Interview with an OPP Officer

[ToRN]

Agreed, and sorry Lotech, didn't mean to shit all over your post, just wanted to correct a few things. I would also comply with a 'request' from an LEO to check my trunk, but if they order you out of your car at gunpoint, regardless of what is or is not in your trunk, because they saw a key, you have legal recourse in that situation.

I wish that we could get more LEOs into airsoft, provincial, municipal, and federal. It would make it far easier for us in the long run to have the authorities properly educated.

I plan on possibly pursuing Law Enforcement in the future, and have the highest respect for all officers, but, like Gryphon, I don't like rumors floating around.

[quikstrike]

Originally Posted by ToRn

No, she didn't.

Not calling you a liar or anything, but you definately have your facts mixed up.
When there is no magazine in a firearm, the slide will not lock back when operated. You must activate the slide lock with your thumb to lock it back.

You just misinterperated him.

And plus I dont think she means by actually going through the car looking, cmon guys. She is saying if she sees one, or feels it is one, she will probably be a bit more cautious and start scanning around with her eyes to make sure there isnt one, not like OMG THERES A KEY FOR A TRIGGER GUARD GET THE F**K ON THE GROUND.

I dont see how it could get so blown out of context. But whatever.

When I read this when it was posted up, I was glad at least another officer knows about airsoft, and what it really is. So score one for the team. No need to start ripping her apart because of the way things were stated. Remember this is the internet, sometimes we depict on how someone means something by they way the say it

But all shiznit aside, I want some cake.

[Gryphon]

Originally Posted by ToRN

I wish that we could get more LEOs into airsoft, provincial, municipal, and federal. It would make it far easier for us in the long run to have the authorities properly educated.

Funny you should mention that. I was out gaming with friends yesterday and we had a railway cop, a city cop, and a customs guy all with us, the latter two being their first time out.

[quikstrike]

Haha, 3 birds with one stone XD

[ToRN]

Gryphon, that sounds like the intro to a very bad joke.

so these three cops walk into an airsoft game.....

[quikstrike]

What would make it an even worse joke is if they walked into the one newbie game out west that aquamarine posted pictures of.

"Fire in the hole" Is all I'm going to say. lol.

[Lotech]

Originally Posted by ToRN

No, she didn't.

Not calling you a liar or anything, but you definately have your facts mixed up.
When there is no magazine in a firearm, the slide will not lock back when operated. You must activate the slide lock with your thumb to lock it back.

Totaly false, and an invasion of privacy. A key does not give probable cause for a search, and any officer who preformed a search, and detained an individual because they saw a key, would be in deep, for unlawful search, and false arrest (oh, didn't you know that by law, if an individual feels that they are not free to leave, they are considered to be under arrest?)

When she pulled back on the slide she may have locked it open with her thumb, what I found amusing was that she looked inside to see if there were any rounds. She also did not say that she would pull a gun on you if she saw a trigger lock key on your key chain. Again, I found it interesting that Police think of looking at key rings for that sort of thing to give them a heads up about someone who owns a gun. By the time an officer has to look at these things you are more than likely already giving them probable cause.

Anyway, this entire thread was to talk about how the noob's are saying it is OK to throw a rifle on the back seat and tell the Police to F Off when they are stopped. The point is not to worry about your civil rights and the letter of the law, it is to go the extra mile to make sure the cops know that main stream Airsoft players are safe.

Relax

[Lotech]

Originally Posted by quikstrike

You just misinterperated him.

And plus I dont think she means by actually going through the car looking, cmon guys. She is saying if she sees one, or feels it is one, she will probably be a bit more cautious and start scanning around with her eyes to make sure there isnt one, not like OMG THERES A KEY FOR A TRIGGER GUARD GET THE F**K ON THE GROUND.

I dont see how it could get so blown out of context. But whatever.

When I read this when it was posted up, I was glad at least another officer knows about airsoft, and what it really is. So score one for the team. No need to start ripping her apart because of the way things were stated. Remember this is the internet, sometimes we depict on how someone means something by they way the say it

But all shiznit aside, I want some cake.

See, quikstrike got it. You guys are on edge or something. The Officer said nothing that should worry any resposible Airsoft player. She thought the guns were very amazing and I was going to ask her out to a game but man, I really think that would be very uncomfortable for her. If the way I told the story was wrong I'm sorry. It was late and I was really just trying to make the point about safety. Let's hope the noob's arent getting off track when reading this.

[Quaff]

If she uses a pistol smaller than the regular issue, it would be the P239. Did she say how many mags she carries? The 239 is a single stack so if she has more than three mags, it's the 239.

I cannot forsee myself ever installing a trigger lock on my airsoft guns. It's not required, useless (I've heard of them being disabled in seconds), and unneccessary. Since it cannot be used to kill someone, I think locking the trigger is overkill. The gun is useless without a battery, so keeping that seperate from the gun is good enough for me.

I work for the OPP (civilian) and have gotten a few officers into airsoft. The thing that worries me is that very few had ever heard of it before. "So it's a lot like paintball?" is the answer I usually get. "Yeah...kinda" is my defeated reply. One problem I see is that the police usually only have negative experiences with airsoft. i.e. some jerk waving it in public.

