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Air Soft guns

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by olive, May 23, 2011.

  1. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    FWIW, Im posting this that I got from a website on Airsoft Gun Laws website. http://injury.findlaw.com/personal-injury/personal-injury-a-z/airsoft-guns.html To be fair, I included the comment from the GAO as well. Just a thought here as I found that 71% of the injuries came from 20 and under crowd. Just found that pretty interesting that most of the injuries were not to over 20... Is it perhaps older folks are more educated on the use of these items as opposed to younger folks? Food for thought indeed.


    Airsoft Guns - Safety Concerns
    While Airsoft guns are often considered toys, the reality is that they are projectile weapons capable of inflicting harm. According to one study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2005 approximately 19,675 non-powder gun injuries were treated in United States emergency rooms. Of these injuries, 71 percent involved individuals 20 or under.
    Although that study was not limited to Airsoft guns, Airsoft guns fire their BBs at speeds of hundreds of feet per second, creating a real risk of serious eye injury. In fact, hospitals and healthcare professionals throughout the country have reported a significant rise in Airsoft-related eye injuries in recent years.
    Of greater concern, Airsoft gun ownership and use sometimes has deadly consequences. There have been numerous instances in which individuals (often youths) holding realistic-looking Airsoft guns were shot by police who thought the weapons were real. Because Airsoft guns are often viewed as toys, young people owning the weapons sometimes do not realize (or adequately evaluate) the risks posed by simply holding such a "toy." A 2003 Government Accountability Office report concluded "that scant data exist on the incidence of crimes, injuries, or deaths involving toy guns and on the long-term effects that childhood play with toy guns may have." Further, whatever incidents of toy gun injuries or fatalities were reported "probably do not represent an accurate or comprehensive reporting." However, AirSoft gun injuries, their use in committing crimes, or their mistaken identification by the public and police, all occur on an almost weekly basis.
     
  2. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    The police also exercise judgement when they decide how to enforce those laws. Just as parents and neighbors should be exercising judgement when they take action.. instead of 'illegal... police!.. sue!!!'

    We are the society that elect said people - and we are the society setting the standards to which we expect the community and laws to be shaped to maintain. So yes, we are the ones who develop the laws and standards by directing government in what we believe to be acceptable or not.

    So you don't know what caused them to make those laws - yet you can understand the choice based on 'what transpired' when you don't even know what that is?? There's logic for you...:huh:

    Lets not forget - legislation is a construct of man - not nature. Should we read into the fact that simply because there is a law - that means it MUST be needed? We could also point out that homosexuality was/is against many laws... yet many believe those laws are flawed or wrong.

    Just because something is in a law - doesn't make it right or wrong. Laws can be made as knee-jerk reactions.. or made to be overreaching as a way of 'showing action' to appease the mob... regardless of their actual NEED.

    If we already have laws regarding the potential abuse of such instruments - why do we need additional laws to restrict the use at all of of the instrument?

    The probable truth is such laws were made because they were considered a 'nuisance' by some - not because it was needed to actually prevent harm. They needed laws probably because the reality is these things WON'T typically cause damage - but how can you deter their abuse when it's use as a nuisance to some doesn't exceed the threshold to violate other laws? You just try to make it illegal to use at all.

    A prime example would be paintball guns. They won't cause damage most of the time, but if someone were to hit other people's property, it would be considered a nuisance. But instead of making it illegal to do something that would considered a real detriment - they take the lawyer (CYA) approach of just banning their use outright.
     
  3. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Such claims are useless because they are not normalized.

    It's like saying '70% of accidents happen within 2 miles of home' - did you ever consider how much time you spend within 70% of your home vs. some other specific place?

    '71% of the injuries came from 20 and under' does not make any valid claim regarding the safety of users under 20 or not because it doesn't normalize this to the # of users that are under 20 or not. It just becomes a statement, that doesn't actually enable conclusions about cause. It's purely an observation.

    Might it also have to do with the increased popularity and use of such things as well? Again - another stat that isn't normalized..

    Not relevant to the discussion... so won't go down that rat hole.
     
