Airsoft News: Sackett Shows Council Airsoft Guns

Sonoma Police Chief Bret Sackett brought his guns to town Wednesday night or, to be precise, he brought them to the City Council meeting, a few steps from his office at the police station, and passed them around the room.

POLICE CHIEF BRET SACKETT holds up a real and fake .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic pistol.
The real pistol is in Sackett's right hand. Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune

Sackett had his guns to make a point, albeit not like Billy Joe, the tragic figure in the famous Johnny Cash song who defies his mother, brings his guns to town and is shot dead in a bar. Sackett was there at the request of Councilmember Joanne Sanders who read a recent news story about the police department's intention to crack down on simulated guns. The chief's guns included a 9 mm Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun and two .40 caliber, Model 23 Glock semi-automatic pistols, the gun chosen by the FBI as the bureau's official service weapon.

Sackett said the MP5 was the same assault weapon he used as a member of the Sheriff's Department's SWAT Team, the only difference being that the one circulating through the audience fired plastic "AirSoft" BBs instead of bullets. And of the two Glocks he held up to display, one was an AirSoft pistol and one was his own, unloaded, service pistol. The two looked identical, the AirSoft version even having a functional slide and clip release like the real thing.

Sacket told the council that in one survey of law enforcement officers, 14 out of 40 failed to recognize under close examination that an AirSoft gun wasn't the real thing.

Their close resemblance to real weapons poses a clear dilemma for law enforcement officers who have encountered AirSoft weapons on the street and, in the case of a Florida student, responded with deadly consequences. That young man was brandishing an AirSoft gun with the mandatory orange tip painted black and was shot and killed by police.
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In Sonoma in November, police arrested an El Verano man in a fast food restaurant who brandished an AirSoft gun at a customer, demanding food.

Typical muzzle velocities for AirSoft pistols can exceed 450 feet a second, approaching or even exceeding the speed of real small-caliber ammunition like the .22 short pistol cartridge.

Sackett shared a quote from a children's center in Dayton, Ohio, that children have been treated with AirSoft BBs "in the lung, liver, heart, brain and eye."

He explained that a number of state and city laws forbid the discharge of the guns inside city limits within 500 feet of a home, and that even brandishing one of the guns in a threatening manner is a misdemeanor punishable with a jail term of not less than 30 days.

Source: David Bolling (INDEX-TRIBUNE EDITOR) | Sonomanews.com

Airsoft New Arrival: Echo1USA Stag Arms M8A3 - Redesigned

Echo 1 revealed the details of their redesigned Stag Arms M8A3...

Just arrived, The completely redesigned Echo1USA Stag Arms M8A3 now features a Crane stock and an 8mm Bearing Gearbox.

Key features include a free floating monolithic style RAS, back up iron sights, and a threaded outer barrel. (Echo 1)

See this videos for more of an Echo1USA Stag Arms M8A3:





Continue reading for other details about Echo1USA Stag Arms M8A3:

The STAG-15 series from ECHO 1 more accurately represents the modern AR type rifle with updated matte black finished receivers which replaced the grey receivers of the older AR rifles. Each receiver is engraved with fully licensed trademarks from STAG ARMS which dramatically heightens the rifles realistic appearance. STAG ARMS manufacturers the real 5.56mm cal. rifle and is one of the largest manufacturers of AR type rifles in the United States today.

The M8A3 features a full metal CNC machined RAS with free floating barrel. Its receiver is very similar to those found on the other STAG-15 series rifles with the exception of the selector designators which are reminiscent of those found on H&K rifles. It also has flip up iron sights with the rear sight featuring a dual aperture peep sight which is adjustable for windage. Both sights can easily be removed if needed for a clear scope picture. The stock is a traditional LE style which is collapsible in six positions to best fit the shooter. The M8A3 will accept M4/M16 series AEG magazines so you will have no problem swapping magazines with your teammates M4 rifles.

Inside of the M8A3 is a full metal Version 2 gearbox fitted with a high performance spring, ported piston head, steel gears, metal spring guide and metal bushings. This produces a sizzling 415 fps at the muzzle making it possible to easily engage targets at over 60 yards when used with .28g BBs.

Airsoft News: Store Aims For Airsoft Crowd

David Greene was first introduced to airsoft guns – they shoot little plastic pellets that police use in training – while he was with the Army infantry in Korea in 1995.

The idea to open a Frankfort airsoft gun and supply store popped into his head earlier this year.

That was after a teammate on his airsoft team (Frankfort Elite Airsoft Regiment, or FEAR) needed a new gun just before a competition. Nothing was available locally.

Greene, a 38 year-old civilian contractor with the National Guard, and his friends drove to an airsoft store in Cincinnati – the closest – and Greene came back impressed.

He and his wife, Heather, 40, opened Dave’s Airsoft in October, and Greene says the response on opening day was “fantastic.”

“We had a lot of people coming in,” he said. “We’ve kind of lacked on advertising so far because we’re just starting out, but word of mouth is spreading quickly.

“I’ve had a great response from friends around the surrounding area saying everyone’s been playing, but there wasn’t a store in Central Kentucky until now.”

Greene’s customers include college students, law enforcement officers and current and former military personnel.

Teams form and compete in a way similar to paintball players.

Frankfort Police enlisted the services of FEAR during a hostage training exercise. The airsoft team acted as criminals holding a classroom of students at Frankfort High hostage, and the police swept them out.

“They had to clear out of the high school, secure the hostages and terminate us,” Greene explained.

Airsoft guns were used to simulate firearms, and Greene said the officers seemed interested in using the guns for recreational purposes.

