Walking-Iris Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 We had a scary experience this afternoon. My 5 year old ran in and said he saw people with guns. Then my dh and his work partner (we have a home business) came out and also saw the 4 guys. They were in a far off lot and we could just only make out that they were holding handguns and one had a rifle. They were just standing and looking shady and obviously did not belong there and then they split and started walking off among the homes. We decided to call 911 and by the end of the call the operator told me there was an officer there and discovered that they were carrying a paintball gun and 3 air chamber something or others. My ds was really scared and we told him he did the right thing by noticing his environment and coming to tell an adult. Anyway tonight they're out there again. Playing whatever sick game they think is a good time. I call a regular patrol officer this time because I know nothing about whether this is legal and if the officer had told them to move on or what. Apparently it's completely okay according to our city ordinance for guys to walk around wherever in town with realistic looking hand guns and rifles. He said they actually have had a few other calls because people think it's a real gun. How completely stupid is this? Now I'm worried that these guys will consider this lot a fun place to play and make it a habit. Right next to my backyard? I told my boys that they weren't real guns. But I'm not okay with them thinking it's "a-ok" to walk around with something like that. What?every time someone sees a gun "oh it's just a toy" Whoops! not this time. I don't even know who to complain to or what about this ordinance but it seems backwards to me. And I admit that knowing they're just playing a game doesn't make me feel safer. They obviously are the type who think it's a good time to run around a neighborhood playing cops and robbers, (or call of Duty or whatever sick crap)....what else will they think is a good idea one day? I have nothing against these games btw...in an approved park set aside for it for safety and common decent respect for regular people in their homes! Not in the street in the middle of the night! So so so so frustrated that this is no big deal to the cops in my town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I'd be pissed. There are so many reasons that what they're doing is a bad idea. I think if you're on public property and you're carrying a weapon that could be mistaken for a real gun, you should have to follow the same laws that apply to people who carry real guns. In other words, not running around like you think you're freaking Rambo and shooting people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking-Iris Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 http://www.paintball-discounters.com/d/545/air-pistols.htm I looked up what the officer called them and I guess this is it. Believe me one of these in a person's hands from about 40 yards or so looks like a real gun. I am pissed. I don't know. How are city ordinances changed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyontheFarm Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 How are city ordinances changed? By one pissed off parent at a time. Go get that ordinance changed Mom and use it to each your son about how government works! http://www.paintball...air-pistols.htm I looked up what the officer called them and I guess this is it. Believe me one of these in a person's hands from about 40 yards or so looks like a real gun. I am pissed. I don't know. How are city ordinances changed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 http://www.paintball-discounters.com/d/545/air-pistols.htm I looked up what the officer called them and I guess this is it. Believe me one of these in a person's hands from about 40 yards or so looks like a real gun. I am pissed. I don't know. How are city ordinances changed? City ordinances are changed by petition and put for discussion in a town hall meeting. However this might help you now if it is paintball, because the people are not suppose to walk around in public places playing. http://www.paintball-players.org/laws.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenn121 Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Not only are they scaring people but they are taking their lives into their own hands. People have been shot and died by people who felt threatened and did not know it was a paintball or airsoft gun. I think of the poor officer or citizen that may shoot one of these idiots. How would they feel after? They make these "toys" so real these days. I am so sorry you son was scared but what a level head to be able to come in and report it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 http://www.paintball...air-pistols.htm I looked up what the officer called them and I guess this is it. Believe me one of these in a person's hands from about 40 yards or so looks like a real gun. It would look like a real gun to most people from much closer than that. Cops have shot unarmed civilians for carrying things that don't look anything like a gun, thinking the person was armed. These idiots with the paintball guns are risking themselves and everyone around them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking-Iris Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 It would look like a real gun to most people from much closer than that. Cops have shot unarmed civilians for carrying things that don't look anything like a gun, thinking the person was armed. These idiots with the paintball guns are risking themselves and everyone around them. That's exactly what I think. I told my kids that even though they weren't real that if they sees them out again they still need to come in and tell me. Because they look real and they very well could be one time. I told them to not assume that every gun they see is fake and they're never to touch one or go up to a person holding one. He had a lot of questions last night. "If they're guns why didn't the cops arrest them?" I had to explain to a 5 year old what they were and what I thought the men were doing and I also had to share with him my views about what is and isn't appropriate "playthings" and places, even for adults. He really did have a level head. I knew he was playing outside and I asked him about it later and he said he just "saw them standing there looking creepy and holding guns" and he "thought it wasn't right." I don't think they were shooting paintball stuff, just the airsoft things. I think I will begin to think about what to do. Petition crossed