Airsoft guns look too realistic

[Rogerbutthead]

I was specifically looking at these:

https://www.redwolfairsoft.com/guns/airsoft-pistols/makarov

https://www.foxairsoft.com/airsoft-guns-for-sale/asg-arsenal-ar-m7t-tactical-ak-47-airsoft-gun/

Glock, Sig, Beretta, M4 replicas - the vast majority without any flamboyant coloring - there were a few with orange markings - maybe 10% of the ones on display.

Damned if I could tell most of them apart from a real gun. The Clerk said the accessories on them were the same as on real guns, but IDK if I believed that. One of the pistols was sold with a laser on it - forgot what model it was.

[Quiet]

Since 01-01-2017, in order to be CA legal, airsoft needs to be a specific exterior color. [PC 16700(b)(4)]

BB devices (airguns, BB guns) are not legally required to have the specific exterior colorizations that airsoft require. [PC 16700(b)(3)]

If the airsoft does not have the required exterior colorization, then it's illegal to import, transport, or sell in CA. [PC 20165(a)]

It is also CA illegal to openly carry/display an airsoft or BB devices in public places. [PC 20170]



Penal Code 16700
(a)(1) As used in this part, “imitation firearm” means any BB device, toy gun, replica of a firearm, or other device that is so substantially similar in coloration and overall appearance to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to perceive that the device is a firearm.
(2) “Imitation firearm” also includes, but is not limited to, a protective case for a cellular telephone that is so substantially similar in coloration and overall appearance to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to perceive that the case is a firearm.
(b) As used in Section 20165, “imitation firearm” does not include any of the following:
(1) A nonfiring collector’s replica that is historically significant, and is offered for sale in conjunction with a wall plaque or presentation case.
(2) A spot marker gun which expels a projectile that is greater than 10mm caliber.
(3) A BB device that expels a projectile, such as a BB or pellet, that is other than 6mm or 8mm caliber.
(4) A BB device that is an airsoft gun that expels a projectile, such as a BB or pellet, that is 6mm or 8mm caliber which meets the following:
(A) If the airsoft gun is configured as a handgun, in addition to the blaze orange ring on the barrel required by federal law, the airsoft gun has a trigger guard that has fluorescent coloration over the entire guard, and there is a two centimeter wide adhesive band around the circumference of the protruding pistol grip that has fluorescent coloration.
(B) If the airsoft gun is configured as a rifle or long gun, in addition to the blaze orange ring on the barrel required by federal law, the airsoft gun has a trigger guard that has fluorescent coloration over the entire guard, and there is a two centimeter wide adhesive band with fluorescent coloring around the circumference of any two of the following:
(i) The protruding pistol grip.
(ii) The buttstock.
(iii) A protruding ammunition magazine or clip.
(5) A device where the entire exterior surface of the device is white, bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright green, bright blue, bright pink, or bright purple, either singly or as the predominant color in combination with other colors in any pattern, or where the entire device is constructed of transparent or translucent materials which permits unmistakable observation of the device’s complete contents.
(c) The adhesive bands described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) shall be applied in a manner not intended for removal, and shall be in place on the airsoft gun prior to sale to a customer.

Penal Code 20150
(a) Any person who changes, alters, removes, or obliterates any coloration or markings that are required by any applicable state or federal law or regulation, for any imitation firearm, or any device described in subdivision (b) of Section 16700, in a way that makes the imitation firearm or device look more like a firearm, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Penal Code 20165
(a) Any person who, for commercial purposes, purchases, sells, manufactures, ships, transports, distributes, or receives, by mail order or in any other manner, an imitation firearm, except as authorized by this section, is liable for a civil fine in an action brought by the city attorney or the district attorney of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.

