Friday, November 13, 2009

Don't Shoot Your Eye Out - Airsoft Guns And Safety Rules

By Anthony Carter

As we write this article, we would like to let you in on some of the excitement of these airsoft guns. You see, for many years, these guns have been very popular. We got into them about a year ago and ever since then, we have been interested in the different types. Our friends even come over from time to time to play with these guns. Why? Well, because they are so much fun. As we write this article, we would like to not only tell you how much fun they are, but we would like to tell you about some safety rules behind them. Almost everyone remembers the famous line in A Christmas Story: "You'll shoot your eye out with a BB gun!" Although we tend to laugh at this line, airsoft guns can be dangerous, and it's important to know some basic safety rules.

If you have a pre-teen or teenage boy, chances are that he's already asked you for an airsoft gun for Christmas or his birthday. These guns are perfectly safe, but it's important to you know and enforce some basic safety rules.

The best thing you can do is read up on safety rules and talk to your parents about them. They probably think you won't use the gun safely or don't even know how safe it is. If you can show them you take gun safety seriously, they might change their minds.

First, promise your parents that you will never take your gun to school or show it off in public. Doing these things can be very dangerous; you can get kicked out of school or shot by a police officer if you break this rule. In fact, you should always carry your gun in a gun case and never use it other than on an airsoft range.

Show your parents all the protective gear you'd be willing to wear if you had an air gun. In addition to goggles, you should wear a bulletproof vest, guards over your shins, forearms, and hips, knee protectors, steel toe combat boots, and leather gloves. All this equipment is a hassle to put on, but it keeps you safe if other people are being stupid with their guns.

Finally, your child needs to pay attention while on the range. When shooting, he should first check to make sure there are no other people within range of the target. It is a good idea in general to be aware of one's surroundings when shooting in order to minimize accidents.

There are some games that do allow shooting at human targets. It is up to you whether or not to allow your child to participate. These games require the protective gear described above.

If you supervise your child and teach him to use his new gun safely, there is no reason not to allow him to have one. Only you know, however, if your child is mature enough to have an airsoft gun.

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