  4. wolf685cln

    wolf685cln New Member

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    One thing I didn't see mentioned is simply walking over and having a chat with the kid. I was attending a soccer game with our kids a couple of weekends ago and walked my youngest over to the playground. On the way, I noticed 2-3 kids jumping around in a tree, breaking branches, and ripping off leaves - just being kids. I walked up underneath the tree and calmy but firmly asked that they stop doing that and explained that tearing up the property isn't a nice thing to do. Suprisingly, they complied and hopped down to continue playing elsewhere.
    I think that if the kids realized that other neighbors are involved, they would be more cognizant of their actions. Our girl was caught a while back not cleaning up after our dog (used the one bag she had and it was at night) and a neighbor stopped by to tell us about it. I felt it was great for her to see that happen and feel it provided a great message - your actions impact more than just you and your parents/siblings.
    What's the old saying "It takes a village..."

    Happy Friday all :cheers:
     
  5. mikebnllnb

    mikebnllnb Active Member

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    Kids in our neighborhood shouldn't have weapons of any type period! If you want your child to have a BB gun lock it up where only an adult has access to it. News flash, a child will use a BB gun inappropriately if not supervised.
     
  6. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Another universal claim not supported by actual fact... maybe if people focused on educating their children instead of trying to isolate them.. they wouldn't need to go to such extremes?
     
  7. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Ok so just to ask you...what age is okay for the kid to begin having a BB gun WITHOUT supervision, then? Should they be required to take gun classes given by the local NRA chapter (or by the county police?) Just wondering what your take is on this....
     
  8. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    What matters is the child's maturity and comprehension - not their age.

    You don't need the NRA. You need a responsible adult to teach acceptable practices and safety.

    I'd have no problem with a child 10+ years old if they were educated properly.

    In fact I help with children that age that handle pellet guns and actually compete with them w/o issue because someone took the time to TEACH them rather then think no child could ever possibly handle such things... when in fact we know they can because we did it.. and kids before us did it.. and the kids before them did it too!

    Yet somehow now.. 70 years later somehow kids are stupid and incapable? Maybe it's how people are raising kids - not the kid's inability.
     
  9. mikebnllnb

    mikebnllnb Active Member

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    The fact is if a child is roaming the neighborhood with a weapon of any type he/she has not been taught to use that weapon properly. And what kids are taught and what they do are not the same. We all teach our kids to do the right thing. Do you think they listen 100% of the time?

    You also have not addressed the first part of my post which was why any child in Broadlands should have a weapon of any type and to what purpose.
     
  10. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Pretty much anything can be classified as a weapon if used to intentionally harm.

    A BB gun is more likely to do serious harm used as a bat, so let's not let kids walk around with those or a lacrosse stick or even tennis rackets. I guess even a Barbie doll could be a weapon if you piss off a young girl and she shoves it up someones nose.
     
  11. mikebnllnb

    mikebnllnb Active Member

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    If you don't view a BB gun as a dangerous weapon neither will a child and that when a problem can arise. A child isn't going to go up to a pal and swing a bat against his head because he knows the damage it will do but a BB gun from a couple of yards away shouldn't do much damage. Right? Kids do fashion PLAY weapons out of all sorts of things but do we really need to provide them with real ones?
     
  12. wolf685cln

    wolf685cln New Member

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  13. wolf685cln

    wolf685cln New Member

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    Missed this post. Can't say that I disagree with using a third party to mediate under these circumstances. I wouldn't want that to become a standard go-to strategy, but it's precisely the reason we have it in place.
     
  14. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    And just how did we jump to this exaggeration?

    You prefer a society where you trust no one and instead you just remove freedoms and privledges for everyone because of what *might* happen? How would you feel if I started arguing you shouldn't be allowed to drive a car - because someone else has speed in the past - regardless of your driving ability or history.

    Frankly because it's not a legitimate question. You've already painted the picture you will accept and nothing else. You aren't able to logically support the claim - it's purely based on emotion.

    Kids are around 'weapons' anytime they ride a bike, hold a bat, pick up a rock, or a stick. Should we outlaw throwing rocks?

    I don't hold Broadlands to any higher/lower standard then I do the rest of the area when it comes to what is 'acceptable' behavior or not. I'm not so pretentious to think that simply because I live in a neighborhood with a name that things need to be handled differently.
     
  15. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Yes, you really have to experience that behavior to know the depth of the situation. I have to imagine the kid isn't exactly thrilled with his parent's behavior either.
     

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