The Police Came...

[sagthegreat]

I live in virginia, and the police came when i was shooting my QEV gun. They came and told me that any gun that shoots with compressed air or co2 are not allowed outside, i mean ARN'T NERF GUNS TECHNICALLY USING COMPRESSED AIR. Anyways i am now planning to use helium in my gun, because compressed air and co2 guns are not allowed. Just want to share my story with others, so they may take better precautions next time.

[killerbanjo]

Glad you did not get it taken away! What a pain in the ass though :/

[jimmy101]

You might want to check the actual laws in your area.

1. Cops are not expert in the law, it isn't their job. A cop might say "compressed air and CO2" when in fact the law says "compressed gas" (which is what a well written law would say). Or the law might say something about muzzle energy or any of a dozen other ways that firearm laws might be written. The cops don't necessarily know what the law actually says.

2. Cops have been known to make things up just to get people to quit doing things the cops would rather they didn't do. (Like shooting in a populated area.)

3. Walk ten feet and the law might change. Are you within city limits? Cities often have much more restrictive laws about shooting a firearm within city limits. Counties and states would have jurisdiction outside of city limits and the shooting laws are often much less restrictive.

[sagthegreat]

You might want to check the actual laws in your area.

1. Cops are not expert in the law, it isn't their job. A cop might say "compressed air and CO2" when in fact the law says "compressed gas" (which is what a well written law would say). Or the law might say something about muzzle energy or any of a dozen other ways that firearm laws might be written. The cops don't necessarily know what the law actually says.

I looked up the law, my Son of a B**** neighbor did this to me, im 16 and she took picture of me unknowingly. Also the law says its ok as long as its not compressed air or co2, and its ok if im not shooting a projectile. So im just going to dry fire with helium at 500 psi, just to piss her off.

[jrrdw]

Have you tried to work something out with her instead of harassing her into a worse situation? If the cops keep coming to you about spudding, you are only helping giving it a bad name...

[mattyzip77]

Just find a better place to shoot it. They could still get you for disturbing the peace. I like how you think though. Seeings how she likes to take pics of you get some of her nude and put em online lol jk....

[jsefcik]

i had this problem b4 i moved i was shooting in the front of my house and cops heard it and came by and asked what was i doing i said just yard work , and cops said no your not, we seen you with some type of pipe in your hand , i then confessed and said i was shooting my spudgun , therefore i explained to him what it was and cop said either you let me shoot it or i fine you for harrasment,

i let him shoot an entire bag of spuds!!!

[sagthegreat]

^ Lol lucky, due to me being by the nation's capitol., the officers are jerks, but they r just doing their jobs, so i guess just backing down is the safest way to go.

[jsefcik]

^ Lol lucky, due to me being by the nation's capitol., the officers are jerks, but they r just doing their jobs, so i guess just backing down is the safest way to go.

show that cop, what the atf says about spudguns!

as my dad always said being a retired cop, some cops think they are the biggest meanest scariest thing around cause they have a badge and a gun

my dad said after 15 yrs you can speak up, not when your 8 weeks on the job

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Have you tried to work something out with her instead of harassing her into a worse situation? If the cops keep coming to you about spudding, you are only helping giving it a bad name...

Agreed 100%, the last thing you want to do is antagonise the police and your neighbours.

Also the law says its ok as long as its not compressed air or co2, and its ok if im not shooting a projectile. So im just going to dry fire with helium at 500 psi, just to piss her off.

The correct response would have been "I'm going to develop a more efficient and quieter launcher so I can shoot without my neighbours realising."

[AircannonSweden]

Same kinda thing happend to me when me and 5 others played some airsoft @ my crib(outside,my neighbor is a cop,he wasn't in duty as well)

[sgort87]

By the way, good luck getting Helium. We're having trouble getting just one bottle from Praxair at the power plant.

[MrCrowley]

I looked up the law, my Son of a B**** neighbor did this to me, im 16 and she took picture of me unknowingly. Also the law says its ok as long as its not compressed air or co2, and its ok if im not shooting a projectile. So im just going to dry fire with helium at 500 psi, just to piss her off.

So no one is allowed to shoot air guns outside either? I guess that's understandable since you're in/near D.C. (not that the law is understandable, just that it makes sense as I've heard D.C. is tough on guns).

While you might be OK in the eyes of the law using helium, if you do it to piss off your neighbour, the cops might confiscate your gun for the past use of using air or for public disturbance or such.

I'd find another area to shoot. I've got the same problem with my neighbour but the cops have yet to be called. The difference is I can be looking at 6 months and/or a $4000 fine. Now, I either wait for my neighbours to go out or I go to a location where people don't usually frequent. Unfortunately, that location is still usually to busy and more than half the time I leave before getting to fire a shot because of people walking/cycling/driving/playing nearby.

show that cop, what the atf says about spudguns!

That probably wont help if the local laws differ.

[Fnord]

Normally the laws have more to do with muzzle energy or bore diameter than what gas you are using. Check again; I doubt a law would be specific enough to ban air or CO₂, and not any other gases. You could get a nitrogen/argon welding tank more cheaply and still be technically legal, but don't expect that to matter if the issue comes up again.

@ gort
We might have a less of a concern if we weren't wasting massive amounts in party balloons every year. They're on a short list of items that are even more useless than a potato gun.
To alleviate this problem, I propose that regulations be implemented requiring all party balloons be filled with hydrogen instead of helium. Since hydrogen is so light you can even dilute it significantly with air and still get buoyancy.
I am a genius.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

To alleviate this problem, I propose that regulations be implemented requiring all party balloons be filled with hydrogen instead of helium. Since hydrogen is so light you can even dilute it significantly with air and still get buoyancy.
I am a genius.

A genius might foresee a lot of "hey guys, hold my beer and watch this!" type incidents with bags of flammable gas floating around at parties

[youtube][/youtube]

Or is it part of your plan for subtle Darwinism in action?