Airsoft/real gun look-alikes part 2

Q: Are airsoft guns illegal in the city limits?

A: Airsoft guns are spring, electric, or gas powered air guns that fire small spherical plastic pellets, and usually are replicas (in appearance only) of real firearms. These weapons are full size, weighted replicas of real handguns or rifles, and as police encounter them, that are usually modified to blur the thin line that shows they are not the real thing, including painting or filing off the orange tip, or other wise being modified.

Below is a picture of a Sig Sauer P229- our exact weapon. Near identical in appearance:


These weapons are carried on the streets in the same manner as real guns are, and police and other individuals have no idea if the "man with a gun" call they are responding to are involving legitimate firearms, or airsoft weapons. As such, police are faced with a potentially deadly force situation and we respond to these calls with that and a very heightened awareness in mind. This usually involves putting the airsoft carrying person at gunpoint and treating it like the real thing, since we don't know.

To answer your question, no they are not illegal as of yet to carry, however as I mention above, if the Airsoft is being carried, used, or displayed in an unsafe or irresponsible manner this will likely result in the weapon's permanent confiscation and possibly other criminal charges.