Two reasons:

1. Its possible the cop simply does not know. Possible but doubtful.
2. They have enough court time on their hands and they have to choose between spending it on real crime or spending it on prosecuting someone with a kids toy. Hmmmm go to court to help convict a rapist or go to court to put some idiot in jail for being... an idiot.

Bottom line is when they finally investigate it fully, most of these people are just playing with toy guns and aren't using them in the commission of a crime and are just showing bad judgement in an isolated instance. But that doesn't sell newspapers, so, you have to blow it up into some kind of issue and make headlines like those ones. I think this is yet another example of lieberal media anti-gun bullshit just working towards keeping anti-gun culture alive and well in Canada.

The real solution? Change the heads of the 4 largest media groups, let them purge their editorial staff of pinko-lieberal anti-gun nuts with conservatives and half of this goes away over night and you probably will improve the quality of the reporting immensely.

As for the CBC? Fold the damn thing and tear down the building and build a children's park in its place. I have no use for that organization and I resent my tax dollars funding it. (Yes, I know it isn't a CBC article, I am just saying...)

Airsoft gun law
 

This might sound like a off the edge idea, but why not create and Airsoft gun law inside the comunity. If you are not a member of an airsoft team, you canot buy a gun. Theire is only what 2 or 3 retailers at the most in Canada, why not supply them with a list of teams ( Organised teams ) not just your 3 or 4 guys that give themself a name and go shoot eatch other in the backyard. That way the retailer would know that you are of age and have been verified and that you will be playing in a controled environment....

My 50 cents worth.....

I think Brian nailed it on the head like I just did a few minutes ago in another thread.

If we all assembled under the banner of being re-enactors, changing some of our wording, and even using a bit of political correctness language, we COULD start something.

But pushing the government has done nothing and is not going to help.

If Replicas can be better defined by their being needed for reenactments, then it may solve all our problems.

For the rest, we already started here with the 18+ requirements.

To all of you who are new at this game, dont come and say nothing is done. If you do, you really dont know shit.
When all the 'vets' tell you pretty much the same thing, grab a clue.

Agreed (w/ Grey and Brian). This would legitimize the sport for us. Airsoft, the term, is now forbidden.

Airsofting = Military Re-Enacting or MRE
AEG = Military Re-Enacting Devices or MREDs

Although this sounds sarcastic, we should attempt to use the Military Re-enacting terminology as often as possible. I know MRE has other uses, but who cares.

What he said...

Everyone loves dishing out a good MRED'ding.

BBs = Military Re-Enacting Device Non Pyrotechnic Simulated Amunition? MREDNPSA?

Seriously though, it would appear that the re-enactment route is the way to go, perhaps we shoul really get going with the CAA (Canadian Airsoft Alliance), and try to get a speaking body for the various clubs,teams and regions to represent the players while negotiating with the government? It's an idea I've suggested we ressurect before, but I think it has a better chance now.

That is exactly how to play the government's game. We do exactly what we've done, but we open up a bit with a totally different wording. It may mean we have to be politically correct ourselves, but there are ways to play that game too.
Consider it a game of psychological warfare.

I think there have been some good points put forward here that have a good chance of benefiting the community. Although i will say this, since 2003 there have been so many scares like this that it starts to get annoying...so for all of you who have only been here a short while, calm down. The article is a bitch, but meh, thats life...just part of living in Canada, thats what we get for being "nice".

re-enactors is a lot better than over-reactors!

Goldman, I would suggest we start here, right here, with the accord of the Admins.

We we get all our shit sorted out, then we can take the steps to be visible.

That means nasty decisions; 18+ becomes a final thing. Be 100% legal. Organize a few public games later. And so on.

The bigger teams can help faster, because you guys have a base to start from. Same for Brian; he has a base to work from. Let's see if this flies?

INDIVIDUALLY: We can all stop trying to break the laws, we can all revise what we say, and we can all present airsoft as being a military reenactment group. It's what we really do anyway, but that is far more acceptable to soccer moms.

I support this 100%, its a definate start.

The Manitoba Airsoft Association is already ahead of you guys. We're now a federally registered non-profit sporting organization and have been DOING these exact things.

:D if we are going this route maybe a good start would be to revamp the name and look&feel of this Forum site?

Exactly why I suggest keeping our scary faces:rolleyes: pointing guns at the camera, off the boards. Its smart to play politically correct, because its the politically correct that are on this issue, and not just the police.

And I agree with where you guys are going on this. A little out of the box but you have a point.