Airsoft originated in Japan during the 1980′s and is a combat sport or hobby in which participants launch plastic projectiles (6mm bbs) at each other via spring, electric, or compressed-gas powered replica firearms. Similar to paint ball. Hits sting if they are on bare skin (similar to a bee sting), but not so much through clothing.
Airsoft guns are desi
gned to very closely resemble real firearms but are purely recreational in nature.
Real combat is never fun. We recognize the risks that our men and women in the armed forces face every day, sacrificing their safety and sometimes paying the ultimate price for our freedom. This is an honorable and necessary action as it is to often all that keeps evil from exploiting the vulnerable. Whether it is our local police or our military, we honor these heroes. They are real heroes and are worthy of our respect and gratitude.
Noble actions, or heroics often arise from the most average man when he is placed in dire circumstances. Our goal, both on the airsoft field and off, is to foster and promote the virtues that will cause us to also rise up in the middle of difficult circumstances and behave honorably no matter what the cost.
Honor, integrity, compassion, mercy, self-control and strength, virtues that can and will be released through a new life found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. A life not just talked about on Sunday mornings, but radically lived out by the power of the Holy Spirit living in the true believer. These virtues that are the foundation of everything we do at New Life Community and are the foundation for the friendships we hope to build both on and off the airsoft field.
Safety - Safety is taken very seriously. Within this ministry, airsoft is handled very responsibly and no serious injuries have occurred.
The most common and well known piece of airsoft safety gear is ballistics goggles. We require all players to wear ballistics goggles that are ANSI Z87.1 rated. These goggles can withstand multiple hits by even the most powerful airsoft gun without taking damage that would compromise their safety. We also require that players below a the age of 18 wear some form of face covering to protect their face and specifically their teeth from bb impacts.
The other side of airsoft safety which prevents players from accidentally shooting each other is standard firearm safety. This includes a range of standard practices that should be followed any time anyone is handling a projectile-firing device.
Four rules of firearm safety:
- Treat all guns as if they are loaded.
- Never point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
- Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
Legality - In the US, no state outlaws airsoft guns as a whole. There are, however, very strict laws against brandishing an airsoft gun in public, due to their highly realistic appearance. If one were to commit a crime using an airsoft gun as a prop, intended to be viewed as a real firearm, the legal system would charge that individual as if they had been using a real firearm without a license.
There is a great deal of confusion over what the law says about orange tips on airsoft guns. When you purchase an airsoft gun, it must have a blaze orange tip at the end of the gun that is no less than 6mm in length. Once you own the gun it is legal to remove the orange tip, but users should be cautioned that it does make it harder for law enforcement to know the gun isn’t real. There have been confirmed cases of law enforcement officers shooting a suspect believed to be brandishing a firearm, when in fact it was an airsoft gun. Public display of an airsoft gun is not something to be taken lightly.
People have no way of knowing that your replica firearms aren’t real, and will call the police if they see them.
