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Kids and Realistic Looking Softair Guns

nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,078 ******
edited December 2001 in General Discussion
Any of you have any encounters with the Softair guns that look very much like the real thing?The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is always a bad day. Kids are out of school. Most of their parents are working. Kids have a lot of time on their hands, many of them unsupervised.I got a call about kids shooting a gun in a park. The caller called it a "BB gun," and so was at least astute enough to tell it was not a real gun. Kids had reportedly pointed the gun in the direction of some people enjoying the park and scared them into leaving.I rounded up the kids, but they had no gun. I made them show me where they threw it down. Good thing they did throw it down. I pulled it out of the bushes and what I saw was a spitting image of a Beretta 92/96 in stainless steel. From any distance over 10 feet, it WAS a Beretta. Only it shoots little plastic balls. One kid claimed to be the owner. The others were just tagging along, watching.Big time butt-chewing. Went to talk to Dad. Dad did not know Junior had such a toy. Junior had traded for it. I explained to Dad what COULD have happened to Junior had he pointed the gun at a CHL holder or if he had encountered a police officer and had not done EXACTLY as he was told.I had seen these guns advertised, but had not actually LOOKED at one up close. The similarity is startling. I actually shot two rounds out of it to empty it. It did not seem to have even the power of an old Marksman BB pistol. What the heck are they good for anyway?I think anyone ought to have whatever they want that they can afford and will not harm others with, but kids don't need such toys.You know, if I were to shoot some 13-year-old kid who was waving one of these around, I would feel terrible about it, but the kid would be just as shot.
Certified SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of the General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the premier gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net Jesus is Lord![This message has been edited by nunn (edited 12-03-2001).]
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Comments

  • 22WRF22WRF Member Posts: 3,385
    edited November -1
    I can for see a few circle K's going down with one of these.
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  • Mark IIMark II Member Posts: 247 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've got a few of these, and yes, some are incredibly realistic. I had one that looked just like a Glock 17, and even fit in the same kydex holster my real Glock fit in. No child should be playing with one of these without proper supervision.I've heard that they are used for training in some police departments, but I just like being able to target practice in my apartment.
    "To meet with ill fortune is to meet with good fortune. To meet with submission is to meet an enemy."
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The demise of realistic toy firearms always pi$$ed me off. I had a SAA cap gun that looked like the real thing unless you had it in hand. When my kids were young, the only thing I ever saw with even a vague resemblence to the toys of my youth was an all-too-realistic electronic Uzi. But these Softair things sound like a tragedy looking to happen. Given the unfortunate changes in our society & the LEO comments above, I guess I was wrong in my denouncements of the PC toy industry. You guys have enough trouble doing your jobs, you don't need this on top of it.
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  • steven mobbssteven mobbs Member Posts: 234 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    i was target shooting with a freind about 50yds in front of his house when his 5 year old walked out the front door with a glock full size in his hand (so i thought) waving it and pointing it right at us!!i panicked and hit the ground, jumped up and ran around him to get him from behind, tackled him and almost broke my arm---turned out to be a look-alike of some kind that had no action-just a dummy-boy did i lecture his dad!!!!!!
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  • William81William81 Member Posts: 25,336 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had an experience with one of our Probation clients a few years back. I wasout doing night home visits for one of our officers that was on an extended leave. The client was a 30 year old felon out on bond and awaiting sentencing. His home was really cluttered and as I walked through the living room, I saw what appeared to be a Glock 17 sticking out from under a couch pillow. I got between the client and the couch and until I actually picked it up, I was sure it was real. His explaination was he still hoped to be a LEO some day and he had it to practice his fast draws. I took it with me that night and had it destroyed. [This message has been edited by William81 (edited 12-04-2001).]
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Do you mean something like these Tokyo Mauri Electric BB Guns? They are so realistic looking it is almost scary, even the "welds" look like "welds" ... I take them to gunshows once in a while ... no one ever thinks that they are BB Guns ... but they are great fun!
    GUN CONTROL: If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com [This message has been edited by kimberkid (edited 12-04-2001).]
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • Gene B.Gene B. Member Posts: 892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yup, I gots lots of airsoft, I got an MP5k, FN-P90, Steyr TMP with stock, Glock 18c, and an MP5K-PDW and there all full auto. They look very very real, I use them to have wars in the woods with my friends. The gas ones are really fun, they sound and have the recoil more than .22. Are those your airsoft guns Kimberkid? [This message has been edited by Gene B. (edited 12-04-2001).]
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yep! They fire 6mm BB's at 300 fps, 700 rpm ... emptys a mag pretty quick. I don't remember how many rounds a mag holds ... 50 I think, but they are mostly for display; I don't remember when the last time I charged the batteries was ...
    GUN CONTROL: If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • thebutcherthebutcher Member Posts: 374 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The scary thing is that these guns can completely ruin two lives, the child's and the person who shoots him. But I am sure the antis won't do anything to stop it.
