Letter: Another threat to freedom

A very popular sport, past time and valuable market is being put in danger: airsofting and paintballing.

Bills, such as the recently failed California Senate Bill 798, have been making attempts to restrict imitation firearms. Many are calling for all imitation firearms to be painted a bright color, such as orange or pink, for sale, manufacture or transportation. This could include airsoft, paintball and BB guns along with any toys that resemble firearms.

Senate Bill 798 was put forward in reaction to a teenager being shot by a policeman in Los Angeles when his airsoft gun was mistaken for a real firearm. The policeman shot him because he thought the teenager was a threat.

However, in a situation such as this, any policeman who feels threatened will not hesitate, even if they have a brightly colored gun.

What if it is dark, and the color is indistinguishable? What will stop a criminal from painting their real gun a bright color to fool the police?

Brightly painted airsoft or paintball guns will make it incredibly difficult to play at locations such as woodlands where one is usually trying to be hidden from view. The sport is nearly impossible without the element of stealth. More importantly, if restrictions are put in place, the market around the sport will dwindle because nobody wants to buy, or use, a brightly colored gun.

Overall, these are just more attempts that restrict our freedoms and will kill another thriving market.

Andrew Verhalen

Yuba City