I completely understand where you're coming from. But saying airsoft pistols are unsafe is ridiculous. Driving in a car isn't safe...riding a bike isn't safe...etc, etc. There are many things that aren't safe; that's why there are seat belts and bike helmets. The real issue is children using airsoft guns without the proper supervision, and usually in their own backyard. This is definitely a real concern, and I hope parents exercise a little more caution over how these recreation items are used.

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Thank you for your post regarding dangers of airsoft guns. My son and freind have been extremely responsible with using protective eye wear. This past weekend, the boys were playing with airsoft guns and from a distance of about 40 yards, my son (13yrs. old) was hit in the front tooth by an airsoft BB. The BB broke his front tooth in half on a diagonal from top left to bottom right. His nerves were exposed and is now having a root canal performed. We're hoping the broken half can be reattached. Please be warned, these guns are not as "safe" as they claim to be.

Thank you for caring enough to warn other parents. I have tried to find statistics on AirSoft gun accidents without success. There is very little about how dangerous the guns are and how misleading the name of the gun "soft" is to parents. Friday night my son and three other boys were ending their night of bike riding and playing basketball. They were in my kitchen when they received a request from the neighbor friend to come over because he had a surprise for my son. The "surprise" was to be hidden in the neighbors fire pit. The "surprise" was actually an attack by an Airsoft gun that hit my son in the neck and chest several times drawing blood. There is indication that the neighbor was upset with my son because he was not part of the activities. I do not know if this is true. Because the boys have all been well versed in the importance of wearing masks and gear when playing with the guns: I was extremely concerned. I took my reluctant son to the neighbor’s house to get support from the parents - to have ALL of the boys know this is serious and that they all must learn. Now the Mom seems upset with me. Also took them to other neighbor, they understood. The teens are not yet in high school, but are old enough to know the danger! The most upsetting part was to hear my son say how "exhilarating" the experience was! He was not upset with his friend. He was not willing to set a boundary to to let this boy know what he did was not acceptable.

We have changed the policy in our household. Airguns are locked and only permitted if my son completes a gun safety class (paid for with his own money) and if he follows through, will only be permitted to use the Airsoft gun at a designated Airsoft arena - with his own money. My guess, it will all fade away because he will not want to spend his money on a class... My real goal is to change the laws. My husband and I regretfully allowed the guns under strict guidelines that the boys were obviously not old enough or too impulsive to follow.

Is anyone else grouping together to put restrictions on Airsoft gun use by teens? If so, how do I get involved? How can I help?

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FOR ALL THOSE PARENTS OUT THERE, THAT SEEM TO THINK THAT ANY PRODUCT CONTAINING THE WORD GUN OR SOFT IN THE SAME PACKAGE ARE SAFE FOR CHILDREN, I guess youre parents never made you watch the classic holiday movie A CHRISTMAS STORY. Where the child gets his first red ryder bb gun, all the while his moms childs him "youll shoot your eye out>"
Please on you way to starbucks next time stop by blockbuster, and since you would not read the 10 page disclaimer that was included with those type of products, as required by underwriters labratory.. Watch the movie and see what happens. Quit crying to everbody else about what went wrong and take some responsibility for youre own actions, the world is hard enough let them stay kids for a while, before they have to pack heat...GOD BLESS..

You know just when you think you have heard it all, there it is. what are children doing unsupervised with any type of apparatus I:E GUN, TOY, SLINGSHOT, OR ANY DIVICE CAPABLE OF DISCHARGE UNDER PRESSURE. in the first place, could it be that theyre parents are nothing more than children, in an adult body? the children are not at fault, its the parents who need to be told. While im sorry to hear about any injury to children out of the ignorance of theyre parents. There should be a law...GOD SAVE THE CHILDREN BECAUSE THE PARENTS OBVIOUSLY WILL NOT..

Right now, on Christmas Eve.......My 10 yr old daughter is lying in a recliner. She can't play with any of her toys that she will receive on Christmas. She is not allowed to read, she cannot draw, she cannot play video games. If all goes well next Monday, she may not have a traumatic cataract. If she moves, jumps, plays, or breaks the rules, her eye will start bleeding again and she may never see out of her right eye again.