my mind. I know a guy on city council and I think I'll just start there informally to see how it works. We became pretty friendly during soccer and he plays in dh's basketball league. I could ask him about the process. The patrol officer said last night that they try to drive by when they get these reports because it's not as "fun" to play if the cops are around. So silly. I just don't understand why they don't go somewhere more remote to "play-act". There's plenty of woods and country areas that no one would notice them or care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I don't think they were shooting paintball stuff, just the airsoft things. Ah. I saw all the paintball stuff on the website and assumed they were some kind of paintball gun. My dh thinks you should go out and get an AT4 (a kind of rocket launcher) and sit on your porch and aim it at them. When they freak out, say, "Hi there! I see you like my rocket launcher. Is it real? Is it fake? Do you really want to find out? GO HOME. Not exactly taking the high road, but I bet they'd find a new place to play with their toy guns. :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMamaBird Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I'd call 911 number Every. Single. Time. they were out there and if I had a good relationship with my neighbors, I'd encourage them to do the same. If the cops aren't going to do anything about it maybe they will if you start making a fuss. Those folks with the guns are running the risk of bumping into the wrong person with an actual gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Same thing happened to me years ago when we first moved here. I thought the neighbor boys were carrying real guns. The boys were surprised when the Sheriff and a few deputies drew their guns on them. They received a talking to and haven't done a paintball in the neighborhood since. They could have been killed. Many people in my neighborhood have guns (FBI, police and military town). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Where I live it would be legal to carry hand guns in public, so it would seem very odd to have a law prohibiting fake ones but allowing real ones. That said, it would freak me out if I saw people actually doing it much. I think the fake ones typically have an orange band near the end of the barrel. You might want to check to see if this is required where you live, and think about working on getting a law passed that requires fake "look alike" guns to have such a distinguishing feature and prohibiting removing that kind of feature. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Same thing happened to me years ago when we first moved here. I thought the neighbor boys were carrying real guns. The boys were surprised when the Sheriff and a few deputies drew their guns on them. They received a talking to and haven't done a paintball in the neighborhood since. They could have been killed. Many people in my neighborhood have guns (FBI, police and military town). Yes, I actually think they are posing more of a risk to themselves than anyone else to do something like that in this day and age. I did let my son play with toy guns when he was a little guy, bit even then, I never wanted him playing with anything realistic-looking out of fear someone would respond as if he had a real gun. Once I knew that these were not real guns, it wouldn't bother me any longer, though, as long as they stayed off of my property. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisbeth Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Where I live it would be legal to carry hand guns in public, so it would seem very odd to have a law prohibiting fake ones but allowing real ones. Yes, I think open carry is permitted in many states/cities. It's concealed carry that the law gets squirrely about. Depending on your state, I would think the police would say, sorry, ma'am, but not only are paint guns legal, but if they were openly carrying real guns it would be too. Here is a map: http://my.opencarry.org/?page_id=103 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Good grief. If strangers walked around out in the country armed like that they'd have a dozen farmers after them. Stupid on so many levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisbeth Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 I wonder what the difference is between open CARRY and openly having them drawn, though. I might have to research that. I prefer to conceal carry for one main reason: if someone comes in to rob a place (or just to kill a bunch of people) with a weaon drawn place and sees me carrying, guess who he picks off first? If he doesn't know what I have, I can neutralize HIM before he hurts anyone (potentially) - because his guard for people firing back will be down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking-Iris Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 Well I haven't seen them again and honestly I don't care other than I don't want them scaring my kids. And I think it's pretty ridiculous that people can walk around scaring people with a "toy', but then again I think it's ridiculous that people can walk around with real guns too. I'm not sorry I called the cops because they do look real and even if I live in an area where it's legal to carry. (I think concealed carry is here too?) I would still call if I saw someone with a weapon in an area where that person and a gun does not belong. Especially since they had them "drawn" and were walking through a neighborhood. It was their behavior and "out of placeness" that was suspect. I once saw a neighbor's teen grandson target practicing with a rifle that could likely have been a BB type gun. It looked sort of real from a distance, but considering I knew the kid and he didn't look suspicious it was no big deal or even worthy of thought. Looking and acting suspicious (which role-playing whatever in a neighborhood does in fact look suspicious) was concerning and scary. All the patrol officer said they could do is to tell them to "move on" and that it's not "wise" to play with or carry those in public because people could believe the worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfarm Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 If the paintball area is next door to your yard where your children play, it is possible that you may be able to get the police to tell them to move on so that they don't accidentally hit your dc while they are outside playing. That said, a paintball hit will hurt and raise a welt, but it is not lethal. If you find any projectile debris in your yard (look