Went to an airsoft arena...

Blowgunner · Sep 3, 2015

Yes, you read that correctly, and I know what you're thinking haha.
My step son wanted to have his birthday at an airsoft arena and play with all his friends. So of course we obliged. I know it's for fun, and its a "game", but I was way put off by the lack of "firearm" safety. The kids, and myself(The boy said I had to play), went in to a room for a "safety briefing". All their safety brief consisted of was; dont leave the field with a magazine in, don't take off your mask and don't shoot anyone with their hands up. So of course I'm watching kids come off the field, fingers on triggers, muzzles pointed at other people, and just typical firearm ignorance. I then decided to give the kids my own "safety briefing".
I guess the part that bothers me is that they try to make all these weapons and games realistic, but yet do not promote realistic safety and precaution. These kids may not have parents that shoot, or anyone to teach them proper, and are learning bad habits from these tacticool airsoft dimwits. Just something to keep in mind if any of your kids play or want to go play airsoft.

bolus · Sep 3, 2015

You can also sell the safety procedures to kids because that is what the "special forces" guys do.

See this picture kids? What do you noticed about these cool special forces guys? That's right trigger discipline, muzzle discipline. You want to to really get into airsoft, you should practice and train the safety drills they do

ZA_Survivalist · Sep 3, 2015

I noticed that too, occasionally when looking at shooting videos "airsoft" ones will be on the side selection.

Those kids really need better safety and muze awareness.. It should teach discipline, but since these kids know they wont "really" get hurt they mess around and shoot each other even when not "in game"..

Thing is.. Like with paintball, you CAN go blind.. These kids dont think of that.
I hear the guys who are really into it handle airsoft guns like real firearms and follow rules.. But the young kids just starting out dont treat the airsoft guns with the safety consciousness they should.

etrain16 · Sep 3, 2015

You definitely can get hurt with an air soft gun. I've got a couple and if you're using one powered by CO2 and shooting the heavy BB's (.43g have a steel core under that plastic shell), you definitely need to be practicing the same safety precautions as a pellet gun or regular gun.

Air soft guns should be a great opportunity to learn safe gun handling, not be treated like toys.

Asp · Sep 4, 2015

Blowgunner said:
Yes, you read that correctly, and I know what you're thinking haha.
My step son wanted to have his birthday at an airsoft arena and play with all his friends. So of course we obliged. I know it's for fun, and its a "game", but I was way put off by the lack of "firearm" safety. The kids, and myself(The boy said I had to play), went in to a room for a "safety briefing". All their safety brief consisted of was; dont leave the field with a magazine in, don't take off your mask and don't shoot anyone with their hands up. So of course I'm watching kids come off the field, fingers on triggers, muzzles pointed at other people, and just typical firearm ignorance. I then decided to give the kids my own "safety briefing".
I guess the part that bothers me is that they try to make all these weapons and games realistic, but yet do not promote realistic safety and precaution. These kids may not have parents that shoot, or anyone to teach them proper, and are learning bad habits from these tacticool airsoft dimwits. Just something to keep in mind if any of your kids play or want to go play airsoft.

You know it's for fun, but did you have fun?

Blowgunner · Sep 4, 2015

Asp said:
You know it's for fun, but did you have fun?

I actually did. Any time spent with the boy is a good time. Would I go out of my way to play again? No. Reminded me of my paintball play from BITD but more cheating/complaining. The best part though was the Dad vs kids. Dad won

45alive · Sep 4, 2015

Blowgunner said:
I actually did. Any time spent with the boy is a good time. Would I go out of my way to play again? No. Reminded me of my paintball play from BITD but more cheating/complaining. The best part though was the Dad vs kids. Dad won

You sound like a good Dad ! :s0155:

Blowgunner · Sep 4, 2015

45alive said:
You sound like a good Dad !

Appreciate that!

Vanillagerrilla · Sep 4, 2015

My son had his birthday party at the Hillsboro Arena. We did a private party so, no unsafe folks were in our group. All the kids with us have had prior firearms experience, so there was no muzzle jabbing going on.
However, the safety enforcement was non-existent from the staff, we policed ourselves and the adults in our group made sure the kids were following good safety protocol.

Blowgunner · Sep 4, 2015

Vanillagerrilla said:
My son had his birthday party at the Hillsboro Arena. We did a private party so, no unsafe folks were in our group. All the kids with us have had prior firearms experience, so there was no muzzle jabbing going on.
However, the safety enforcement was non-existent from the staff, we policed ourselves and the adults in our group made sure the kids were following good safety protocol.

That is the same one we went to. By the airport. We also went the private party route. I'm glad we did that too, as I could kind of take over. Safety concerns were pretty much non existent from staff.