AIRSOFT NEEDS YOUR HELP! SB1315 has passed!

[Old Dog]

I swear threads are being derailed on AA way too frequently now adays 

You are right and I was one of the ones that did it, back on track, the laws such as this AS law in California frequently do impact AZ in a negative way...
What is happening in AZ, Phoenix in fact is that the police dept is having issues with people carrying AS guns openly on the streets, this may be happening in other AZ cities, however I am privy to what is happening in Phoenix... 

Have no doubt that that will bring attention to the AZ AS scene, get a few legislators involved or have a shooting incident and we will be in the same situation as California...

[SgtCulotta]

I swear threads are being derailed on AA way too frequently now adays 

You are right and I was one of the ones that did it, back on track, the laws such as this AS law in California frequently do impact AZ in a negative way...
What is happening in AZ, Phoenix in fact is that the police dept is having issues with people carrying AS guns openly on the streets, this may be happening in other AZ cities, however I am privy to what is happening in Phoenix...

Wow, I was not aware of this. Who in their right mind would carry any firearm, real or imitation within city limits to where citizens can see them?  It doesn't matter if they were painted a bright color, for a citizen walking down the street seeing something like this (which is out of the ordinary) would freak them out and potentially cause a lot of problems down the road.
 

[Fresnel]

I swear threads are being derailed on AA way too frequently now adays 

You are right and I was one of the ones that did it, back on track, the laws such as this AS law in California frequently do impact AZ in a negative way...
What is happening in AZ, Phoenix in fact is that the police dept is having issues with people carrying AS guns openly on the streets, this may be happening in other AZ cities, however I am privy to what is happening in Phoenix...

Wow, I was not aware of this. Who in their right mind would carry any firearm, real or imitation within city limits to where citizens can see them?  It doesn't matter if they were painted a bright color, for a citizen walking down the street seeing something like this (which is out of the ordinary) would freak them out and potentially cause a lot of problems down the road.

See, my question is, in a state where it's perfectly legal for any non-felon over the age of... 14(?) to open carry a pistol, why is this a problem?

[SgtCulotta]

See, my question is, in a state where it's perfectly legal for any non-felon over the age of... 14(?) to open carry a pistol, why is this a problem?

What does the average common citizen think when they see a teenager with a pistol hanging off their side?
1: What teenager, or anyone other than a police officer ever have a pistol holstered on their side? I have seen none.
2: These people carrying airsoft weapons (which was stated they were carrying them, not holstered) within city limits, why is this a problem? how would that not be a problem?
    You take a set of teenagers who are skaters, this set starts harassing people and making a bad name for another set of skaters who keep to themselves. Point being, a stereotype is now formed.
What "14" year old needs (really) to carry any form of weapon such as a firearm. In my opinion a 14 year old should not be carrying any firearm within city limits.

[PhoenixShadowCompany]

I swear threads are being derailed on AA way too frequently now adays 

You are right and I was one of the ones that did it, back on track, the laws such as this AS law in California frequently do impact AZ in a negative way...
What is happening in AZ, Phoenix in fact is that the police dept is having issues with people carrying AS guns openly on the streets, this may be happening in other AZ cities, however I am privy to what is happening in Phoenix...

Wow, I was not aware of this. Who in their right mind would carry any firearm, real or imitation within city limits to where citizens can see them?  It doesn't matter if they were painted a bright color, for a citizen walking down the street seeing something like this (which is out of the ordinary) would freak them out and potentially cause a lot of problems down the road.
 

obviously way more than you think. have you ever tried caring a USP concealed or for that matter any full size pistol, it isnt that easy.

[Fresnel]

See, my question is, in a state where it's perfectly legal for any non-felon over the age of... 14(?) to open carry a pistol, why is this a problem?

What does the average common citizen think when they see a teenager with a pistol hanging off their side?
1: What teenager, or anyone other than a police officer ever have a pistol holstered on their side? I have seen none.
2: These people carrying airsoft weapons (which was stated they were carrying them, not holstered) within city limits, why is this a problem? how would that not be a problem?
    You take a set of teenagers who are skaters, this set starts harassing people and making a bad name for another set of skaters who keep to themselves. Point being, a stereotype is now formed.
What "14" year old needs (really) to carry any form of weapon such as a firearm. In my opinion a 14 year old should not be carrying any firearm within city limits.

My point is they're not doing anything illegal, and if the guns were real it still wouldn't be illegal, so why are the cops having a "big problem" with this? Hoplophobic screeching idiot soccer moms need to get used to this and stop being screeching idiot hoplophobes, and the only way to get used to something like this is through exposure. So believe it or not, this is a good thing. I'm not even going to argue the point of good idea/bad idea, no. The point I'm trying to make is that they're not doing anything wrong and they don't even look like they're doing anything wrong, so why are the cops harassing them.

[SgtCulotta]

My point is they're not doing anything illegal, and if the guns were real it still wouldn't be illegal, so why are the cops having a "big problem" with this? Hoplophobic screeching idiot soccer moms need to get used to this and stop being screeching idiot hoplophobes, and the only way to get used to something like this is through exposure. So believe it or not, this is a good thing. I'm not even going to argue the point of good idea/bad idea, no. The point I'm trying to make is that they're not doing anything wrong and they don't even look like they're doing anything wrong, so why are the cops harassing them.

