BAD IDEAS IN AIRSOFT.. ALL NEWB's MUST READ THIS...

The following is a compilation of Bad
Ideas, that is to say, examples of bad decisions to make while
participating in airsoft or using airsoft guns and equipment.

I
have also taken the trouble to explain why it is a bad idea and
possible alternatives. These "Bad Ideas" are not listed in any
particular order, but each of which should be considered equally bad
and every effort should be made to avoid them.

To keep this simple, each post will contain a bad idea, why its a bad idea, and an alternative.

This is a bad idea because it places you and everyone around you in potential danger. This can include the following:
Carrying an airsoft gun for "protection"
Using an airsoft gun to threaten
Carrying an airsoft gun because it looks cool, uber leet, gangsta, ghetto, old skool, etc.
Firing an airsoft gun in public
Carrying an airsoft gun outside of its case in a public area
Playing airsoft within plain sight of the public or in a public place, back yard, school, church, or park.

These are all BAD IDEAS and should be avoided at all costs.

BAD IDEA: Carrying an airsoft gun for protection
There
are many legitimate reasons for carrying a firearm for protection.
Unfortunately, these reasons often have legal barriers for doing so. In
many areas, carrying any replica gun carries with it the same legal
ramifications of carrying a real firearm.

Airsoft guns do bear a
striking resemblance to live firearms. However, they should never be
used for protection against potentially armed people. If you do fear
for your life to the point that you need to have access to a gun, you
should consider purchasing a gun or contact the police department.

Airsoft
guns may visually deter, but should the mere sight not dsuade an
attacker, you may find that 6mm death is not as effective as Mr.
Shotgun in dealing with an attacker. Airsoft guns are designed to be
used for recreational purposes with consenting players.

Yeah, just go out and get a real gun. If you cannot legally own a firearm, there are usually very good reasons for that.

BAD IDEA: Using an airsoft gun to threaten
People
who use guns to threaten others are called criminals and face the
potential of being shot by the police or from an armed responder. There
have been stories of stupid kids who threaten to shoot people with what
turns out to be an airsoft gun.

Yeah, BAD IDEA.

The
second you use the threat of violence against a person, regardless of
your actual intentions or the fact that you're packing plastic is
irrelevant. You are now a criminal and you deserve to be shot dead by
the police.

Weigh this option very carefully. The second you
become a potential threat, your potential for surviving an armed
conflict has become very minimal. Pray to god that you survive - hope
the scared cop roughing you up by standing on your throat with his very
much real Colt M-4 doesn't decide you are more of a threat.

BAD IDEA: Carrying an airsoft gun because it looks cool, uber leet, gangsta, ghetto, old skool, etc.

Yeah.
Carrying a gun does not make you cool. You are not a gangster, and will
never be uber cool. Old Skool would never be nerdy enough to carry a
toy gun. In those days, they could beat down people with their hands.
If you're too much of a wussy to fight with your hands, then carrying a
toy gun only makes you that much more pathetic.

If you failed to
read the two preceding BAD IDEAS, then let me explain a few things. You
are not cool and will never be cool, so carrying a gun will not make
you cool, it will just be the same pathetic loser carrying something
that looks cool.

Who exactly are you trying to impress? I know
of a young man who quite impressively stuck a sawed-off .410 in his
waist band to show his girlfriend just how much of a bad-*** he was.
Needless to say, the gun went off and DIDN'T hit anything, but left a
nasty hole in his pants. He was not cool, and embarassed himself in a
stupid accident.

Carrying a gun does not make you cool. That is
to say, no gun could ever make a pathetic loser like you cool. Quite
the opposite. Your vast suckdom immediately sucked the cool right out
of anything you are trying to accessorize. 'nuff said.

BAD IDEA: Firing an airsoft gun in public
This
can be a legal issue. Many cities have passed ordinances banning the
discharge of firearms and airguns. Many cities have gone so far as to
specifically name airsoft guns. This can include firing guns in your
backyard. Yes, your backyard, the last bastion of peace and tranquility
directly behind your house.

There is the possibility a stray
shot could hit your neighbor or their home, causing damage. Even if
your neighbor lives far enough away that it isn't that much of an
issue, if there are city or county laws making it illegal for you to
fire your airsoft gun in your backyard, then doing so means you are
breaking the law.

