The Future of Airsoft

In the five months that I have been here at ASF, I have participated in several threads concerning the public and political future of airsoft in the United States. Seeing as I really enjoy playing airsoft for several worthwhile reasons, it is important to me that the sport to be around for a long time. Knowing that the public image of airsoft is probably not very good, due to media reports about idiots pointing replicas at Police, and knowing that there is at least one Congressman out there with the intent to heavily regulate the sport does not help me rest easy on this matter.

So what am I getting at? I don’t claim to be prophetic or have any idea how these possible problems for airsoft will play out, but I do have several opinions that I think need to be addressed by the community. The first issue is, how do we repair the public image of airsoft as a worthwhile activity? How can we have a positive influence on the political powers so that the constant threat of regulation is not hanging over us? And finally, how do we properly educate everyone who buys an airsoft gun?

I know some are content to try and keep airsoft underground, and to pretend that no one really knows what is going on. But it doesn’t take a genius to see that airsoft is growing in popularity, in spite of itself. The airsoft field that my son and I play at is celebrating its first year anniversary in April. Monthly attendance has gone from 12 players to over 35, and sometimes as many as 60. When I cruise the online airsoft retailers, it is obvious that many are struggling to keep popular items in stock. Others are expanding their inventory and selection to meet demand. It is getting to the point that no one will be able to ignore the situation.

I offer the following ideas as a starting place for discussions that should lead to definitive plans and results, which are necessary if we are to keep airsoft in the form we enjoy today.

Image Damage Repair – There are a couple of things that might be done to repair the public impression of airsoft.
First thing is that someone (and I mean an organization) needs to write what I would call an “Airsoft Manifesto”, that would be an official statement laying out the purposes, attitudes, rules, benefits, and safe use of airsoft as a viable sport. In order for this document to have any teeth, the organization responsible for it would have to circulate it throughout the airsoft community and get as many smaller groups as possible to sign on. Once an impressive number of airsoft groups are supportive of this statement, it would be sent to all Congressmen, Senators, Governors, Mayors, and Police Departments. It might be necessary to form a National Airsoft Organization. Not an iron fisted organization, just something to facilitate concerns that are too big for local groups to handle.
The second thing that could be done is similar to what the Elgin River Rats have accomplished. That is, to train well enough to be able to help local Police and Army units train for real-world situations. I know this won’t be possible for less organized groups, but when something good happens like this, a serious effort needs to be made to publish it. Do press releases, write articles and submit them to the appropriate magazines and newspapers, tell other groups how to do it, and so on.

Influencing Politics – This is a multi-headed beast. On the state level, local groups have to keep tabs on legislation that might affect airsoft. Nationally, everyone needs to be aware of what might regulate airsoft out of existence. With the changing landscape of national politics under way, there is more chances now for regulation then ever before. With a more liberal, anti-gun Congress we need to carefully monitor legislation. As stated above, an improved image is the first step and having a group that can alert all the forums and local groups about potential problems is essential. I wonder how many lawyers, politicians, and other people of influence actually play the game? We need to find out somehow and tap into their abilities.

Educating the Masses – Image control is largely dependent on how well the airsoft community educates itself. Obviously if you hang around ASF long enough, you will learn what is considered the right way to play. But what about those who buy the Wal-Mart special? This may not be the most practical way to educate everyone, but if a “National Airsoft Organization” produced posters and/or handouts for retailers to use when selling airsoft items, we might be able to create better-educated newbies. I wonder how many Boy Scout groups would entertain a safety demonstration and lecture using airsoft guns? Each local group should have access to resources and ways they can positively educate people to play safely.

Well, that should be enough wolf crying for now. I solicit others take on this growing problem as I see it.

And before you all think I am worrying myself to death, I still sleep soundly at night, I am extremely happy with life in general, and if airsoft went away tomorrow I would still have several reasons that would keep me going.

LONG LIVE AIRSOFT!!!

This post has been edited by Sir Biscuit: Mar 19 2007, 08:00 PM

we could put a commercial showing what most responsible people do with airsoft guns and how fun the sport can be

That is why Armory Airsoft, here in Michigan is doing there best to promote a "safe and healthy" approach of airsoft to its community and people

Mind watching the dates of topics before posting? Thank you.

one question, if its stickied I thought we could post in it no matter the date? Im prolly wrong just wondering though

the image of airsoft is indeed almost impossible to uphold in the public's eye. When airsofters DO play responsibly no one sees them for they play in remote places. However the idiots who don't play responsibly are the one the public sees A. Walking down the street with an airsoft gun B. Playing to close to other people C. Shooting unsuspecting civilians ect. ect.

What we should do (and I know that a lot of people do this anyway) is airsoft WITH policemen or the military
Inviting an off-duty cop or soldier might change their view of airsoft and gain some support amongst those who would bring airsofting down

I am actually working on this as several of my friend are in boy scouts and I have already offered to attend as a guest speaker with my guns and my firends vountered their guns as well, but so far the scout master is against it.