I agree whole heartily. But the likeliness of the soccer mom getting used to that is a long shot, they're programmed to see firearms in public as bad due to gangs, robbing, news, war, blah blah blah. In order for them to get used to it, they would have to be deprogrammed (like training a dog not to chase after the mailman [dogs having more sense than a soccer mom too]) and that is also next to nil.

 

[Old Dog]

The fact is that open carry in AZ is 18 YOA up, not 14 YOA...

Their are ISSUES in Phoenix with stupid displays of AS open carry by kids ect, someone on AA decided to change it to "so why are the cops having a "big problem" with this?"

Phx PD has more important things to do that follow up calls of, looks like kids with guns, whether it be from soccer Moms or any other concerened citizen that does have the right to question the fact that it may appear that someone is doing something STUPID with what appears to be a weapon...

I can't for the life of me help but wonder why the members of AA will argue about rights rather than teach these kids, California laws will be here soon enough if everyone keeps acting in a child like manner regarding this, we should have the GUTS to help police our own community...

Bye the Bye an individual was recently stopped on a public well traveled street in the valley while riding his motorcycle with the barrel of his AS M4 sticking out of his back pack, LEGAL YES, STUPID YES...

I for one do not want to stroll down the street wearing a shirt that says "I Am With Stupid" with someone that is under 18 YOA waving his AS gun around and have someone call it in...

One might want to remember

"This is My Weapon, This is My Gun One is For Work, One is for Fun"

My AS Guns are for fun until some one comes along and screws it all up because kids demand rights rather than work for those rights as many of the AA listers have done...

[CryWulf]

I wanted to jump in the conversation about the Open-Carry laws and the problems they cause real quick. I am the son of a Police Sergeant and I know five police officers, all in Mesa. The Open-Carry laws (as I follow them) are that you can open-carry any weapon if you are over the age of 18, and concealed carry (WITHOUT A PERMIT) at 21. I may be wrong, but what I do know, is that since the Aurora incident, everybody in Mesa calls the cops on people who are open-carrying, especially near movie theaters. This is a huge inconvenience to the police officers, as the person Open-Carrying is doing nothing whatsoever wrong. The police cannot do anything about it, except for waste time and manpower to go talk to the person, look at the weapon, and annoy the person, because there was no crime committed. And this happens daily in Mesa. I don't understand why.

Just wanted to throw that in,

Thanks

[theFlyingTrumpet]

Wulf, you are correct in your age limits there..... Also I read the previous posts about open carrying and was very confused until I realized AS stood for AirSoft..... lol......

I still stick to my opinion that airsoft replicas must be treated like real weapons when not on the field. That means no 14 year old kids walking down the street with M-4s strapped to their backs. That also means that if you're over 18, you can open carry your replicas anywhere you can carry an actual firearm. My thoughts.

And about training the public to not fear guns, well the only way is though education and exposure. Personally I think I'll stick to concealing, just because getting stopped is always a pain in the ass. I have no problem with open carry though, and although my friend successfully conceal carries a full framed .45 XD, I think I'd rather open carry a gun that large.

Either way, the People's Republik of Kalifornia is practically it's own country with the amount of unconstitutional laws it passes.

[Paradox]

What is happening in AZ, Phoenix in fact is that the police dept is having issues with people carrying AS guns openly on the streets, this may be happening in other AZ cities

I can name a few in specific on these boards who carry airsoft replica pistols on their hip everywhere... Mainly because they are a felon and not allow to carry or own real steal..... All that comes to my mind is Darwin.

[CryWulf]

Wulf, you are correct in your age limits there.....

airsoft replicas must be treated like real weapons when not on the field.
That means no 14 year old kids walking down the street with M-4s strapped to their backs. That also means that if you're over 18, you can open carry your replicas anywhere you can carry an actual firearm.

I completely agree on everything you just said.

[d.prather]

Carrying a replica of a firearm is useless and just draws unwanted attention. Looks bad upon the open carry crowd as well if a bunch of kids under eighteen are carrying.  Just wait until you get your first mwag call and try explaining that to a Leo.

[xXmusicimpactXx]

I personally have no problem with open carry, but myself will probably never partake in it for daily outtings, as from a tactical and personal defense standpoint it makes no sense. Why give away your advantage (as well as the element of surprise) to the bad guy right from the start? Additionally, it may make you the prime target if, say, you're in a shop and a couple thugs bust in to rob the place.

As far as carrying airsoft replicas on your person in public; THERE IS NO POINT NOR ANY GOOD REASON WHATSOEVER TO EVER DO SO, NO MATTER YOUR AGE OR 'FELONY' STATUS. This applies to carrying one open or concealed. Ultimately, airsoft guns are TOYS, and should not in any way be flaunted as a real firearm. It is not a real weapon, do not treat it like one. Do not carry it on your person like one in public. Do not conceal-carry one in the hopes of using it as a deterrant (because if you pull it as a deterrant and the criminal persists anyways, you're left SOL). Keep it in a case when you are anywhere but a sanctioned airsoft field. End of discussion.

As to the people saying Commieifornia's laws might possibly bleed over to AZ; that will NEVER happen. One thing I love about Arizona is that we do our own thing, regardless of what other states (or even the federal government most of the time) think about it [most recent example; Jan Brewer's policy on 'Deferred Action' recipeints]. Especially with our difference in firearms laws, AZ would be the LAST state to adpot ANY of Commiefornia's legislature.

[Dayton]

I'm not so worried as much about their laws being migrated to us. I'm more worried about the impact it will have on the Airsoft community in the USA if 50+ percent of airsoft supplies are all of the sudden gone.