Greene said airsoft can provide low cost training for law enforcement. He plans to contact state police and others to gauge their interest in similar training exercises.

“Police can use airsoft in lieu of firearms,” Greene said, adding that it gives them a realistic and hands-on training method.

For the everyday customer who doesn’t train for hostage situations, Dave’s Airsoft offers some of the lowest prices on guns and equipment. Greene says he prices everything 2 to 3 percent lower than what you would find online.

Prices for rifles range from $139-$305, and handguns go for about $50. Soon they’ll also be selling airsoft guns for younger kids and teenagers at around $50.

Dave’s Airsoft also sells all necessary airsoft equipment, like eye protection.

The advantage of shopping at his store, Greene says, is getting to feel the gun before buying it and not paying shipping and handling.

“There’s no guesswork. You can get your hands on the weapon, feel how durable it is, see how the stitching is on the gear.”

Another key feature is an in-store firing range next to the cash register. Customers can fire a weapon before buying it to see how it performs.

Greene says about 80 percent of his customers use the target range before buying a gun.

“You can look at the gun and hold the gun, but after you fire it, that’s what makes you decide,” he said.

The hardest part of opening the store, Greene said, was finding wholesalers to supply it. Dave’s Airsoft primarily deals with Jag Precision and JG – a sister company.

JG stands for “jing gong” in Chinese, which translates to English as “golden bow.”

Greene says having a wife who’s co-owned her own store helps a lot, since she knows the ins and outs of running a business.

The two make a perfect team, because what she brings in business knowledge, he matches with airsoft knowledge.

“We even each other out,” Greene says.

Originally from Jamestown, N.Y, Greene says he’s at home in Frankfort. He wants the store to succeed, but he doesn’t want to get too big.

“I don’t want to be Walmart or anything, but I’d like to give back and introduce people in the community to it,” he said.

“It’s a lot of fun and it teaches leadership and builds self-confidence. It’s just a great social program where people can meet on an even playing field.”

Source: state-journal.com (November 10, 2009) by Kevin Wheatley

Local News: Airsoft Gun Attack

Guy With Air Guns Pulls Prank, Goes to Jail

Lots of charges have piled up for a La Crosse guy after his Halloween pranking went way too far. Cops say 23 year-old Jordan Seielstad was lurking about his southside neighborhood dressed in black on Saturday night. Apparently tried to rob a couple of kids of their Halloween candy by pointing an AirSoft gun at them. Then pistol whipped another kid and tore a chunk of his lip off before chasing them around town in his car. Cops say they found Seielstad hiding twenty feet up in a tree. He says he was just trying to scare the kids and told them, "Happy Halloween" to let them know all of it was just in fun.

Source: Mitch (November 02, 2009)

AirSplat in the Halloween Spirit with King of the Hill Selling

Arcadia, Ca. (WiredPRNews.com) October 28, 2009 — Halloween is quickly approaching and everyone is getting ready to dress up as their favorite characters and monsters. Adults and kids alike will be running around with plastic pumpkins asking for candy.

http://www.airsplat.com [AirSplat Airsoft Guns], The Nation’s Largest Airsoft Retailer, is full of exciting new updates including getting’ dressed up” by changing their voice prompts to Hank Hill from King of the Hill. It’s an uncanny voice impression and deserves a listen. They are encouraging everyone to call, even if not planning on buying any airsoft guns for Halloween costumes. They can be reached at (626) 357-5700 or (626) 377-4818.

They promise a laugh when listening to Hank Hill saying, “We sell airsoft guns, and airsoft accessories”. There also a small début by Boomhauer. This is AirSplat’s Halloween sprit in full swing! A mystery surprise voice is in the prompts as well, happy hunting.

“There’s no better fit than gun-slinging Texas Republican like Hank Hill to greet our gun loving airsoft customers,” stated Kenneth Wilson, Marketing Director at AirSplat. “And what better time than during Halloween to have a little fun with airsoft other than shooting them at each other.”

This is one of the several fun things AirSplat has rolled out in the name of airsoft fun. Just 2 weeks ago they launched a new AirSplat ON DEMAND channel on YouTube featuring an Jake D, an ex-military gun operator, doing reviews of the most popular and newest airsoft guns. And just last month they released an http://www.airsplat.com/airsoft-info.htm [Airsoft Guide] for everything about airsoft, it includes diagrams, definitions, charts, videos, reviews, safety, and much more.

AirSplat is The Nation’s Largest Airsoft Retailer and takes pride in its fast (and sometimes free) shipping and cheap prices for all airsoft guns and accessories. They are so confident that airsoft shoppers won’t find cheaper airsoft guns, they have a 110% price match guarantee. Not only will they match the price of any competitor, they will refund an extra 10%!

They have a huge selection of airsoft rifles, guns, and accessories. Rifles include sniper rifles, spring and electric. On top of that, they have a full selection of airsoft accessories; such as BB’s, scopes, mounts, slings. And for tactical apparel or airsoft gear, they have it too, from vests, to helmets and goggles. And the extra airsoft goodies that everyone loves: grenades, rocket launchers, radios, flash bangs, and airsoft grenade launchers.

And don’t forget, they’re on http://www.facebook.com/airsplat [FaceBook], http://twitter.com/AirSplat [Twitter], http://airsoftgunwarehouse.blogspot.com/ [Blogger], and http://www.youtube.com/user/AirSplatcom [YouTube]

Happy Halloween.

Source: WiredPRNews.com - Press Releases, Sports)2009-10-30 03:47:46 (GMT)