According to the BSA (Boy Scouts of America organization), all games like Paintball, airsoft, and even DODGEBALL are too "Dangerous" or "Militaristic" to be allowed during Boy Scout functions. They don't even let us talk about Christopher Columbus... Of course, how many troops will actually pay attention to this? It's more of the Scoutmaster's decision. Perhaps this could be a good way to turn the BSA around.

If someone says lasertag, I am gonna stab em.

I don't thinka lot of people really care. They have work and school and friends to worry about. It is the equlivent f worry of madonna turning into a snake and eating everyone. We all think what every American thinks when seeing a stroy on the news. Tsk, tsk and then froget about it during dinner. Same goes for some soldier MIA. How many rember a specific incident? It seems like we have something to hide. I think it will be a long time before we recive our own lobbying group. Paintball has one for espn viewing and making it a valid sport for highschool and college.

make a website that supports airsoft, and then half of the payment of the subscribing members of ASF and use it as a banner for big websites like myspace.

The future of airsoft is extremely promising. The guns are becoming more and more sophisticated and realistic. The looks, dimensions, and weight can have a positive introduction to the real guns. They can provide a great learning tool into handling and respecting a firearm. Plus they are a blast to play around with.

I agree there is almost nothing negative for airsoft. Excluding the suicdial kid in the bathroom and the borderline retarted senator. It is actually damaging paintball becuase before paintball was basically a monopoly in simulation combat. (Excluding laser tag but hey come on) Plus they are expanding away from the mp5 and m16 series. ( FN SCAR!)

The only flies in the ointment right now are shipments from China on guns, parts and the like.

This is because it is illegal to manufacture airsoft in China (go figure).

Also, there has been a lot of slowdown of cargo coming in from that part of the world at US Customs. I've heard several people lamenting over that.

So, for the individual ordering from HK, it doesn't seem a problem.

For US retailer/resellers, there is a lot of hassle getting stuff here from there.

Of course, more people are looking at building parts here instead, so that they can have better qc on the products.

So, I am guardedly optimistic, but some of the bottom end of the market may be drying up (not saying good or bad, just sayin'...)

My worry is parts, to be honest... getting some of the parts in has been terribly slow...

This sounds great, why don't we do something about it? Someone could make a website about safety, and it could tell people to spread the work to make airsoft better.

I think the future of airsoft is Gas Blowback. don't have to worry about batteries/ battery compartments. More realistic and some recoil.

Awesome idea on including th law enforcement in on the training and education of utilizing airsoft. As you mentioned, it only takes one bad apple to tarnish the image and reputation of what airsoft is about and what it can bring.

I say to keep airsoft alive we need to create a national organization. The National Organization of Airsoft. Also Known As NOA.
Create website create waivers. Forward out to as many as possible leaders to get everyone in there team to sign this waiver. Also give these waivers to minor and major airsoft suppliers or stores. if we can get enough people together to make the National Organization of Airsoft we can make airsoft a good public image. We can get enough money from donations to support making an airsoft commercial. We can get either the president which would be very good or some governors, and talk how to be safe at airsoft, and how fun it is, and at the end get as many governors saying I_______ _______ approve this message.
Airsoft will become so much better if we can proceed enough to do this kind of thing.

I hope everyone takes this message into consideration.

Udunson,

obveously theres another problem as well. immature kids. it just doesnt seem fair how a group of kids or even just one can give millions on airsofters a bad name. thats a problem that obveously cant be avoided because you can never make every single person in the US of A to be a good person. thats a problem that obveously is going to quite possibly stay a perminant problem in the airsofters community



but I like the idea of an airsoft organization. I'd join if there became one.

The first issue is, how do we repair the public image of airsoft as a worthwhile activity?
^ We can email our mayors/governors about this sport.

And to inform children about being responsible, they should discontinue all airsoft guns being sold at Wal-Marts, Targets, and 's. I have wanted to do this for a long time because think about it- most idiots who point the guns at police are the one's who get their guns from those places. Idiots aren't going to go through Paypal and shipping and all that stuff for a 10 dollar gun that they know will not last them.

We are, right now, working with the 32nd Operation on NPAA which will be a National Players Airsoft Association. For a one-time fee of $10.00, you will be able to join the league and work your way to pro in the airsoft association. This will be a national game that will be recognized as a sport. When this is finalized, I will post a link to the site, and to register for the NPAA.

Thanks,
Ken

Ok thanks for the info. Where are you posting the link?

This is an example of what airsoft needs. If only it was for the US
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhUm_HLM3Is

Haha yeah. In the U.S. we have those Fox videos of them dissing airsoft

in the future ......airsoft guns will shoot lasers!!! .....................no wait.. that was the 80's

no matter what anybody does to make make airsofts image look better ignorant people are still gonna be freaked out by it and think were all geeks & kooks

like when I was working on my kraken project my mom honestly thought that I was "building a machine gun to kill people with"
and when you meet girls you cant tell them youre into airsoft cuz then they become afraid of you and your not real guns

This post has been edited by Dusti69: Oct 17 2008, 04:51 PM

California State Legislature wants to make it illegal to have airsoft guns in public without having them bright neon colors or clear. That might help reduce the number of idiots with airsoft guns, but it won't affect those who play responsibly, like most of us here.

