Slow times at the office ATF?

[Irving]

I wonder if this is really about something else. I can't believe the guy giving the total bs reason that they could easily be made into fully automatic machine guns though.

http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/news/topstories/story/ATF-seizes-30-toy-guns-infuriating-local-business/vUVs2QUCAUuZWeRrqgIQaA.cspx


The Martins said they buy their stock from Taiwan because the merchandise is less expensive. But the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives seized a shipment of 30 in October. That shipment is worth around $12,000 and the ATF is promising to destroy the entire shipment.

Special Agent Kelvin Crenshaw said the toys can be easily retro-fitted into dangerous weapons.

"With minimal work it could be converted to a machine gun," Crenshaw said.

[ryanek9freak]

How on earth could they be made into real weapons? They're Airsoft rifles!!!

[Sixgun]

How on earth could they be made into real weapons? They're Airsoft rifles!!!
Like you really don't know. [Coffee]

[Hoser]

Guys, step back from the keyboard. Take a breath. Keep the profanity down to a dull roar. Please.

[Mtn.man]

Now if they fell into the habds of "The Little Rascals" I could see them becoming dangerous.

[Irving]

This is ridiculous. First, they are toys, not Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, or Explosives. How is this any different than confiscating and threatening to destroy fertilizer?

Like I said, there has to be more to this story than what is reported.

[ryanek9freak]

Guys, step back from the keyboard. Take a breath. Keep the profanity down to a dull roar. Please.
Fine, I'll tone it down I suppose. I just can't believe that the ATF would waste their time on a bunch of toys. That's going a little overboard.

[coop68]

This has been happening for many years mostly with customs not the ATF most cases theses guns can not be converted to full auto real steel weapons you would still need the parts and kits for the internals to do so. alot of airsoft rifles are made with cheap metal and parts."pot metal mostly" these are the AEG and electric RC toys that run on gears and motors.

The only rifles that the ATF have gone after in the past are the gas operated rifles which use Green gas which is silicon and propane mix they have banned some gas rifles that where close to the real steel counterparts like the bolt and trigger system which ATF didn't like so they stopped them form getting imported into the states.

this is what i know since i used to be into airsoft.

[sniper7]

wow, seems like a waste of time and energy and tax dollars to me.

maybe they know something we don't know about airsoft.....those guys have all the good shit and 1/3 the price!

[sniper_tim]

City firearms discharge laws typically apply to bb-guns and airsoft guns too, guess the feds wanna get in on that too.

[BuffCyclist]

What I do know is that all airsoft guns MUST have the orange tip painted on the end of the gun. If they don't then they are classified as real firearms (yes, even the clear airsoft guns) and are treated as such.

Seeing as how the ones they were importing didn't have the orange tip, falls under the category of a firearm and must be subject to the laws.

But that's just the way I see it.

[GunTroll]

They are only slow when they take! Unless its a fee. When they give it takes forever! Unless its a royal reaming!

[coop68]

What I do know is that all airsoft guns MUST have the orange tip painted on the end of the gun. If they don't then they are classified as real firearms (yes, even the clear airsoft guns) and are treated as such.

Seeing as how the ones they were importing didn't have the orange tip, falls under the category of a firearm and must be subject to the laws.

But that's just the way I see it.

The orange tip is only required for shipping which classifies it as a toy. if the rifles that where seized by the ATF or customs, did not have the orange tip they are seized on the spot normally burned or broken apart looking for anything illegal.

The orange tip is only required for shipping there is no law that i have found that require you to have it on because when it comes down to it weather you have an orange tip or not a police officer is still going to treat you like if you have a real weapon cause he doesn't know if you painted a real gun or its a toy. so i treated my airsoft like a real gun. taken out only on land away from the public on large private property or national forest land that we where permitted to use alot of airsofters play at rampart every weekend last i herd there were some issues with the rangers but has been fixed since than.

my info has come from years of playing airsoft and going through the legal issue that come with the sport i was on a forum called www.Coloradoairsoft.org (http://www.Coloradoairsoft.org) if they have changed this in the last year than i am mistaken but all my airsoft rifles i owned and the ppl i know after receiving them the orange tip ether wear off or break off or get painted over anyway or covered with a fake suppressor for a barrel extension.

what i know, coop

[Troublco]

Hey, if the ATF can't go berserk and seize everything they want then who can?

(FBI, DEA, EPA, I know, I know.....)

[BuffCyclist]

The orange tip is only required for shipping...

And what were the guns doing?

Being shipped.

I know that once you own them you don't have to have the orange tip on them, but they are still treated as real firearms if they don't have the orange tip. I can't remember, but about a year or two ago there was a guy who tried robbing a place with an airsoft gun that had the orange tip removed. He ended up being shot by the police, and if I recall correctly died. The cops treated it as a real firearm.

[KevDen2005]

City firearms discharge laws typically apply to bb-guns and airsoft guns too, guess the feds wanna get in on that too.


I feel bad for the agent that has to go on the news and say in a serious voice that these things can be made into weapons...how did he keep a straight face. He probably got in trouble and got stuck with this assignment

[coop68]

And what were the guns doing?

Being shipped.

I know that once you own them you don't have to have the orange tip on them, but they are still treated as real firearms if they don't have the orange tip. I can't remember, but about a year or two ago there was a guy who tried robbing a place with an airsoft gun that had the orange tip removed. He ended up being shot by the police, and if I recall correctly died. The cops treated it as a real firearm.

sorry for that yeah apologies! correct, i was just clarifying it a little more in depth to much caffeine working on a college paper [Coffee].

[theGinsue]

I'm a member of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers (yeah, a geeky Star Wars costuming group). I was a member of the New England Garrison when I was stationed out by Boston.

The Boston "FOX" (TV/News) affiliate asked for a few costumed troops to be on their morning show (standing in the background during the daily morning political debates and filmed walking around outside interacting with folks) - this was the day before Revenge of the Sith was released.

This studio is along the "Boston Common" and immediately across the street from the Massachusetts State House (where their state Representative meet).

Two of us were in our stormtrooper costumes with another guy in an Imperial Officers uniform. Both of us stormtroopers had the standard E-11 stormtrooper blaster - absolute non-functioning props. Mine was literally an un-modified WalMart purchase while the other guys was a custom job - neither had the orange tips.

We were being filmed with the State House police - the guys guarding the State House - when we got called back inside the FOX studio. We were told the Boston Police were on their way because someone had called them freaking out about 2 guys in white armor waving guns around and pointing them at everyone (something we never do).

The other stormtrooper told me he'd handle it and to go back outside with him - but to stand back until I was called forward. When the patrol car rolled up, the other stormtrooper reached into his armor and pulled out a badge - a Boston Police badge (I was surprised!). He explained the situation to the cops, we both showed our "guns" and they let us go but advised that we stay inside.

This other guy told me that so many people in MA, and Boston specifically, are so afraid of guns (to include the police) that having the orange tip affords a little protection but NOT having the orange tip could have had us shot with little to no provocation.

I was also told as more of a side note that I had violated some Federal law by removing the orange tip from my store-bought blaster.

I'm glad I don't live there any more!!!!