Chapuis wrote:t’s important that shooters of all persuasions should not just be more tolerant towards each other but should always be conscious of public image and perception. As they say “either hang together or swing together”.
I couldn't agree more. It's the divisions within our community that have made it all the more easy for sections to be carved out via legislation time and time again. We need work towards encouraging an environment of cohesion and tolerance within the whole sport if we want to maintain what diversity currently exists. Nothing frustrates me more than when I see shooters needlessly turning on other shooters - if we choose not to support one another then it will be sooner rather than later that there will be little community left at all.
Having said that, and much to my chagrin, the public perception of shooting sports is also important. People walking around the show with realistic imitation firearms slung or holstered might raise a few eyebrows in some quarters. In an ideal world it shouldn't do more than that - but with the Sun journalist responsible for the "Massacre guns on sale in UK" article meandering around the show floor with shorthand notepad in hand ( http://www.full-bore.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11357 ), you never know.
I would think that those who chose to carry their airsoft equipment around the show floor were simply unaware that it might be frowned upon by some - nothing more, I certainly wouldn't have taken issue.
my two penneth, there's a lot of sanctimonious crap spoken on various forums about Airsofters, who are almost without fail derided as "Walts" a lot of the bile comes from a relatively small group, some of whom have graced this forum recently. I have nothing to do with airsoft, and am probably too old and fat to cope with it I have heard almost the same terms being used to describe Airsofters leveled against the CSR shooters by various people shooting different disciplines, and likewise criticism leveled against the "bondage crowd" the sooner the more close minded among us wake up to the fact that we are an endangered minority and start showing a bit more tolerance towards people who have a different take on their chosen sport then all the better! as to wandering around a public space "tooled up" well that is an issue to be taken up with the individual/s concerned, not aimed at the whole community!
I will offer another perspective - we had a large amount of airsoft players come to the FCSA stand to chat and make enquiries - despite the fact they might have been dressed in full cammo, chest rigs, headsets, throat mikes, rubber knives, hand grenades, only one was sporting a holstered pistol and as soon as he realised it was removed and placed in his bag.
They all entered in to the spirit of the banter with us and some even posed for photos - a lot of these guys took away literature about both our club, Offas dyke and the NRA - so any of these that go on to get FACs are going to be helping bolster our sport for the future. A large proportion of them had no idea about the process of obtaining an FAC but again, most listened with interest and a lot of them showed genuine interest.
Almost without exception they were amazed at the array of firearms that are available to us use and enjoy our sport.
Regards
Mike
Not wishing to fan the flames but you could ask if they were unaware of the firearms that are used by others in the various shooting sports can you really consider them to be real shooters or merely play actors and view them also in the same way as we view reenactors?
I didn't find a problem with the airsofters, they were a lot more considerate than many of the other visitors therer, yes some of them do go over the top with the amount of gear they have, (I work with one and he spends more money on his guns and kit than I do) and yes a couple of groups passed me outside on my wayout fully kitted up with rifles and pistols, I imagine its what they normally do at the venues/clubs, get kitted up at their cars and then walk in ready.
There's already areas of our shooting sports that ostrisise certain dress styles, a practical shooting ground near me states no form of camo clothing allowed, pheasant/game shoots often have a dress code and don't even think of taking a semi auto shotgun to one.
It was mainly the GREEN brigade that annoyed me at the show causing many of the choke points by standing in groups in the middle of the aisles chatting away without any thought of anyone else around them.
I will offer another perspective - we had a large amount of airsoft players come to the FCSA stand to chat and make enquiries - despite the fact they might have been dressed in full cammo, chest rigs, headsets, throat mikes, rubber knives, hand grenades, only one was sporting a holstered pistol and as soon as he realised it was removed and placed in his bag.
They all entered in to the spirit of the banter with us and some even posed for photos - a lot of these guys took away literature about both our club, Offas dyke and the NRA - so any of these that go on to get FACs are going to be helping bolster our sport for the future. A large proportion of them had no idea about the process of obtaining an FAC but again, most listened with interest and a lot of them showed genuine interest.
Almost without exception they were amazed at the array of firearms that are available to us use and enjoy our sport.
Regards
Mike
Not wishing to fan the flames but you could ask if they were unaware of the firearms that are used by others in the various shooting sports can you really consider them to be real shooters or merely play actors and view them also in the same way as we view reenactors?
sorry, do we have a corporate view on reenactors? I must have missed the memo razz chances are, they went to an organised Airsoft event, that just happened to be in with a shooting show, probably an eye opener for some of them, the great British public have little to no idea what is allowed in the way of firearms in this day and age.
Chapuis wrote:if they were unaware of the firearms that are used by others in the various shooting sports can you really consider them to be real shooters or merely play actors[?]
I would suggest that they participate in the sport of airsoft because of an intrinsic interest in firearms and related equipment, a sport within which marksmanship plays a large role. The fact that they may be ignorant of the particularities of the UK firearms licensing system is no reason to sideline them, in fact it would seem grossly unfair to do so.
Moreover, they're far more likely to be interested in becoming actively involved in the FAC scene than the average person. As such, they represent a potentially valuable source of new blood into all aspects of the shooting sports. Reports from the show regarding their enthusiasm would seem to back this up, and this enthusiasm should no doubt be encouraged.
Last edited by A.J.P. on Mon Feb 11, 2013 10:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
I will offer another perspective - we had a large amount of airsoft players come to the FCSA stand to chat and make enquiries - despite the fact they might have been dressed in full cammo, chest rigs, headsets, throat mikes, rubber knives, hand grenades, only one was sporting a holstered pistol and as soon as he realised it was removed and placed in his bag.
They all entered in to the spirit of the banter with us and some even posed for photos - a lot of these guys took away literature about both our club, Offas dyke and the NRA - so any of these that go on to get FACs are going to be helping bolster our sport for the future. A large proportion of them had no idea about the process of obtaining an FAC but again, most listened with interest and a lot of them showed genuine interest.
Almost without exception they were amazed at the array of firearms that are available to us use and enjoy our sport.
Regards
Mike
Mike thats exactly the impression I got from the few I spoke to. Amazed at what was available and interested in how to go about getting involved so I pointed them to the NRA/NRSA booths.
I said earlier that I'm not an airsofter, but I used to be. Right up until the point some friends told me about FACs. Up until then I thought only farmers with shotguns and game managers is Scotland with rifles, were allowed firearms. Since then I've sold my airsoft gear to fund my new hobby, but I've kept the pistol because it's more fun than a .22 1911 as long as my arm smile2
There *are* some right knobheads in airsoft, but that's true in every walk of life.
OK so maybe I was out of order with the comment I made about the three people I observed, but my reaction was caused mainly because of what we have all seen in the papers about our sports.
Nothing wrong with their sport but when they leave the arena they should be aware that strutting about with an airsoft or any form of gun starpped to you would make a lovely picture for the front page of the Wapping Liar.
you can just see it can't you, "ARMED MEN IN CAMMO GEAR OPENLY ROAM AT UK GUN SHOW".
I honestly think this has gone its course, I made my point I will say no more.
The wax I bought for my boots works well, and the HPS Mapel syrup tastes great.
I have heard almost the same terms being used to describe Airsofters leveled against the CSR shooters by various people shooting different disciplines, and likewise criticism leveled against the "bondage crowd" the sooner the more close minded among us wake up to the fact that we are an endangered minority and start showing a bit more tolerance towards people who have a different take on their chosen sport then all the better! as to wandering around a public space "tooled up" well that is an issue to be taken up with the individual/s concerned, not aimed at the whole community!