California State Legislature wants to make it illegal to have airsoft guns in public without having them bright neon colors or clear. That might help reduce the number of idiots with airsoft guns, but it won't affect those who play responsibly, like most of us here.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think airsoft will ever replace paintball or become more popular than it. Paintball is great for its strategic value (speedball requires 10 times more skill to play than any woods airsoft or cqb and I don't care what anyone says it's a simple fact). However, when Barack Osama gets elected im going to be worried about my right to bear real arms more than my fake ones. I think airsoft will be fine, people were gettin crazy about paintball but then more purpose built fields came out and the craziness died down. Airsoft needs the same thing to happen to it. I live in Indianapolis and you would think there would be fields around here but there is only one and it's like 40 mins. away. Obama can have my real guns when he pries them from my cold, dead fingers. He's not going to get the chance though.

Amen to that!

Real nice way to Say Barack Osama. I'll be sure to not care about that imature comment. If anyone is going to make us lose our right to bear arms, it's pretty obvious what type of a person would.

Wooow I'm going to pull all my strength together not to start a flame war here. I just want to know how 16 year old me is going to make us americans lose our right to bear arms by calling him Barack Osama. My bad for having a sense of humor, I promise I won't next time. Pm me if you have a problem with that.

I have no problem at all :D I know what I believe :]]

And everyone saying no to the state legislature. It's for people who play in public to have it neon, not people who play on real fields. The ones that give us a bad name :]

That's why walmart only has clear stuff? I never liked those guns, to silly. I found websites though. No more Cybergun for me.

No, because WalMart wouldn't make clear guns just because of California. It's partly so they don't look as real, but you can find tons of information through Google.

Since Olympic shooting sports include air pistol shooting, and thats all covered by the NRA, since airsoft is technically an "air rifle" shouldn't the NRA be the best place to contact about adds and such?

I even saw a thing on the outdoor channel as I was channel surfing. This gun guy from the NRA was usingairsoft GBB's to prepare people who had never shot a gun for a real gun.

The first thing we have to do is get rid of all Walmart "Airsoft guns, Softair guns, airguns" whatever they call it. They really make Airsoft look like childsplay. They also allow people (mainly children) that are outside our Airsoft communities to obtain weapons without any regulation or enforcement. It's like allowing a person to have a real gun without a license.

Every single incident of Airsoft abuse has been from people that are not affiliated with any Airsoft forum or any Airsoft community. Since they aren't plugged into the communities they have no idea what legitimate games are going on in legitimate fields, and so they go to a local park and shoot at each other without eye protection and end up on the news.

Agreed. But Wal-Mart is a multi-billion dollar corporation. They won't stop selling those as long as they are making money just because 200 people from a website ask them not to. You'd have to get a law passed prohibiting it. If that were to happen law-makers would think "If walmart cant sell them because it's dangerous, why should we let people own them?" And, bam, no more airsoft. Except illegal airsoft. And I for one don't want to go to jail for a hobby I love. Also, how would we buy them if they were illegal?


One solution is to require a buyer to pass a short safety test, and possibly prove their ability with an airsoft gun before buying one.

Check out Great Britain's laws on Airsoft. Most view them as very annoying and unnecessary.

There is a great difference between a retailer like Wal-mart carrying Airsoft guns and a dedicated, or semi-dedicated Airsoft shop. In an Airsoft shop the employees know about the products, safety procedures, and most importantly are usually part of the Airsoft communities in that State. The last time I was in my local shop, right after a sale was made to a brand new player the employee informed the customer about our State Airsoft Forum and told him to go there for games and information on how to get started. You will never see that in a Wal-mart or Dicks. I also saw the employee bluntly tell someone "no you don't want that" as he picked up a sniper rifle, explaining that it is a tough role to fill in which you will be outgunned all the time at the same range, and helped the customer to AEGs in the same price range, something you would never see at a general retailer.

To me, it makes sense to only allow Airsoft products and accessories in dedicated or hobby-centered stores, and bar them in Wal-mart, Dicks, and other general retailers. The products Wal-mart and Dicks carry are known to be terrible, so we would not be losing a key distributor. It helps our image, keeps bad products away from people who don't know better, and helps ensure the player is plugged into the community.

Wal-mart and other retailers would simply argue it is their right to carry any lawful product under their discretion. That is why we need regulation to ensure only hobby-centered and Airsoft shops carry Airsoft products and accessories. Look at the cases of Airsoft abuse, most if not all could have been prevented with knowledgeable staff helping the customer, and the local Airsoft Community.

true.