Recent article regarding Replica Guns

**ferratus** · 03-03-2009, 07:22 AM

I am very upset at the recent article regarding replica guns and how it was presented in the Evening Star.

First off I originally gave an interview lasting over 45 minutes with the Journal Gazette in Ft Wayne. For some reason the majority of what I said was left out but a good deal was covered in THAT article.

Then comes along the Evening Star. My hometown newspaper. There is it staring me in the face.

Cops and Robbers??? ARE YOU SERIOUS... We at Butler Indiana Airsoft DO NOT PLAY COPS AND ROBBERS.....I NEVER said at ANYTIME during my interview that we play COPS AND ROBBERS. and obviously the sport of Airsoft or " Airsofting " is not covered worth a crap in the article.

I have urged several people whom I have ties with to write the editor.

Here is what was said in a nutshell.

Airsoft is a game like paintball. Nothing more nothing less. However, it is a game about honesty and integrity. You do not have a paint mark to show you have taken a hit instead you call your outs. We have teams that come from all over Indiana and Ohio to challenge and or play with us in games such as Capture the Flag and other scenarios.

We are part of the Indiana Airsoft Association which boasts approx 20 teams in and around the State of Indiana. Each State has their own association. There are rules about how you conduct yourself on and off the field. IF anyone is found to violate these rules you are removed from the team and banned from playing with us. We do not play cops and robbers.

We support local church groups and teach very important responsibilities, such as respect for weapons, Weapon handling and various other core beliefs. For the most part airsoft is paintball without the mess and or expense.

Each citizen of this great State has a personal responsibility regarding the handling of Airsoft weapons. Part of what I told the reporter was that it is up to the individual person to handle these items responsibly. They look and feel like real guns and thus should be treated as such. I reported that when someone is having a game they should notify their respective law enforcement agency to avoid confusion. That was not reported..... are people TRYING to make the sport look evil for their own personal gain ??.

There is NO DOUBT the sport and its components are dangerous if mishandled. Not only for Law Enforcement but for the community, but again it is up to the individual person to handle them responsibly and as we all know there will ALWAYS be those who act irresponsible and put both our law enforcement and local community at risk.

**ferratus** · 03-03-2009, 07:24 AM

One more thing. If there are any questions as to what we do and what were about check out our webpage at www.butlerairsoft.us or our youtube channel .. Just search Butler Airsoft or Butler Indiana. If you have any questions please feel free to ask or email me at butlerairsoft@yahoo.com

**james_t** · 03-03-2009, 09:15 AM

The story in question was distributed by the Associated Press office for Indiana. KPC reporters did not participate in writing the story.

**hairypumper** · 03-03-2009, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by james_t

The story in question was distributed by the Associated Press office for Indiana. KPC reporters did not participate in writing the story.

Maybe they should have. Isn't checking the facts part of reporting?

**ferratus** · 03-03-2009, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by james_t

The story in question was distributed by the Associated Press office for Indiana. KPC reporters did not participate in writing the story.

As I am being told.. I apologize as I was unaware. The place where i am coming from at this point is that there are ups and downs to this sport as there are with any. However, due to the nature of this sport the consequences are extreme.

Careless use and or misuse of these things are and can be deadly. I just want both sides of the story to be out there for readers well... to read.

Thanks for your time.

**JoeGearhart** · 03-03-2009, 04:14 PM

The article wasn't about the sport of airsoft. It was about the fact that the guns are hard to distinguish from the real thing, and about the risk/danger this poses to the police force (and those carrying the guns).

or maybe I'm just missing something.

**hairypumper** · 03-03-2009, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by JoeGearhart

The article wasn't about the sport of airsoft. It was about the fact that the guns are hard to distinguish from the real thing, and about the risk/danger this poses to the police force (and those carrying the guns).

or maybe I'm just missing something.

You missed something.

**HoosierHelen** · 03-03-2009, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by hairypumper

Maybe they should have. Isn't checking the facts part of reporting?

Hairy, in defence of KPC, I imagine they expect articles from the AP to be reported professionally.

I know when my family Dr. receives a report from a lab or a different speciality Dr., he reads their report with the expectation that report was done in a professional manner? Don't you imagine journalism has a similar expectation from their fellow reporters?

If this AP reporter failed to report correctly, I hope the responsibility falls back to the reporter. They do have an expected standard for their reporting.

Helen

**JoeGearhart** · 03-03-2009, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by hairypumper

You missed something.

Care to clarify? Ferratus says:

Careless use and or misuse of these things are and can be deadly. I just want both sides of the story to be out there for readers well... to read.

I'm failing to understand why he wants the article to go into airsoft, when the story is about the realism of the guns used, not about the actual sport. And about how these guns end up in the hands of children who are playing "cops and robbers" in their backyards.

**ferratus** · 03-04-2009, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by JoeGearhart

Care to clarify? Ferratus says:
I'm failing to understand why he wants the article to go into airsoft, when the story is about the realism of the guns used, not about the actual sport. And about how these guns end up in the hands of children who are playing "cops and robbers" in their backyards.

The point is that this story IS about airsoft as a whole. The sport was not mentioned until the very end of the story. When the story went to print if the mere mention of airsoft teams or the sport was not mentioned there would be no fuss. However, since that part was printed W/O the information that I provided above then it was IMO not a full story.

Let me go this route. If it wasnt brought up to begin with there would be no issue. However, ( not to be redundant ) since it was well... do the math.