- Airsoft is a mil sim sport (Military Simulation) not too much different than paintball however yes these toys are more realistic looking than paintball.
- These replicas use a 6mm plastic bb with many different weights to them eg(5 gram, 20 gram, 25 gram ect...) kinda similar to a 150gr bullet vs a 180gr bullet what does this mean? This means that depending on the weight of the projectile its trajectory will be different, I won't get into all the specifics but I think you kinda get the point here.
- Velocity of some high end airsoft rifles have the potential of firing the 6mm bb at 600FPS (Feet Per Second) but most aren't even that fast and in AP tournaments that is too fast for the field requirements and there is a certain distance away you must be from you opponent before firing. Example you couldn't fire a Sniper Rifle that clocks at 450FPS at your intended target when you are say 25ft away you would need to be much farther back. I would also like to compare a Benjamin Titan NP .177-Caliber Break Barrel Rifle it is capable of firing a metal projectile at 1,200 fps with lead-free pellets http://www.walmart.com/ip/Benjamin-Titan-NP-.177-Caliber-Break-Barrel-Rifle/20753509, and is intended for ages 16 years and up and this pellet rifle is very capable of killing someone if not handled properly, however you must be at least 18 years of age to purchase an airsoft gun.
- Does and airsoft gun require a background check to buy? No but you don't need one to buy a pellet gun either
- Just as with any gun regardless if its a toy or not it should always be treated as if it were real, and treat it as if it is always loaded, so proper precautions should be taken, such as but not limited to. Do not conceal the airsoft gun unless you have a Conceal Carry Permit, although open carry for firearms is legal in Oregon it's probably not a good idea to openly carry the airsoft gun either. Keep the airsoft guns in a carry bag while transporting to and from target ranges or playing fields, and if stopped by law enforcement its always a good idea to let the know that you have an airsoft gun. A proper way to let them know is if you driving for instance keep your hands on the steering wheel at the 10 o'clock position if stopped and say I just wanted to let you know that I have and airsoft gun in the vehicle. Also I should point out that just as with actual firearms the airsoft guns should not be readily accessible to the driver.
- Can Felons possess airsoft guns? Well it depends on the state and/or county you live in for instance here in Oregon there is no law that would restrict a convicted felon from owning an airsoft gun here below is a reference link where I found the information, and as usual Federal law always supersedes state or county laws, now the only information I was able to find about federal bb gun laws is here http://injury.findlaw.com/product-liability/bb-guns.html. I'm not sure of the validity of this site and it's info but it sounds plausible, feel free to read that too and decide for yourself.
- Where Can you buy these guns check out Tactical Assault Airsoft Supply https://www.facebook.com/TAASAirsoft, https://squareup.com/directory/taas they a local business in Springfield Oregon that is ran by three friends Matt Sosa, Brandon Lockwood, & Chris Brooks.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/166.html this is the link to the below information on some Oregon gun laws that pertain to some of the legal questions.
166.210 Definitions. As used in ORS 166.250 to 166.270, 166.291 to 166.295 and 166.410 to 166.470:
(1) “Antique firearm” means:
(a) Any firearm, including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap or similar type of ignition system, manufactured in or before 1898; and
(b) Any replica of any firearm described in paragraph (a) of this subsection if the replica:
(A) Is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition; or
(B) Uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition that is no longer manufactured in the United States and that is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.
(2) “Corrections officer” has the meaning given that term in ORS 181.610.
(3) “Firearm” means a weapon, by whatever name known, which is designed to expel a projectile by the action of powder.
(4) “Firearms silencer” means any device for silencing, muffling or diminishing the report of a firearm.
(5) “Handgun” means any pistol or revolver using a fixed cartridge containing a propellant charge, primer and projectile, and designed to be aimed or fired otherwise than from the shoulder.
166.270 Possession of weapons by certain felons. (1) Any person who has been convicted of a felony under the law of this state or any other state, or who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of the Government of the United States, who owns or has in the person’s possession or under the person’s custody or control any firearm commits the crime of felon in possession of a firearm.
(2) Any person who has been convicted of a felony under the law of this state or any other state, or who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of the Government of the United States, who owns or has in the person’s possession or under the person’s custody or control any instrument or weapon having a blade that projects or swings into position by force of a spring or by centrifugal force or any blackjack, slungshot, sandclub, sandbag, sap glove, metal knuckles or an Electro-Muscular Disruption Technology device as defined in ORS 165.540, or who carries a dirk, dagger or stiletto, commits the crime of felon in possession of a restricted weapon.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a person “has been convicted of a felony” if, at the time of conviction for an offense, that offense was a felony under the law of the jurisdiction in which it was committed. Such conviction shall not be deemed a conviction of a felony if:
(a) The court declared the conviction to be a misdemeanor at the time of judgment; or
(b) The offense was possession of marijuana and the conviction was prior to January 1, 1972.