She has to have eye drops four times a day to keep her eye dialted. She cannot stand the light, so the house is pretty dark.

She and her sister were at a friends house where the kids were playing with one of those guns, and she was shot, close range, straight into her right eye.

She aspires to be a scientist. She can only focus on one thing, that she wants to go to MIT..........all of that may just be a dream for her.....now forever.

We have five days to wait .......and pray.....that she will see out of that eye again.

I want to scream.....yell....cry! She's just a BABY!

I would never allow such a toy, but I can't control other parent's actions.

So we wait...and keep her calm, and try to entertain her...........just so that she can see the New Years.

If you think this is a cool toy for your kids.....I IMPLORE YOU to think twice.

now i disagree that they are dangerous. 2 words: PLASTIC BB'S!!!! sure eye injury, but you are an idiot to not wear glasses while in "combat". even at point blank its hard to get any blood to show. i even think at 310 fps, its hard to get any red. you could probably get hurt more in football or lacrosse. its just a sport. DEAL WITH IT! people die in lacrosse. never heard of people getting killed in airsoft.

PS-- Don't reply to this. im only on for this post.

PSS-- i personally dont care what you reply to this post. my opinion is mine.

PSSS-- i like making post scripts.

PSSSS-- ok this is getting boring

I suppose every new sport has some sort of stigma that will become associated with it, i.e. Heelys associated with ankle and head injuries, and while I agree completely that the true danger should be realized and parents should be aware of what their children are potentially exposed to, I would like to mention another part of the story.

Airsoft's original market may well have been children under the age of 18, though one look around the internet will show that it has evolved to become more a sport of young to middle aged adult males, who enjoy having fun, but many are parents themselves and would never, ever allow anyone to remove their goggles near action. The group I play with often encourages full face masks, to prevent broken teeth as a result of smiling during play even.

"Backyard Airsoft" is often frowned upon by many serious players, though I do not believe so, as it may give airsoft a bad image in many towns, either by serious injury or incident with the police. Though "Backyard Airsoft" is how many people begin in this hobby and I do believe it has it's place, though it should never be taken lightly and proper precautions should always be taken.

Airsoft is a great hobby, a better alternative to paintball for one looking for a more serious experience, one where most don BDUs and Tactical vests and will lay in the mud for hours. It isn't for some people, and we like all of our players with both eyes, it makes the game more challenging.

I am writing in comment to Dr. Long's letter concerning the dangers of AirSoft guns. My son saw Dr. Long at 9:30 am, on Tuesday, May 2, 2005 - the very day his letter was published in the Citizen. He was the third boy Dr. Long had seen in a few days with an eye injury from an airsoft gun, the other two were over the weekend and in the emergency room. Dr. Long referred us to a retina specialist in Atlanta where we found out my son has a tear in his retina and had to have it repaired with laser surgery. He has bleeding in his eye and hopefully this will heal with time, without causing scar tissue. WOW!!! We are SO lucky!!

PLEASE listen to the warnings about the dangers Dr. Long talked about! My son has "played" airsoft for some time now and we have always stressed eye protection for everyone!! However, this Sunday, he was in his room, watching a movie with a friend who was just looking at one of his airsoft pistols. The clip, which contains the BB's, was NOT in the gun and the safety was on. However, the gun still fired accidently and unexpectantly, hitting my son on the outer edge of his eye, from a distance of 3-4 feet.

Just like in the injuries Dr. Long spoke of, safety equipment must be USED for it to be effective. And no, my son was not wearing eye protection because he wasn't "playing" airsoft!! But, my concern is that the actual USE of eye protection may also be dangerous, giving a false sense of safety!! Apparently my son made NO effort to shield his eyes with his hands when he heard the airsoft gun go off! I feel he may not have that instinct or reaction because when he is outside playing airsoft and wearing eye protection, he is able to keep is eyes open and his hands on his gun, ready to shoot without the FEAR of being shot in the eye!! Hummmmm, makes you wonder if that natural reflex to protect yourself is eliminated?

Please think twice before letting your child get involved with the airsoft gun craze!! And, just remember, they may be playing it in someone else's backyard!!!