Penal Code 20170
(a) No person may openly display or expose any imitation firearm in a public place.
(b) As used in this section, “public place” means an area open to the public and includes any of the following:
(1) A street.
(2) A sidewalk.
(3) A bridge.
(4) An alley.
(5) A plaza.
(6) A park.
(7) A driveway.
(8) A front yard.
(9) A parking lot.
(10) An automobile, whether moving or not.
(11) A building open to the general public, including one that serves food or drink, or provides entertainment.
(12) A doorway or entrance to a building or dwelling.
(13) A public school.
(14) A public or private college or university.

Penal Code 20175
Section 20170 does not apply in any of the following circumstances:
(a) The imitation firearm is packaged or concealed so that it is not subject to public viewing.
(b) The imitation firearm is displayed or exposed in the course of commerce, including a commercial film or video production, or for service, repair, or restoration of the imitation firearm.
(c) The imitation firearm is used in a theatrical production, a motion picture, video, television, or stage production.
(d) The imitation firearm is used in conjunction with a certified or regulated sporting event or competition.
(e) The imitation firearm is used in conjunction with lawful hunting, or a lawful pest control activity.
(f) The imitation firearm is used or possessed at a certified or regulated public or private shooting range.
(g) The imitation firearm is used at a fair, exhibition, exposition, or other similar activity for which a permit has been obtained from a local or state government.
(h) The imitation firearm is used in a military, civil defense, or civic activity, including a flag ceremony, color guard, parade, award presentation, historical reenactment, or memorial.
(i) The imitation firearm is used for a public display authorized by a public or private school or a display that is part of a museum collection.
(j) The imitation firearm is used in a parade, ceremony, or other similar activity for which a permit has been obtained from a local or state government.
(k) The imitation firearm is displayed on a wall plaque or in a presentation case.
(l) The imitation firearm is used in an area where the discharge of a firearm is lawful.
(m) The entire exterior surface of the imitation firearm is white, bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright green, bright blue, bright pink, or bright purple, either singly or as the predominant color in combination with other colors in any pattern, or the entire device is constructed of transparent or translucent material that permits unmistakable observation of the device’s complete contents. Merely having an orange tip as provided in federal law and regulations does not satisfy this requirement. The entire surface must be colored or transparent or translucent.

[morrcarr67]

When I was a kid, all the toy guns looked like real guns, whether they were cap-guns, squirt-guns, or shot little yellow balls. They were predominantly black, gray, chrome, and/or brown - none had an orange anything.

And we were taught to handle all guns as if they were real ( and we had real guns too. )

Maybe that's the 'real' problem now days; kids are no longer taught to treat toy guns as if they were real, so when they get older, they treat real guns as if they were toys.

----

That's the problem and the whole reason behind the states new law about teaching kids about guns and gun safety. This way they can say they are doing it to keep the kids safe and when it doesn't work they can blame the gun community.

I grew up in Pomona when it was no better than it is today. It was also at a time before the area known as Phillips Ranch was developed. I lived a couple of miles from there.

A friend and I both had mini-bikes and pellet guns. We would strap our pellet guns to our backs and ride our mini-bikes up to that area and shoot any critter that moved, lizards, squirrels and rabbits. When we were either out of ammo or just tired we would strap the rifles to our backs and start the ride home.

There was a small community market on the way home. When we got there one of us would stay outside with the bikes and the other would go into the store and buy some soda and candy for when we got home. We did this with the rifles strapped to our back. The owner of the store never once said anything, nor did any of the other people shopping in the store.

Could you imagine what would happen to us in today's world?

[DDM4556]

When I was a kid, all the toy guns looked like real guns, whether they were cap-guns, squirt-guns, or shot little yellow balls. They were predominantly black, gray, chrome, and/or brown - none had an orange anything.

And we were taught to handle all guns as if they were real ( and we had real guns too. )

Maybe that's the 'real' problem now days; kids are no longer taught to treat toy guns as if they were real, so when they get older, they treat real guns as if they were toys.

----

This ^

All nanny laws have done is stop intelligence from occurring.

[SharedShots]

Why would your children be in a place where they'd have contact with the police while using airsoft? Most kitchens have knives in drawers that are lethal if used as weapons. Do you let your kids run around on the street with them? Would you let them run around on the street with a fake sword?

