are approached by a police officer and you are not commiting a crime, you should have no hesitation to follow all their commands. If you are stupid enough to point the BB gun at a police officer who is performing their duty you deserve to get shot. This is also coming from someone who has to clean up the mess. I am a Paramedic in TO.

Because of the ban on replicas our honour guard could not get the $250 rubber replica C-7 rifles. we are curently carrying very heavy deactivated WW2 Lee enfields. Though it would be perfectly legal to buy real and have deactivated at a stagaring $4500 a piece. We're now looking at airsoft. Please don't get them banned.

[Huntingonthebrain]

I think we need ponder long and hard before we ban even the toy guns. The bleeding heart people use these types of things to fuel their fight to push it to the next level. I agree with the post earlier about implementing a PAL for these "TOY" guns. I mean the truth is, crime is gonna happen regardless, and it will happen with unregistered "TOYS" or real firearms. My point is this: If these TOYS require a license. 2 things will happen. First, the companies making them will change the way that they design them (less realistic) in order for them to maintain sales and market share meaning they will be easier to identify as phony. Secondly people will be less likely to buy them because of the requirements to own it. If they do decide to purchase one then they have to take a course, thus furthering the pursuit of safety and firearm handling. I am not a fan of the gun registry or paying lots of money out own a gun. But if money should be used for anything... education is it. Education is key to solving part of the problem. What does everyone think of this???