Airsoft Guns, and Legal Issues

Alright, this is a thread to talk about your airsoft guns in. And the legal issues around them.
I currently have a spring pistol and an electric 3/4 sized G3-but that's what i'm here for.
I play CTF and plain wars every once and a while with a couple friends, but the cops always end up. I live in New York (city), and I was wondering about the laws.
While we normally dip, they have confiscated them. We always keep the orange tips on for when we play, and mine's painted with orange stripes.
So, what are the laws for spring airsoft pistols with plastic pellets? They can't be illegal, because I have the right to bear arms, and many people have told me I don't ( ;-; )

Are you playing in a public or private area? I can understand them confiscating your guns in a public area, but I didn't think there was any way that they could take them from you if you're playing on private property.

It likely depends on the state. Seeing as how they were taken, but you were never arrested or fined, they are most likely legal there. If you were doing something wrong, I am pretty sure they would ticket you or arrest you. Since it sounds like they avoided it and just took them, you are probably in the right. Also I am pretty sure cops shouldn't be takening anything, if there is no crime commited.

What I would do regardless of what the law is in the state, is to write down their name and badge number when you speak with the cop. Then ask them what the proper way to get them returned are. Also ask them what law you are actually breaking.

You don't want to resist, but protest them taking it, and make it clear you don't want them taking your stuff and that you are going to take steps to report them and have it returned.

If he tells you the actual law you are breaking, then look it up and see if its true or not.

I always thought that in my area it was illegal to use them on public property, but I was recently informed that that's not true. So all that time we spent running around the backyards of my friend and his 2 neighbors we could have been in the woods instead.

Not all of the guns we used had the plastic tips, though, and some looked surprisingly realistic.

When and where were they confiscated from you?

Depends on the state where you live, I think. I have a CO2 pistol that shoots 400 FPS, and an electric MP5 that shoots 340 (both with high polish .2g's). Anyways, if I remember correctly:
1. All must have a blaze orange tip extending at least 4mm past the end of the barrel (or some number like that)
2. FPS limits cannot be exceeded by X. I think, for my state, it becomes a legal weapon at 700 or 800 FPS.
3. Using it on public / private land (not belonging to you) isn't allowed, and could possibly be considered littering, vandalism, trespassing, etc. (although some of those are stretches)

Also, if you don't comply with the cops, you can be in violation of some or other law.

Just now, I seem to remember something. My friend moved to New York and was thinking about playing airsoft. When I looked it up, I'm 99% sure it said airsoft guns were illegal in New York, New Jersey, and some other state. I'll check to be sure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

When and where were they confiscated from you?

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This was probably 2:00, in front of my friends house. We were running back and forth (across the street, but there's hardly ever cars...or for that matter, people) The cop drove by on his bike and we were in the driveway of my the house, the rest of the guys were in the backyard.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by guitarboy

This was probably 2:00, in front of my friends house. We were running back and forth (across the street, but there's hardly ever cars...or for that matter, people) The cop drove by on his bike and we were in the driveway of my the house, the rest of the guys were in the backyard.

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Did they take them from the guys in your backyard? I can understand the cops being upset for you running back and forth across the street (though I don't think that warrants confiscation, personally), but I don't think they can do much if you're on private property. I'd take Alric's advice and ask for their names and badge numbers the next time this happens, as there's a pretty strong possibility that they're relying on you assuming that they're in the right since they're police officers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by oniman7

Just now, I seem to remember something. My friend moved to New York and was thinking about playing airsoft. When I looked it up, I'm 99% sure it said airsoft guns were illegal in New York, New Jersey, and some other state. I'll check to be sure.

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Yeah, I seem to recall hearing about NYC being bad for airsoft..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by guitarboy

This was probably 2:00, in front of my friends house. We were running back and forth (across the street, but there's hardly ever cars...or for that matter, people) The cop drove by on his bike and we were in the driveway of my the house, the rest of the guys were in the backyard.

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Well there's your problem. Even if your guns aren't realistic looking, you're still shooting BB's everywhere and running out into the street.

we were only shooting in the backyards, we were using spring pistols (roughly 150 fps, way below most limits) and the only problem I saw was running across the street. While outside of the property, we put the guns in holsters (though still visible, I suppose) I think he might have been a new guy, because my friend said that he recently got confiscated and ticketed.
All I know is we were using them like we should have (not brandishing in public, playing on private property, etc)
New Question-
Is it legal to play airsoft on private property in Upstate NY, with orange blazed tips? I was told that you should tell the neighbors that can see you so they don't call the cops, but if we're playing in a woodland area, is it legal?

You should really consult these laws yourself. I doubt we're going to find any reliable info on the net. I suggest asking a police officer who is not associated with the situation.

Kay bagle.
I'm probably going to california soon, so I'll get some shit down and have time to have fun. Going to get at least one day of airsoft.
Anybody else like airsoft/paintball,
And if so, what do you normally play?

I have a simple, albeit dorky solution.

Get bright orange duct tape and tape certain areas of the gun and on your own uniform/clothes...

this way when a snooping neighbor or cop come by its dead obvious they are non-lethal toys.

I hope that helps.

oh crap edit: didn't realize you did that already.

I guess the only other option is to wear shirts that say these are FAKE GUNS!

lol I guess NYC cops are really that nuts eh?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by guerilla

I have a simple, albeit dorky solution.

Get bright orange duct tape and tape certain areas of the gun and on your own uniform/clothes...

this way when a snooping neighbor or cop come by its dead obvious they are non-lethal toys.

I hope that helps.

oh crap edit: didn't realize you did that already.

I guess the only other option is to wear shirts that say these are FAKE GUNS!

lol I guess NYC cops are really that nuts eh?

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(OMG WE GUT THX BTTNS)
The problem is, if your shooting at someone, they're thinking it's a real gun either way. You don't think someone with a real gun would paint it bright orange to make cops think it's a toy?
oh well.

I guess cops are too paranoid with the governments terrorism propaganda since 9/11...bah with this post 9/11 nonsense....

They search 8 year olds in airports because they are terror suspects and they worry about bright orange playguns, meanwhile a dude with a bomb up his ass manages to get past dogs security a metal detector and possible other detection....

talk about national security, weee hoo its real secure yee haw...lollol

yup.
what I don't understand is they're illegal and you can't get a permit for them, which contradicts the constution. I tried to get a PAINTBALL blowgun a while ago, but they didn't order to NY because it's illegal. PAINTBALL. not blow dart.
Paint.
Ball.

Are paintball guns illegal in New York?

No, there are arenas and such near me that I used to go to alot. I have a tippman A-5, and it's perfectly legal.
Which is why I don't get any of this.

Yeah, that really makes zero sense, since anything that could be fired out of a paintball blowgun could be muzzle loaded into a paintball gun of the same calibre and fired at much higher velocity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by guitarboy

No, there are arenas and such near me that I used to go to alot. I have a tippman A-5, and it's perfectly legal.
Which is why I don't get any of this.

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Hey, me too! What mods do you have? I've got the e-grip, a car stock, and the flatline.

I have a fore grip that I bought ages ago, a flatline, a barrel shroud, expansion chamber and a few broken things (e-grip, hairline trigger) My friend Ryan used buy kits and shit (like military simulation body modifications ) and mod ours for us, but I ended up breaking most of it. my mom didn't really like it that much (my brother got me in to it and he's in the marines now, now she thinks that i'll do the same) so she made keep my shit in my garage, which is, to be nice, a shithole.

I'd say who cares. Just have fun. I'd assume just as long as you have an orange tip at the end, you should be fine walking around with them. I would just stay inside a park though. Don't bring them into like a shopping center or something haha.