The #1 Online Comunity for Airsoft Teams
The rise and decline of airsoft...following in paintball's steps
First off, this topic is not intended to harm or start a flame war. I will be using teams in Utah as an example as why airsoft is rapidly losing popularity as a sport, and is being banned a lot more across the country.
I have been on the airsoft scene in Utah for about 5 years now. And I did sponsor my own team. So what I am going to write about is a cautionary post for all airsofters to read. Because, it is up to us to either promote airsoft as a safe, and fun activity,or watch it fall by the way side as paint ball did in my state.
Bauer, Utah. population, 0 + a bunch of wildcats. Bauer had what every airsoft team dreams of,old abandoned houses, storage ware houses, and a empty school. And what was the best part, was it was free to get in. That is until airsofters started to bring illegal hand grenades(yes,a local team set off a military issue smoke grenade, which prompted the call out of 1 fire department to come down and put out a small fire)and this was during a hazardous fire day. that was posted that one particular summer. Other teams brought out real-steel fire arms, did not set up range boundary's and the resulting fire from fire arms ranging from 9mm to 7.62mm ended up hitting a nearby construction companies equipment causing damage to some cement mixers. And as always, there was either marijuana or alcohol at these events held at this location.
Its bad enough when you see on the news stories about people robbing banks with airsoft guns, but to lose such a prime location for game play is a mortal sin to the sport. These events I just mentioned happened in 2007.
Another site airsofters liked to go skirmish at was called eursoftastan, otherwise known as the factory. The place was a abandoned brick factory located 90 minutes west of Salt Lake City. And now, this site is patrolled and citations issued for trespassing because a airsofter ignored safety guide lines set out from one of the major teams in the state, entered a building, and fell into a pit and ended up with a punctured lung. The major team did contact the land owners,and got permission to host games at this on particular site. But, as usual, some fool just had to ruin it for every body.
Airsoft seems to bring out either the best, or worst in people and teams. And as a result, a local ghost town was recently torn down, the land fenced off, and local sheriff patrols ended up enforcing a strict no trespassing policy. But that is not the worst...Our state lost a valuable resources to host airsoft games in, and the support of the local communities as a whole.
Now, its 2009. Airsoft guns are banned in one major Utah city. And other cities have followed suit. One local team disbanded, and no longer hosts large events, and another has continued to host large events, and has stirred concern from federal land management agencies, and local law enforcement. Federal land management agencies are now starting to ban airsoft from public recreation lands due to behavior of some rotten apples, and the environmental damage caused by plastic BBs on local wild life.
And, my question is, is this the death bell tolling for airsoft here in my state?
It is hard to open a airsoft field in most Utah counties due to issues with tax revenue, residential zoning laws,and the reputation of airsofters as a bad crowd.. And to either rent a ware house to open up a indoor arena is so cost prohibitive, that there is actually none in the state.
Folks, this is our call to arms. We have to polish the image of airsoft as a whole. We all have to be responsible for our own behavior, and start changing the tarnished image caused by a bunch of rotten apples. Because,as we all know, the sport is fading. At least in Utah. And unless something positive happens, then airsoft will disappear the way paintball did.
I have been on the airsoft scene in Utah for about 5 years now. And I did sponsor my own team. So what I am going to write about is a cautionary post for all airsofters to read. Because, it is up to us to either promote airsoft as a safe, and fun activity,or watch it fall by the way side as paint ball did in my state.
Bauer, Utah. population, 0 + a bunch of wildcats. Bauer had what every airsoft team dreams of,old abandoned houses, storage ware houses, and a empty school. And what was the best part, was it was free to get in. That is until airsofters started to bring illegal hand grenades(yes,a local team set off a military issue smoke grenade, which prompted the call out of 1 fire department to come down and put out a small fire)and this was during a hazardous fire day. that was posted that one particular summer. Other teams brought out real-steel fire arms, did not set up range boundary's and the resulting fire from fire arms ranging from 9mm to 7.62mm ended up hitting a nearby construction companies equipment causing damage to some cement mixers. And as always, there was either marijuana or alcohol at these events held at this location.
Its bad enough when you see on the news stories about people robbing banks with airsoft guns, but to lose such a prime location for game play is a mortal sin to the sport. These events I just mentioned happened in 2007.
Another site airsofters liked to go skirmish at was called eursoftastan, otherwise known as the factory. The place was a abandoned brick factory located 90 minutes west of Salt Lake City. And now, this site is patrolled and citations issued for trespassing because a airsofter ignored safety guide lines set out from one of the major teams in the state, entered a building, and fell into a pit and ended up with a punctured lung. The major team did contact the land owners,and got permission to host games at this on particular site. But, as usual, some fool just had to ruin it for every body.
Airsoft seems to bring out either the best, or worst in people and teams. And as a result, a local ghost town was recently torn down, the land fenced off, and local sheriff patrols ended up enforcing a strict no trespassing policy. But that is not the worst...Our state lost a valuable resources to host airsoft games in, and the support of the local communities as a whole.
Now, its 2009. Airsoft guns are banned in one major Utah city. And other cities have followed suit. One local team disbanded, and no longer hosts large events, and another has continued to host large events, and has stirred concern from federal land management agencies, and local law enforcement. Federal land management agencies are now starting to ban airsoft from public recreation lands due to behavior of some rotten apples, and the environmental damage caused by plastic BBs on local wild life.
And, my question is, is this the death bell tolling for airsoft here in my state?
It is hard to open a airsoft field in most Utah counties due to issues with tax revenue, residential zoning laws,and the reputation of airsofters as a bad crowd.. And to either rent a ware house to open up a indoor arena is so cost prohibitive, that there is actually none in the state.
Folks, this is our call to arms. We have to polish the image of airsoft as a whole. We all have to be responsible for our own behavior, and start changing the tarnished image caused by a bunch of rotten apples. Because,as we all know, the sport is fading. At least in Utah. And unless something positive happens, then airsoft will disappear the way paintball did.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by ColdZero on -
I feel your pain. Have you or anyone in your "airsoft community" talked to the law enforcement community? I'm sure you have, but have you tried to educate them in the use of airsoft in use of there own training?
I had a similar problem in my home town. I at first took the airsoft weapons to my local law enforcement and showed them what I was bringing to the community and they brushed me off. A few years later, we started having the same problems everyone around the country is having. But, a few years after I showed my local police the airsoft weapons, I became a police office and was able to educate some of the other officers.
Some of the those officers saw the benefit in the use of training with airsoft weapons that we now have just purchased a few Blow Back M4's.
So, my advice, and it might be a tough battle, is to go back and talk to your local law enforcement.
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Permalink Reply by Cyclos on -
i totally agree if you can convince them that every sport always has ba da apple or two but not to judge the others by that and give them a chance that can bring in great tourism from the major events. I do have to say good luck though and we shouldnt let airsoft die like paintball it wont be right.
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