soon, though, it is biodegradable), let the police know - that may also give them a reason for asking the guys to move to another location. If you don't like what they are doing, then work to change the laws in your town. Who owns the lot where the guys are playing? Could you appeal to the owner to have it stopped? I mean this gently, but it seems like you are jumping to a lot of assumptions here. Your son describes the men as "looking creepy". What exactly does that mean? Could it be that perhaps they were merely wearing the appropriate gear for paintball? Please remind him that there is no automatic association between creepy and legally carrying a gun. I look like a soccer mom and I often can be seen carrying a real gun here on the farm. My 14yo dd looks like any other 14yo girl, but she also shoots shotgun competitively every weekend. Don't let your ds form an incorrect stereotype that could cause him to see anyone with a gun as a "shady character" and miss a case where a "normal looking person" might be carrying one. Your son did the absolute right thing by telling you about what he thought were people with guns. Please be sure that he understands that this situation is a concern but not a crisis. It would be terrible if he was across the street then next time he saw them, and in his excitement and fear, ran out into traffic to come tell you again. You also say, "There's plenty of woods and country areas that no one would notice them or care." Gee, thanks. If they are such a threat, why would you want to send them my way? BTW, here in the country, we know a lot about guns and use them frequently. We care a GREAT DEAL about how they are used and whether they are being used safely. I am insulted that anyone would perceive that we do not. Most of "the woods and country areas" are privately owned and what you suggest would amount to trespassing. I understand that you are upset, but please be careful to not overreact about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking-Iris Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 If the paintball area is next door to your yard where your children play, it is possible that you may be able to get the police to tell them to move on so that they don't accidentally hit your dc while they are outside playing. That said, a paintball hit will hurt and raise a welt, but it is not lethal. If you find any projectile debris in your yard (look soon, though, it is biodegradable), let the police know - that may also give them a reason for asking the guys to move to another location. If you don't like what they are doing, then work to change the laws in your town. Who owns the lot where the guys are playing? Could you appeal to the owner to have it stopped? I mean this gently, but it seems like you are jumping to a lot of assumptions here. Your son describes the men as "looking creepy". What exactly does that mean? Could it be that perhaps they were merely wearing the appropriate gear for paintball? Please remind him that there is no automatic association between creepy and legally carrying a gun. I look like a soccer mom and I often can be seen carrying a real gun here on the farm. My 14yo dd looks like any other 14yo girl, but she also shoots shotgun competitively every weekend. Don't let your ds form an incorrect stereotype that could cause him to see anyone with a gun as a "shady character" and miss a case where a "normal looking person" might be carrying one. Your son did the absolute right thing by telling you about what he thought were people with guns. Please be sure that he understands that this situation is a concern but not a crisis. It would be terrible if he was across the street then next time he saw them, and in his excitement and fear, ran out into traffic to come tell you again. You also say, "There's plenty of woods and country areas that no one would notice them or care." Gee, thanks. If they are such a threat, why would you want to send them my way? BTW, here in the country, we know a lot about guns and use them frequently. We care a GREAT DEAL about how they are used and whether they are being used safely. I am insulted that anyone would perceive that we do not. Most of "the woods and country areas" are privately owned and what you suggest would amount to trespassing. I understand that you are upset, but please be careful to not overreact about this. Excuse me? Over react? There were three adults who saw 4 men with guns drawn standing and talking in an empty lot and then they split and started spreading among the homes with those drawn weapons. I hardly doubt that anyone over reacted. I don't get where you think my kid could "run into traffic"? There's not any traffic in my backyard, so I'll just leave that. They were wearing regular clothes. My ds thought they were creepy because they had a gun in a place where he knew a gun shouldn't be. And to be fair these guys were role playing, but at the time it certainly didn't look like it to anyone. My ds knew they were out there again that night, and he knew that it was "game" they were playing. Yet I still teach my children that those sort of games are not appropriate (as my families values ymmv) and he understands that teaching my child my values about violent "play" is hardly turning something into a crisis. And I'm sorry, but even if a person was legally able to carry a gun I teach my child to tell me whenever he sees one period. He is fully aware that all people who have guns are not "bad"---his grandfather has guns, his great grandfather hunts, a close family friend hunts. My children know what a gun looks like in real life. He understands now what had happened. But i still do not want him assuming that every time he sees someone with a gun it's no big deal. I'm sorry ymmv but it is a big deal.Especially considering "normal looking people" commit crimes just as often. And by woods and country i mean that there are plenty of parks and wooded areas available to the PUBLIC where playing these sorts of games will be less concerning to people. I didn't say anything about private property or encouraging trespassing. Nor did i say anything about people in the country being less concerned about using guns properly. We could have driven by the same scene and we would have been concerned to see armed men walking through a neighborhood, even in the country. Honestly you're the one making a lot of assumptions about my post and experience that are completely out of left field. But i think you for your parenting advice. that was really warranted. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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