SurveyMonkey for U.S.A. Airsofters

[sgtHanzo]

U.S. Airsofters:

 

Please kindly complete a 5-question survey I created in SurveyMonkey. The topic revolves around how we can keep airsoft 'legal' in the good 'ol U.S. of A.

 

Please click here to take the survey

 

Once we have enough participation, we should be able to use the data gathered in creating a more unified front against those who seek to ban the sport in the U.S.

 

Thanks for your input.

 

 

Hanzo

[Kraut]

5. Will you support a State law that would prohibit individuals from carrying a replica firearm or realistic looking toy gun in a vehicle?

 

How would we take anything to a game then?

[sgtHanzo]

5. Will you support a State law that would prohibit individuals from carrying a replica firearm or realistic looking toy gun in a vehicle?

 

How would we take anything to a game then?

 

The key o this question is to get enough "NO's" so it's not even going to be an issue for lawmakers.

[Dock trinE]

I think it needs to be reworded to say you cant have a realistic toy gun in plain view inside a vehicle.

[sgtHanzo]

It does sound better, dock -- making the change shortly.

[sgtHanzo]

 

Done.

 

BTW, I had to reset the counts to ensure the survey has an even and accurate keel.

[Kraut]

The key o this question is to get enough "NO's" so it's not even going to be an issue for lawmakers.

Roge

 

 

I think it needs to be reworded to say you cant have a realistic toy gun in plain view inside a vehicle.

Keep in mind, it's legal in a lot of states to have a real gun in plain view inside a vehicle. (Gun rack, anyone?)

[PlasticMag]

As someone who makes surveys for a living, this survey sucks. Every question (minus the first) is loaded, and won't be accepted by a most people who work with legislature as legitimate.

 

It looks like you're letting an obvious bias shine through. Bad idea.

[arivee]

As someone who makes surveys for a living, this survey sucks. Every question (minus the first) is loaded, and won't be accepted by a most people who work with legislature as legitimate.

 

It looks like you're letting an obvious bias shine through. Bad idea.

 

Rather than denigrate the efforts of Hanzo - why not be objective and provide comments on how to improve the survey?

 

If you read through the few exchanges in this thread, Hanzo was open enough to change the nature of the survey.

 

If you dont have the time nor inclination, then you have just wasted a few gallons of the internet and made baby jeebus cry.

[PlasticMag]

Okay, here's suggestions:

 

-Seperate the questions. You're using SM, which I know is limited about the number of questions. That's fine. Those 5 questions should be 15. Make some 7-point questions, not a simple yes or no (i.e. do you agree with / strongly agree... strongly disagree

 

More then that takes time, it's not easy to build a good survey. Just don't expect that one to go far, and if you think my posts are a waste, I'm sorry you read them, I'm not giving your time back.

 

Airsoft needs to get back to small games with few people, not this commercial ######.

[leafer]

Number 3: I'm just curious. Would a law abiding citizen have a problem with it and why?

 

Also, I think it might be worth adding a question about a background check and a 15 day waiting period - like real firearm.

 

PlasticMag,

 

What is the logic behind keeping airsoft a niche sport beside the the fact that all AEG's would be expensive as hell? I'm really curious here.

[PlasticMag]

This is going off-topic, but I'd rather have a smaller group of good, honest players who have to 'earn' the right to play by buying in and not being an *beep* vice the larger group who can just buy cheap guns and go to commercial fields where they can be asshats all day.

 

Locally I've noticed cheating and bad sportsmanship skyrocketing in the last year alone as the player base opens up and new fields show up looking for cash first and foremost. I don't play at public games 90% of the time now.

[leafer]

Ahh. I see your point and can relate. I live in a tiny town where most people can't even afford the Chi clones. The few that could, about 20 people total, do as they please at the range because the range owner is afraid to enforce the safety rules, which is plastered in big honking letters: "Safety on at all times in the safe zone", in fear of losing the few regular customers that he has. But ok, I can live with them shooting in the safe zone, but a few shoot while you're standing near the BB's path. sigh...

[Kraut]

This is going off-topic, but I'd rather have a smaller group of good, honest players who have to 'earn' the right to play by buying in and not being an *beep* vice the larger group who can just buy cheap guns and go to commercial fields where they can be asshats all day.

 

Locally I've noticed cheating and bad sportsmanship skyrocketing in the last year alone as the player base opens up and new fields show up looking for cash first and foremost. I don't play at public games 90% of the time now.

Hence why we have privately owned land run by experienced Admin who are there for the game, not to make money. When we DO want to make money, it's put back into the field we are using (structures, rentals, etc). We are increasing our player base, but keeping it regulated. If people don't like the strictness of our milsim, we say too bad and they don't have to come back.

