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Going Soft
Should You Be Concerned About the Latest Gunplay Rage? By Teri Brown
He scoffs at the manufacturer's assertions that the bright orange tip they put on the guns makes themsafer. "If I make a traffic stop, and the kid in the back has a gun, I may not be able to see the orange tip," Shellans says. "At this point, if one of my kids came and told me they wanted to get into air soft guns, I would have to say no and steer them toward paintball guns or laser tag. Those things are both controlled, and it is less likely anyone will mistake a paintball gun for a real gun."
If your son (or daughter) loves playing with air soft, the following tips will help your teen play safely:
Never let your teen carry the air soft gun in public. They should always be in a backpack if they are being transported. If driving in a car, all air soft guns should be in a bag in the trunk of the car. - Always wear protective gear when playing, such as goggles, earmuffs and long sleeves. The pellets can, at close range, break skin.
- Avoid playing in populated areas where someone may see your son sneaking around with a gun and call the police. Remember, they can be mistaken for real guns. It is best to take the games to a remote area, like they do for paintball. If possible, inform any neighbors of the air soft war.