    The definition of an "expert":An "X" is an unknown quantity and a "spurt" is a drip under pressure.
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  • Gene B.Gene B. Member Posts: 892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thats why you have to be 18 years old to buy one.[This message has been edited by Gene B. (edited 12-04-2001).]
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    dano, you are of course correct, the day of kids playing cops & robbers is over I'm sorry to say.I'm also sure kids under 18 are getting these "guns". With drive-bys, school shootings and all the hysteria about guns in general, a kid shouldn't be allowed to "play" un-supervised with one ... as you said "Real firearms and toy guns don't mix. For LEOs, it's almost impossible to tell them apart while under stress." even a toy that looks that real would cause me some stress ... and I'm not LEOBy the way, at close range (10-15 feet) a 6mm BB traveling at 300 fps will leave a pretty good welt on bare skin, care needs to be taken even with these ... As my mom used to say (I cant beleive I'm repeating it) YOU COULD PUT AN EYE OUT!!!
    GUN CONTROL: If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • twinstwins Member Posts: 647 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I for one would find it almost impossible to fault any cop who shoots someone with one of these "toys". It would be tragic, but how, under most given circumstances could you not justify the shooting. There would undoubtly still be civil lawsuits. I also am not sure we need any "gun" control or any other laws governing these look alikes. They are not guns and the people selling them to minors should be the ones losing their "freedoms" and licenses as retailers. That being said, those are cool looking but I would rather have, naw, where can I get one?I hate to agree with the thought that these have no place in public places but it is better to keep something like this at home in your yard.Parents also need to be more vigilant in their duties to know what their kids have and do, with the complete understanding its not all that difficult to hide things from parents, but then again, no one said being a parent was easy either.[This message has been edited by twins (edited 12-04-2001).]
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  • Judge DreadJudge Dread Member Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Nunn I think there was a federal requirement for this guns to have "Optical" color paintedfB end on them . I love this guns too but I >never< go out inopen field without a 2 inch bright orange tape in the front end to indicate a TOY orreplica to any local LEO i am unknown to... That is why many S.W.A.T training REPLICAS are painted bright "optical" RED . Other colors are Green,yellow,orange.Soft guns are banned in many states for that same reason (non-gun painted is required).
    Good , Bad ? Who cares? as long I am the one with the GUN... and the brains !
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  • .250Savage.250Savage Member Posts: 812 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A good idea, but still that worries me...might not a bright perp (I know, oxymoron) paint his favorite murder weapon, walk around in broad daylight, and everyone's conditioned, "Oh, it's painted. It's fake"?
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    'Bright perp' may not be entirely an oxymoron. There are those who are not caught - or even not detected. And it doesn't take a 'bright' one to do something original - like use a passenger plane as a bomb.
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  • yaneviyanevi Member Posts: 22 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    There have been at least 3 cases in the papers where a criminal has painted the end of the barrel a bright orange color to mark it as a fake and then killed someone. I believe that one of them was even an LEO.
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  • Gordian BladeGordian Blade Member Posts: 1,202 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wow, I had no idea. I'd rather give my kid a real .22 rifle for a gift, at least then we'd both know it wasn't a toy and it would be the beginning of a good learning experience. These are just tragedies waiting to happen, orange tape or not.
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  • ED PED P Member Posts: 190 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Shotgun News had a good article in the latest issue. A sidebar actually related a story of a guy commiting cop suicide recently by pulling one of these on a police officer.The ones I've seen look a bit too real for my taste. When I was a kid I had a Thompson, it was blue and clearly plastic- but I had plenty of fun with it.
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  • boeboeboeboe Member Posts: 3,331
    edited November -1
    I think we should all start a campaign to make these things illegal to make. But be sure to add a provision so that existing ones can be grandfathered in, owned and sold legally. We could all invest a couple or three grand in them and make it rich within a year.
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    boeboe ... I'd vote for that! Just let me get the Steyr AUG, PSG-1 and a couple others first!
    GUN CONTROL: If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • oneminuteoneminute Member Posts: 37 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    A little over four years ago I almost shot an 11 year old with a Crossman pellet pistol. It looked just like a S&W 5906 that our state troopers used to carry! Fits a real 5906 holster and everything!It was a lot to deal with having drawn down on the kid and starting to pull the trigger.Thank God it worked out right!
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  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Let's not forget about the EAA Witness that can be obtained in all sorts of wild colors which make it appear to be a toy.stir stir stir
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  • Judge DreadJudge Dread Member Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Soft air guns are considered"Pelguns" so theyare not toys but neither guns by federal statute and the best thing is to teach KIDS to treat TOYS as REAL guns if in public area.(As not be so stupid to point the thing at a LEO)
    Good , Bad ? Who cares? as long I am the one with the GUN... and the brains !