[sgtHanzo]

PlasticMag - In the interest of the sport, I wouldn't mind having you take the lead and creating a more "unbiased" survey. Surveying/polling is not my line of work and I will admit that the 6-Question survey I've put in SM is biased towards us, players. My only attachment to this is that we generate enough numbers that will enable lawmakers to take notice of our efforts to put responsibility and accountabiliy where they belong.

 

Also, folks please kindly limit your comments/suggestions to the survey at hand. The do's and don't from each of your respective fields/experience are bigger conversations than what this topic was originally intended for.

 

Thanks for the feedback/input to-date.

 

Cheers!

 

Hanzo.

[PlasticMag]

I can't take the lead unless you have money. Lack of interest, straight up lack of time, the usual. I've been playing far too long and seeing the continuous 'sky is falling' posts and topics and 'get people interested' thread. Money motivates me, making a good survey is no easy task.

[RedScare]

then dont complain

[infected]

I'm curious why you're focused on STATE laws. Federal laws can be created as well. In fact a year ago there was a federal proposal under construction. Nothing much happened with it. I can't find the info on it right now though.

 

You might want to drop the word state.

[sgtHanzo]

I'm curious why you're focused on STATE laws. Federal laws can be created as well. In fact a year ago there was a federal proposal under construction. Nothing much happened with it. I can't find the info on it right now though.

 

You might want to drop the word state.

 

Constitutional restrictions segregate law-making work between the State and the Fed. These two bodies just need to figure out where the 'law-making' responsibility falls. In the absence of such clarity, of course, the SC rules.

 

With that in mind, there is indeed a bill (2nd Amendment bill on local/State's rights to impose gun (replica or real) restrictions) scheduled to be heard by the SC justices shortly. If the SC justices vote in our favor, local and State governments will have to make way. However, the local/State governments are also notorious to going around Federal mandates by invoking "State privileges" stuff.

 

We'll see how it goes.

 

PLASTICMAG -- I guess you can just watch and be noisy from the sideline, then. Figures...

 

Hanzo, out.

[Gigueand]

Honestly, I appreciate the idea that you have here, but I've got to put a word in for Plasticmag. I also read your survey and was about to post my critique of it as a person who has had to construct surveys for academic research, but I chose not to intervene in the conversation. Plasticmag's comments, and his lack of interest, are a result of knowing how time consuming and difficult it is to construct an appropriate and well functioning survey that will provide you with the answers that you need to continue your research or support your hypothesis.

 

Ok, back on to topic.

 

I take it that this post is in response to the previous off-topic thread (then moved to general discussion) about potential changes in the law regarding airsoft guns in the U.S. Honestly, we've seen this sort of thing before. It comes up time and time again and nothing ever comes of it. The pro-gun lobby is too strong to accept changes to laws regarding guns, even if they are immitations.

 

This is what the Faux News article said:

 

Among those 15 states, seven bills limiting fake guns are pending this year and 21 have been enacted since 1990, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some states have enacted or are considering multiple measures. They range from prohibiting imitation firearms in vehicles to banning the toys from convenience stores.

 

Tennessee lawmakers are considering a proposal by state Rep. John Deberry to make it a misdemeanor to intentionally display or expose "an imitation firearm in a public place in a threatening manner." Exceptions include justifiable self defense, lawful hunting, and displays such as a museum collection.

 

Now, those suggestions are really quite good. Banning these cheap guns from convenience stores keeps them out of the hands of children. But they are not suggesting banning airsoft guns from every retail store, or banning the sale of airsoft guns in general.

 

Making it illegal to drive with an imitation firearm in plain-sight in your car, or having it be illegal to display one in a public area also makes sense.

 

These are good suggestions that will safeguard airsoft's future in the U.S. by punishing those who abuse airsoft guns. None of these suggestions are arguing for a total ban on the sale of these items.

 

In any case, this quote

 

National Rifle Association spokesman Ashley Varner said anti-toy gun legislation is "silly" because "it doesn't deal with issues of crime."

 

"It won't eradicate the human element of the crime," she said. "It doesn't target getting criminals off the street."

 

Shows that the NRA isn't to keen on any of these suggestions and will probably act to thwart them. If the NRA isn't going to allow these measures to move forward then there is little likelihood that they would allow a total BAN of airsoft guns.

[sgtHanzo]

For those who participated in the survey, please find below the results of the survey at the 100th mark (taken yesterday morning). They're pretty much self-explanatory. However, some are open to further discussion as some of you have already done. At least we now know where a good portion of the sampling stands on these key questions.

 

Thanks for participating.