Hold a magic market in your hand and point it at the police with the end pointing at them and see how it works out for you.

If you have children, being a parent is not a title, it's a responsibility and duty.

[Jimi Jah]

Turners has the Gamma full auto BB rifles on sale. Get 'um while you still can here.

[DDM4556]

The day toy guns stopped looking real is the day the world started to suck.

[jmpeal]

if you are dumb enough to point a fake gun at a cop, then they are smart enough to shoot you

[hunterb]

My kids wouldn't be out in the streets playing with them. They would be in the backyard, or out in the desert plinking around the campsite, always supervised. Parenting is the answer, not clutching pearls.

THIS.

Children shouldn’t be playing with airsoft guns unsupervised in a public area, period.

[Garand Hunter]

My grandsons wanted me to buy such pistols in a Big Five in Pittsburg Contra Costa County years ago and NO was my answer, YOU WILL BE A TARGET for cops with one of those. Remember the kid in Vallejo with one of these " Toys " who was shot seven times by a Vallejo police officer ? Seems like it had a orange tip.

Psalm 1

[xrMike]

Basically, the gun counter at Big 5 is an Airsoft counter.

That is not the case at the Big 5 ~60 miles south of San Jose. There are still plenty of real guns in the rack behind the counter/glass display case.

Not sure there are any military surplus rifles anymore, but plenty of more modern guns.

Maybe the San Jose store went full-Karen?

[OldFinger007]

Yep.

10 years ago, plinking with my single shot BB rifle in an open field in the middle of nowhere. Go there often.

One day....
Someone must have seen me....called the cops.

Multiple sheriff and chp vehicles and a sheriffs helicopter descended on me.

No laws broken. No citations. Lots of drama for nothing.

I quit shooting bb guns.

[SVT-40]

My grandsons wanted me to buy such pistols in a Big Five in Pittsburg Contra Costa County years ago and NO was my answer, YOU WILL BE A TARGET for cops with one of those. Remember the kid in Vallejo with one of these " Toys " who was shot seven times by a Vallejo police officer ? Seems like it had a orange tip.

Psalm 1

It was Santa Rosa, and the air soft AK rifle had the orange tip broken off. The idiot kid was high on THC..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Andy_Lopez

" The rifle appeared to be a real weapon, since its orange tip has been previously broken off. As the sheriff's deputies approached the child from behind, Gelhaus radioed an observation of "Code 20, two units" at 358 p.m.[8] Schemmel activated the light bar and briefly sounded the siren as he parked the patrol vehicle, and Gelhaus exited the passenger's side, calling out to demand that Lopez drop the weapon. Lopez turned to his right, towards the deputies and the barrel allegedly began to ascend.[8]

At 3:14 p.m., Gelhaus fired eight shots at Lopez from his department-issued 9mm handgun.[10] The deputies broadcast "shots fired" to dispatch at 317 p.m., indicating the total time from initial contact to the shooting was seventeen seconds.[8] By Gelhaus's own testimony, he opened fire "a couple seconds" after issuing the command for Lopez to drop the airsoft gun.[11] Seven bullets hit Andy within six seconds. Two of the shots delivered fatal wounds, with one round hitting Lopez on his side while he was turning to face the police, at least four entering from the rear, according to an autopsy. The deputies remained in defensive position until backups arrived, then approached Lopez with guns drawn; after separating the airsoft gun from Lopez he was handcuffed.[8] He was pronounced dead by medical personnel on the scene.[12] Lopez was found to be under the influence of marijuana after an autopsy.[13]

[Rogerbutthead]

The Big 5 in question is the one at 1472 Monterey Rd, San Jose, CA 95110 - nice staff - plenty of parking - gun choices nothing like it used to be in the 80's.

[hermosabeach]

Let's say it's dark

I pull out a bic lighter

I swing my arms at a cop like I have a gun

I click the flint so they see a flash....


Dumb hurts.


Airsoft can be a solid training aid