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  • SNIPER1048SNIPER1048 Member Posts: 144 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    GENTILEMEN: I WAS AT A TRAINING SEMINAR A WHILE BACK WHERE IN A DARKENED ROOM THAT WAS GUN SAFE THEY SHOWED ON A MOVIE SCREEN DIFFERENT SCENES WHERE YOU HAD TO DECIDE WEATHER TO SHOOT OR NOT TO SHOOT. THE 100% FAILURE SCENE WAS THE TWO 10 YEAR OLDS PLAYING WITH A GUN?? IN A PARK. PLAYING COPS AND ROBBERS. THE ONE KID POINTS THE GUN?? AT YOU AND YOU ARE ASKED WHAT DO YOU DO?? STOP TAPE AND DECIDE WHAT TO DO. AFTER YOUR ANSWER THEY ROLL THE TAPE. THE KID PULLS THE HAMMER BACK AND THE REAL GUN GOES OFF KILLING YOU!! CONGRATS! OFFICER! YOU ARE NOW DEAD!! SEND IN THE NEXT MAN.ANOTHER GOOD ONE WAS THE CRIME SCENE WHERE YOU GET OUT OF YOUR CAR AT A SHOTS FIRED CALL. SOME GUY COMES FROM BEHIND A PARKED CAR WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE A GUN IN HIS HAND. 80% OF OFFICERS SHOT HIM. IT WAS A FREELANCE REPORTER WITH A VIDEO CAMERA IN HIS HAND. VERY SCARY!!!
    "START THE BALL ROLLING THERE, TECTOR"
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  • Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    One thing I don't get is why anyone would spend in upwards of $350.00 for a fake gun when for a minimal amount more(not even) you can get the real thing.
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Josey1,I don't know where you are seeing MP5's or MP5K's for a minimal amount more than $350 ... even a clone will run $1200 - $1800 and they are semi-auto! For the "Real Deal" your looking at $9000+ for a conversion. Heck, even a registered sear will run you $4000!As stated before, I like them to just sit out in my gun room on display ... pick'em up once in a while and wish they were real (wish I had that kind of money anyway ) If I do decide to shoot them, its only about $20 for 5000 rounds of reuseable 6mm BB's ... Of course in Kansas there is no provision for ANY law abiding citizen to own full-auto firearms (unless they were grandfathered prior to '68). I think their cool to look at and take to a gun show once in a while ... But maybe I'm just silly that way.
    GUN CONTROL: If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    nunn,I bought one of these in a Beretta 92 stlye to practice quick sighting abd rapid fire for competition. It is full size and has the feel and sight line of the real gun. It's great for me, but I worry that some kids wiull loose their lives over these things. I could have still used the feel and sights it it had been bright orange. Just doesn't seem right, does it? Whay would a company open themselves up to a possible law suit and build these.
    Save, research, then buy the best.Join the NRA, NOW!Teach them young, teach them safe, teach them forever, but most of all, teach them to VOTE!
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  • Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Kimber,I obviously did not mean a REAL MP5 is only $350,I thought it was clear enough but let me explain further.Instead of spending $350 on a toy that electronically fires plastic pellets automatically,why not save the $350 Add to it and get say an AR-15 m-4.Or how about saving the money on 3 toys and getting a Fal,Stoner,or UZI.What about saving the money for 4 toys an getting a brand new Heckler & Koch USC 45acp Carbine GUNFINDER.NET_1007141000_45CARBINE.jpg By now I hope you understand that instead of a toy I meant a real GUN not a real MP5.Respectfully,Josey
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Josey1 ... no offence taken here! Maybe thats the problem with getting old ... I either have or have had everything you mentioned, didn't care for the FAL, and my Stoner is on GB auction, UZI is too heavy ... AUG (except the A-2 and Special Receiver) only have a 1.5X scope (thats one reason I bought a USR & Picanny Rail) ... I have both the New HK's and have asked if anyone else has or has shot the SL8-1 & USC-45 ... I never got any replies! Personally I like them both and have the AR-15 mag adapter on order for the SL8 ... it should be fun to shoot with the Beta Mag ... wish I could get a Beta for my USC-45 or 94 ... oh well ...
    GUN CONTROL: If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Kimber,I guess I'm just jealous that I don't have the spare cash for one of them airsofts,maybe I'll sell my German Drilling and pickup a few ,NAAAAAHHHHHH1Josey
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  • Judge DreadJudge Dread Member Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well in my training i shot the girl carring the "quantum physics" books too ....I left the "weird" looking guys alone... And to get a $350 plastic spiting replica i rather go for the real Mcoy.
    Good , Bad ? Who cares? as long I am the one with the GUN... and the brains !
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey Josey1!Can you leave that Drilling out on display 24-7-365, for everyone to see, pick-up and checkout ...kinda like you would a model car? ... or do you keep it locked away where only you and a select few that you grant permission can see it? No need to answer, you seem like a responsible adult that would keep firearms secure ... However, thats one thing about the Air-Softs and thier not being "Real" ... they have never seen the inside of a safe.
    GUN CONTROL: If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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