As a result of several separate incidents that have occurred within the City of College Station recently, the College Station Police Department would like to provide residents with the following information regarding the use of airsoft guns.
Airsoft guns have been gaining in popularity the last few years, and the growth shows no signs of slowing any time soon. Do not let the name of the sport fool you. An airsoft gun shoots B.B.s or plastic projectiles at speeds that can easily cause serious injury. The popularity of the sport likely stems from how realistic the guns and scenarios are. Almost all airsoft guns are modeled after a real gun model (known as ''real steel''), modeling even the reloading mechanism and weight.
Airsoft guns entering the United States are considered to be "toy guns" for legal purposes, and therefore must have a blaze orange tip present during sale and transport. All Airsoft replica B.B. guns include a safety orange muzzle tip (at least 1/4 of an inch) in accordance with Federal law. Any attempt to remove the orange tip is a violation of Federal law. The effectiveness of such measures remains open to debate, because these tips can be easily removed or painted away.
There have been many cases of airsoft guns being mistaken for real firearms, and some cases where law enforcement units have responded to reports of unlawful firearm use. In rare cases, individuals with realistic looking airsoft guns have also been shot by police officers after failing to yield to warnings.
Never carry or use your airsoft gun in a public place where it may be mistaken to be a real firearm. Brandishing a airsoft gun in public is dangerous, illegal and could be harmful or fatal. Only use your airsoft gun in controlled environments, and if it is possible that someone may see you and confuse your gun for a real one, the best thing to do is to select another, more secluded location. Children must never use guns, or airsoft guns without active immediate adult supervision.
Safety should be the primary concern of anyone using an airsoft gun in any situation. Six millimeter B.B.s traveling at hundreds of feet per second will hurt when they hit you - they can cause more serious damage if they hit unexposed skin or the eyes. Needless to say, ALWAYS wear eye protection (preferably whole face masks) when playing airsoft or when you are near airsoft guns. Covering unexposed skin, including your hands, neck, and head, will also help reduce the risk of injury.
Even though you ''play'' airsoft, airsoft guns are not toys. The same precautions taken with real weapons should be followed with airsoft guns as well. First and foremost, always treat the gun as if it were loaded.
It is illegal to shoot B.B. guns, air rifles or pistols or any other mechanism that discharges or ejects any bullet, buckshot or any other projectile of any size for force of combustion, mechanism or air within the College Station city limits. (Chapter 1, Section 16 – City of College Station, Code of Ordinances)
Airsoft guns have been gaining in popularity the last few years, and the growth shows no signs of slowing any time soon. Do not let the name of the sport fool you. An airsoft gun shoots B.B.s or plastic projectiles at speeds that can easily cause serious injury. The popularity of the sport likely stems from how realistic the guns and scenarios are. Almost all airsoft guns are modeled after a real gun model (known as ''real steel''), modeling even the reloading mechanism and weight.
Airsoft guns entering the United States are considered to be "toy guns" for legal purposes, and therefore must have a blaze orange tip present during sale and transport. All Airsoft replica B.B. guns include a safety orange muzzle tip (at least 1/4 of an inch) in accordance with Federal law. Any attempt to remove the orange tip is a violation of Federal law. The effectiveness of such measures remains open to debate, because these tips can be easily removed or painted away.
There have been many cases of airsoft guns being mistaken for real firearms, and some cases where law enforcement units have responded to reports of unlawful firearm use. In rare cases, individuals with realistic looking airsoft guns have also been shot by police officers after failing to yield to warnings.
Never carry or use your airsoft gun in a public place where it may be mistaken to be a real firearm. Brandishing a airsoft gun in public is dangerous, illegal and could be harmful or fatal. Only use your airsoft gun in controlled environments, and if it is possible that someone may see you and confuse your gun for a real one, the best thing to do is to select another, more secluded location. Children must never use guns, or airsoft guns without active immediate adult supervision.
Safety should be the primary concern of anyone using an airsoft gun in any situation. Six millimeter B.B.s traveling at hundreds of feet per second will hurt when they hit you - they can cause more serious damage if they hit unexposed skin or the eyes. Needless to say, ALWAYS wear eye protection (preferably whole face masks) when playing airsoft or when you are near airsoft guns. Covering unexposed skin, including your hands, neck, and head, will also help reduce the risk of injury.
Even though you ''play'' airsoft, airsoft guns are not toys. The same precautions taken with real weapons should be followed with airsoft guns as well. First and foremost, always treat the gun as if it were loaded.
It is illegal to shoot B.B. guns, air rifles or pistols or any other mechanism that discharges or ejects any bullet, buckshot or any other projectile of any size for force of combustion, mechanism or air within the College Station city limits. (Chapter 1, Section 16 – City of College Station, Code of Ordinances)