Before you try to argue that its your
property, consider the fact that the police have the ability to uphold
the law by throwing your butt in jail, issuing you a ticket, and/or
confiscating your gun.

This is just a bad idea all around.
Check your local laws first, do some research. And remember to always
use good judgement - never fire a gun unless your are certain of what
can be hit by a ricochet or stray shot. Consider the safety of your
household and all of those around you before you pull the trigger.

There
are also those who shoot blindly in public without any consideration
for safety. BAD IDEA! If you cause a person to be injured, you can be
arrested for assault. Shooting at cars is not cool or intelligent.
DON'T DO IT, EVER.

BAD IDEA: Carrying an airsoft gun outside of its case in a public area
If
you have gotten this far into the thread, you have seen something
common. You have the possibility of being mistaken for a criminal and
shot or arrested.

Anytime you are transporting an airsoft gun
between shooting it at an event and storing it in your home, you should
place it in a gun case. Yeah, you can put it in the original box or a
bag, but you really should put it in a case.

A gun case protects
your gun from damage and from being seen. In most cases, the original
box is not going to be structurally sound enough to protect your gun
for long. Placing the gun in a duffel bag or such may actually be
placing you in legal trouble.

My solution is to go to Wal-Mart
and buy a $10 Rifle case. They are inexpensive and, in most cases,
perfectly fine for carrying the vast majority of airsoft guns out
there. Even if you are saving up for something more expensive, until
you can afford your uber case, go get something.

BAD IDEA: Playing airsoft within plain sight of the public or in a public place, back yard, school, church, or park.

This
is an altogether bad idea. With you in public sight, the likelihood of
an incident is high. Airsofting in public brings with it the risk that
a non-player will be hit or injured.

Playing in school brings
with it all kinds of bad publicity and should be avoided at all costs.
Guns have no place in school these days. I know thats a hard fact of
life, but you can blaim that on some very stupid things being done with
guns in the school. That doesn't mean that all kids are bad or that
guns or evil.

Playing at church. Well, I have heard of youth
groups playing in the church, with special permission being given.
That's really the holy grail of airsoft right now, getting the
authorization to play.

The Alternative
There are alot of
potentially good places to play that require permission. If it is
public land, then do what is required to find out who is in charge of
this land and how you can make this event happen. Without permission
you can be charged with trespassing or any number of other charges that
can include fines and confiscation of your guns. What's worse, an armed
response could be dangerous to everyone involved. Get Permission from
the Land Owner first. DO NOT ASSUME ANYTHING, ONLY DEAL IN FACTS.
Written permission can also carry more weight, so think about that as
an option.

You need to check local laws to make sure that
playing in that area is legal. There may be standing laws prohibiting
you from having your game there. Take this opportunity to notify the
proper authorities of you game. If interested, you might invite them
out as well. Give them the location and time the event will be held.
They need to know this so they can answer phone calls, should any come
in.

Then, you need to move around the area and notify everyone
there will be an airsoft game at this location. If you can leave
contact information with them should they have any questions, please do
so. But do your best to contact everyone in the area. Post signs on the
day of the event if you can. Between the land owner and the law, you
should be able to figure out something that will warn and advise.

Finally,
you need to make sure that this location does not have the possibility
of a passing motorists or pedestrians seeing or being visible anything
that happens. They could potentially be worried or assume the worst.

To
conclude, Playing in Public poses risks to you and others. Before you
decide to shoot, ask questions. Remember safety means people around you
and not just your friends. Everyone. Look back across this section and
ask yourself if you have the right to play there and remember that the
safety of those around may be in danger.

Again, ASSUME NOTHING,
ONLY DEAL IN FACTS. If you do not know for certain, ask. If you do
know, but just want to clarify, ask. And Always Clarify.

Originally posted by Sir Texx, Moderator of AirsoftOhio

source: http://www.uaaph.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=46&topic=3387.0

» PLS READ:ROLES IN PLAYING AIRSOFT...can we adapt this?
» Ano ang airsoft?
» Zombie issue... need to read..
» FORUM RULES-adpted from UAA-for you to read registered membr
» LF: Any Airsoft gun....