Airsoft Community Spokespersons: PLEASE HELP KITCHENER

[R4dioT3ch]

Based on many recent events in Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, The Record newspaper has been publishing many errors in stories related to so called "Replica's" and "BB Guns".

This newspaper is so misguided, they refer to Patrol Officers Glock 17's as "Service Revolvers" in reports pertaining to incidents regarding duty pistols! Revolvers?... :smack: Uhhh.. Okay Cowboy!

I am requesting that our Community Representatives who have written the Commissioner of Firearms requesting to ammend Criminal code sec. 84 (1), that they also submit information to The Record of Kitchener Waterloo regarding the fact that Airsoft is a sport, and that the large majority of it's members are responsible, law abiding citizens.

The columnists of this paper are so extremely uninformed that it scares me to think that our small city could be one of those which contributes to the demise of our sport.

If you could link to some of the articles in question Im sure a few of the letter writers around here could fire off some bits to set 'em straight.

[Blackthorne]

X2

[foxtail]

Ditto

[The Saint]

The last time I read something on the Record regarding imitation firearms, it was over that shooting in front of the hospital. The article seemed pretty balanced and showed that we actually had at least one council member who was extremely level-headed about the situation with all imitation firearms.

If it does come to talking to the Record, I'll be in a better position to do so come April. I don't think we really need to unless they've written something a bit more ridiculous than calling semi-automatics revolvers.

[R4dioT3ch]

Originally Posted by The Saint

If it does come to talking to the Record, I'll be in a better position to do so come April. I don't think we really need to unless they've written something a bit more ridiculous than calling semi-automatics revolvers.

I agree that writing them to criticize their terminology would likely not produce any kind of support or recognition for our sport. (that was an example by the way)

However I would like to see Airsoft as a Sport recognized by The Record, and have them define in an article the difference between a Replica and an Airgun.

As the word Replica gets tossed around in articles related to "realistic looking BB guns" (crappy tire CO2 types)

Please keep this thread as a place to discuss Waterloo Region's "airgun incidents"

Here are some links to Local AIRGUN incidents.
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Men arrested at gunpoint after car window shattered

Teen charged after pulling gun

Air guns are a threat

Council cracks down on airguns

13 year old facing weapons, robbery charges

Teen pulls BB gun in robbery attempt

BB gun lands youth in court on weapons charges, young girl injured

[matt491]

What the hell are you ranting about!? NONE of those articles use the word airsoft anywhere! They all say "bb gun" or "pellet gun" which is VERY different from an airsoft gun. You've been around for less than a month, read more and quite trying to raise shit where it doesn't need to be raised.

[Brian McIlmoyle]

Originally Posted by matt491

What the hell are you ranting about!? NONE of those articles use the word airsoft anywhere! They all say "bb gun" or "pellet gun" which is VERY different from an airsoft gun. You've been around for less than a month, read more and quite trying to raise shit where it doesn't need to be raised.

Just how exactly is and airsoft gun "very different" than an air gun, pellet gun or bb gun? in what way is it "different"?

The term "airsoft gun" is jargon.. it is meaningless to the non initiated. To the vast majority of people ( including the police.. thank goodness )airsoft guns are bb guns.

[Crunchmeister]

Originally Posted by Brian McIlmoyle

To the vast majority of people ( including the police.. thank goodness )airsoft guns are bb guns.

I agree there. The difference is if they perceive airsoft guns as BB guns, they they're not considered illegal. Once they start looking at them strictly as replicas (which they are), then we have problems.

[Brian McIlmoyle]

Originally Posted by Crunchmeister

I agree there. The difference is if they perceive airsoft guns as BB guns, they they're not considered illegal. Once they start looking at them strictly as replicas (which they are), then we have problems.

it is the intention of use that defines the item at the time of an offense.. if you use one to rob a gas station it was your intention that it be taken as a real gun.. therfore that person would face firearms offenses.

If however you are 2 goof kids fooling around in a park with them... your intended use of the item is as a toy... and you would likely face a stern talking to.. and an admonishment to not "play with your toy guns in public"

the guns could in fact be the exact same make and model in both situations... in one case its a replica firearm... in the other a "harmless toy"

[Danke]

The only thing that can help Kitchener is if somewhere on the web there is a hobbyist group of carpet bombing enthusiasts. Someone toss in the Regan quote here.

[Crunchmeister]

Originally Posted by Brian McIlmoyle

it is the intention of use that defines the item at the time of an offense.. if you use one to rob a gas station it was your intention that it be taken as a real gun.. therfore that person would face firearms offenses.

If however you are 2 goof kids fooling around in a park with them... your intended use of the item is as a toy... and you would likely face a stern talking to.. and an admonishment to not "play with your toy guns in public"

the guns could in fact be the exact same make and model in both situations... in one case its a replica firearm... in the other a "harmless toy"

Yes, I realize that. There is no differentiation between using a 9mm or a cap gun if it was used for the purpose of committing a crime. Whatever you are carrying, you get charged under the criminal code as if you were carrying real steel.

What I meant with my post is that if police took a stance that anything airsoft (clearsoft excluded) was a replica firearm (prohibited device), they could technically show up at airsoft games (like TTAC3) and start confiscating guns, and laying charges against all those who can't prove they accquired their guns before Dec 1, 1998, because that is the law.

In that respect, it's best that airsoft guns are tossed into the same classification as BB guns.

[Brian McIlmoyle]

[QUOTE=Crunchmeister;627058] What I meant with my post is that if police took a stance that anything airsoft (clearsoft excluded) was a replica firearm (prohibited device), they could technically show up at airsoft games (like TTAC3) and start confiscating guns, and laying charges against all those who can't prove they accquired their guns before Dec 1, 1998, because that is the law.

[QUOTE]

Based on what evidence? Possession of replicas is 100% legal.. regardless of when you got them.

Once you have them they are legal to posses.. it is the ACT of transfer that is illegal.. not the OBJECT of transfer.

The police do take the stance that anything that looks like a gun but is not a gun is a replica.. that is the law.. it is how they choose to enforce that law that differs situationally.. and the police have the power to decide what when and how to enforce laws.

[The Saint]

Originally Posted by Crunchmeister

In that respect, it's best that airsoft guns are tossed into the same classification as BB guns.

Airsoft guns do actually belong under the same classification as BB and pellet guns: they're collectively defined in the CCC as imitation firearm. BB guns do not have their own classification otherwise.

[matt491]

*shrugs* To me, airsoft guns are VERY different from pellet and bb guns. But you're right, to the general public, I guess they don't look that different, however, I'd say a large percentage of the general public has no idea what airsoft is! Any one and their mother knows bb guns and pellet guns. You say "airsoft gun" they go, "Wha?"

From the way he was going on about the problems and inaccuracies with the paper, I was just expecting some newspaper articles saying stuff like, "A kid robbed a store with an airsoft gun" or something. None of the articles mentioned airsoft specifically, but I guess to the public that doesn't matter.