You'll find that most of them think it's cool.

[Lotech]

Originally Posted by Quaff

If she uses a pistol smaller than the regular issue, it would be the P239. Did she say how many mags she carries? The 239 is a single stack so if she has more than three mags, it's the 239.

I cannot forsee myself ever installing a trigger lock on my airsoft guns. It's not required, useless (I've heard of them being disabled in seconds), and unneccessary. Since it cannot be used to kill someone, I think locking the trigger is overkill. The gun is useless without a battery, so keeping that seperate from the gun is good enough for me.

I work for the OPP (civilian) and have gotten a few officers into airsoft. The thing that worries me is that very few had ever heard of it before. "So it's a lot like paintball?" is the answer I usually get. "Yeah...kinda" is my defeated reply. One problem I see is that the police usually only have negative experiences with airsoft. i.e. some jerk waving it in public.

You'll find that most of them think it's cool.

It could have been the P239 as she said she carried extra mags because her gun only held around 7 bullets. I don't have enough guards for all my guns and I know it is not the law but feel better having one on when showing the pistol to her. I don't mind going a bit overboard on safety. I also re read my first post to see why it got off track and the only problem line was "She also said that went she pulls over people and can see a trigger guard key on their car key chain; she also starts the process of searching for weapons and becoming alert to the fact that you have a gun." So to put it better. When this Officer pulls someone over, she looks at you and everything around you to make sure everything looks OK. If she sees a gun lock key she keeps in the back of her mind that you have access to some sort of weapon. Like a good cop who wants to go home, she will search with her eyes for any sign of weapons in view inside your car. She may even look a bit harder knowing you have access to a gun. She will not open the trunk or rip the seats out or pull her gun and order you to the floor. I hope this clears things up.

At the end of the evening, this OPP Officer knew what Airsoft was and had seen both a pistol and a MP5K. She now understands what Airsoft is and who plays it. I was very happy to educate an OPP Officer on what Airsoft is and present it in a light so that she did not have any problem with it. She was understanding and professional. I hope that the next Police Officer I talk to is as great.

Now let's get together and shoot each other! :salute:

[Gryphon]

Rather than backpedalling due to your lack of articulation, try explaining that you didn't elucidate properly rather than jumping on people over a perfectly legitimate issue. Let's examine exactly what you wrote.

Originally Posted by Lotech

She also said that went[sic] she pulls over people and can see a trigger guard key on their car key chain...

She also said - something you claim came from her own mouth
(when) she pulls people over - meaning she has stopped a vehicle presumably for a traffic offense
and can see a trigger guard key on their car key chain - implying that she is not only able to physically SEE the key chain, but that she can a;sp distinguish a trigger lock key from any number of thousands of other keys that look the same, in amongst whatever other keys are on the chain

she also starts the process of searching for weapons and becoming alert to the fact that you have a gun.

she also starts the process - starting something means you have not yet begun it
searching for weapons - searching implies an invasive examination, not a cursory scan from the exterior of the vehicle which an officer ought to have done BEFORE they approached the window
becoming alert to the fact that you have a gun - to have implies direct possession, which if you're under arrest and the vehicle is being SEARCHED you no longer have it.

On edge? No. Just don't like people stating obvious bullshit and trying to pass it off as reader error.

[quikstrike]

"so it's alot like paintball"

"...yeah... kinda..."

Lmao I know what you mean... Paintballs the only thing that really somewhat relates to it from anything else.

But it is not even close, so funny haha.

I was asked that yesterday, I just like well... kinda... actually no not really, but sure. haha.

[Quaff]

Yeah, she must be pretty small then. When I worked in the Storeroom the P239's were a pain in the ass because everything is custom. It was funny to see how recruits that tiny tried to fit everything on their duty belt.

[Black_Orchid]

Originally Posted by Lotech

I have seen many posts lately with noob’s asking some stupid questions about carrying BB guns and Airsoft in there cars in the back seat or even in their school bag. They have argued with moderators about what the Police can and can’t do. Let us put this to rest once and for all.

Sorry to say this, but no matter how many stories and experiences you share, there will always be someone out there who will still try to argue with you on matters regarding airsoft and the law.

That aside though, that was an interesting story. Way to go.

[Lotech]

Originally Posted by Black_Orchid

Sorry to say this, but no matter how many stories and experiences you share, there will always be someone out there who will still try to argue with you on matters regarding airsoft and the law.

That aside though, that was an interesting story. Way to go.

Thanks....I can't believe I even when to look up the weight of the real P226 and then to DEA to get the weight of the TM P226 only to find they are listed both the same :-D Now that I did not know. I would not have even created the thread but I saw in the trash for the 4th or 5th time some 15 yld going over the same old BB gun and airsoft laws and what the cops can and can't do. Just wanted to tell people how an OPP Officer, who did not really know what Airsoft was, reacted. It was even better than I expected.

The problem now is that not many noob's would have kept reading this thread as they seem to have a lack of focus. :-D