(4) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to any person who has been:
(a) Convicted of only one felony under the law of this state or any other state, or who has been convicted of only one felony under the laws of the United States, which felony did not involve criminal homicide, as defined in ORS 163.005, or the possession or use of a firearm or a weapon having a blade that projects or swings into position by force of a spring or by centrifugal force, and who has been discharged from imprisonment, parole or probation for said offense for a period of 15 years prior to the date of alleged violation of subsection (1) of this section; or
(b) Granted relief from the disability under 18 U.S.C. 925(c) or ORS 166.274 or has had the person’s record expunged under the laws of this state or equivalent laws of another jurisdiction.
(5) Felon in possession of a firearm is a Class C felony. Felon in possession of a restricted weapon is a Class A misdemeanor. [Amended by 1975 c.702 §1; 1985 c.543 §4; 1985 c.709 §2; 1987 c.853 §1; 1989 c.839 §4; 1993 c.735 §2; 1995 c.518 §1; 1999 c.1040 §16; 2003 c.14 §64; 2009 c.189 §1; 2009 c.499 §3]
DISCHARGING WEAPONS
166.630 Discharging weapon on or across highway, ocean shore recreation area or public utility facility. (1) Except as provided in ORS 166.220, any person is guilty of a violation who discharges or attempts to discharge any blowgun, bow and arrow, crossbow, air rifle or firearm:
(a) Upon or across any highway, railroad right of way or other public road in this state, or upon or across the ocean shore within the state recreation area as defined in ORS 390.605.
(b) At any public or railroad sign or signal or an electric power, communication, petroleum or natural gas transmission or distribution facility of a public utility, telecommunications utility or railroad within range of the weapon.
(2) Any blowgun, bow and arrow, crossbow, air rifle or firearm in the possession of the person that was used in committing a violation of this section may be confiscated and forfeited to the State of Oregon. This section does not prevent:
(a) The discharge of firearms by peace officers in the performance of their duty or by military personnel within the confines of a military reservation.
(b) The discharge of firearms by an employee of the United States Department of Agriculture acting within the scope of employment in the course of the lawful taking of wildlife.
(3) The hunting license revocation provided in ORS 497.415 is in addition to and not in lieu of the penalty and forfeiture provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section.
(4) As used in this section:
(a) “Public sign” includes all signs, signals and markings placed or erected by authority of a public body.
(b) “Public utility” has the meaning given that term in ORS 164.365 (2).
(c) “Railroad” has the meaning given that term in ORS 824.020. [Amended by 1963 c.94 §1; 1969 c.501 §2; 1969 c.511 §4; 1973 c.196 §1; 1973 c.723 §118; 1981 c.900 §1; 1987 c.447 §113; 1991 c.797 §2; 2009 c.556 §7]
166.635 Discharging weapon or throwing objects at trains. (1) A person shall not knowingly throw an object at, drop an object on, or discharge a bow and arrow, air rifle, rifle, gun, revolver or other firearm at a railroad train, a person on a railroad train or a commodity being transported on a railroad train. This subsection does not prevent a peace officer or a railroad employee from performing the duty of a peace officer or railroad employee.
(2) Violation of subsection (1) of this section is a misdemeanor. [1973 c.139 §4]
166.638 Discharging weapon across airport operational surfaces. (1) Any person who knowingly or recklessly discharges any bow and arrow, gun, air gun or other firearm upon or across any airport operational surface commits a Class A misdemeanor. Any bow and arrow, gun, air gun or other firearm in the possession of the person that was used in committing a violation of this subsection may be confiscated and forfeited to the State of Oregon, and the clear proceeds shall be deposited with the State Treasury in the Common School Fund.
(2) As used in subsection (1) of this section, “airport operational surface” means any surface of land or water developed, posted or marked so as to give an observer reasonable notice that the surface is developed for the purpose of storing, parking, taxiing or operating aircraft, or any surface of land or water when actually being used for such purpose.
(3) Subsection (1) of this section does not prohibit the discharge of firearms by peace officers in the performance of their duty or by military personnel within the confines of a military reservation, or otherwise lawful hunting, wildlife control or other discharging of firearms done with the consent of the proprietor, manager or custodian of the airport operational surface.
(4) The hunting license revocation provided in ORS 497.415 is in addition to and not in lieu of the penalty provided in subsection (1) of this section. [1981 c.901 §2; 1987 c.858 §2]
