Play Responsibly

We've all heard the stories on the news of some idiot brandishing an Airsoft gun in public, or taking one to school, or even worse, pointing one at cops. Unfortunately there are those in this world that lack common sense, and that paired with a growing public fear and misunderstanding of firearms causes some major problems. In this article I will not only discuss proper safety precautions, but also how to have the correct mindset to play responsibly.

SAFETY FIRST, SAFETY ALWAYS 

I can preach all day long about weapon safety and how to properly handle a firearm, but if it never goes farther than your ears, it's pointless. Safety is a mindset. Actions are simply the outward signs of what is inside your mind, and believe it or not, how you treat Airsoft says a lot about your personal character. If you think of Airsoft as "just a game" that is going to come out in your actions. You are much more likely to carelessly handle your weapon, disregard rules and treat others badly. On the other hand, if you see Airsoft as a serious activity and an opportunity to learn, you are much more likely to observe correct safety procedures, listen to - and follow - rules carefully, and treat others with dignity.

Airsoft weapons can inflict substantial injury if used irresponsibly and thus should always be treated with the same caution as a real firearm. If you haven't yet, I would encourage you to take a firearms safety course and spend some time firing real weapons. This will help to instill a serious outlook on weapons handling and how a firearm is to be treated.

Here are some basic firearm safety rules which should ALWAYS be observed:
1. Mag out, safety on and finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
2. Do not point the weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot (including yourself). Always treat the weapon as a loaded firearm, whether it is or not.
3. When you are done firing the weapon, remove the magazine and point the weapon in a safe direction, then fire several shots on semi-auto to clear the chamber of any bbs. Return the selector switch to the safety position and leave the magazine out.

I constantly see these basic fundamentals ignored (unfortunately that includes myself sometimes) and this leads to potentially dangerous situations. Another big problem I've noticed is people shooting off their weapons randomly before game time or in between sessions. If you have to test your weapon or sight it in, use the test range. If there is no specified test range, check with the field owner/Marshall and ask them if there is a safe place where you can test your weapon.

A few additional rules are as follows:
1. NEVER display your Airsoft gun in public. In fact, don't even have it in public.
2. If you have to transport your weapon, place it in a gun bag of some sort. Make sure the magazine and battery is out of the gun so it can in no way fire accidentally.
3. If you are transporting the weapon in a vehicle, place it in the trunk. If for some reason you can't put it in the trunk, keep it on the back seat. Never hold it or place it right next to you while riding or driving in a vehicle.
4. If you are ever confronted by Law Enforcement, immediately put down the gun and follow their instructions. Remember, they treat anything that looks like a weapon as a real weapon until they know differently. Don't try to argue with them.
5. Depending on where you live, laws regarding replica firearms may vary, so familiarize yourself with the laws in your state. If you happen to be traveling to another state, look up their laws or talk to someone who already knows.

Always remember that rules are in place to keep you safe. Therefore it is to your advantage to follow them.

Play hard, have fun and be safe.

NOTE TO PARENTS:

If your child is into Airsoft, or interested in it, I strongly recommend that you take a weapons safety course with them. Not only is this a great opportunity for parent-child bonding, but it will also help to enforce the seriousness of handling a weapon. I would also strongly encourage you not to buy your child's gear for them. If they know it didn't cost them anything, they have little to no incentive to take care of it. If they had to work to earn the money for it, however, they've experienced first hand the effort that was put into earning the money for the item, and they are much more likely to take good care of it and use it responsibly.
Airsoft is a great sport and a great opportunity for your child to learn responsibility, but for both their safety and yours, please make sure that they never handle an Airsoft weapon without close adult supervision.