How dangerous can an airsoft gun be?
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — On Tuesday afternoon, April 23, three students at Granger High School were shot in a drive-by shooting by a non-lethal airsoft gun.
Granite School District spokesperson Ben Horsley told ABC4.com the victims suffered only minor injuries, though the incident has raised questions about what is an airsoft gun and how dangerous can they be?
What is an airsoft gun?
Airsoft guns come in all shapes and sizes but generally speaking they are realistic-looking replicas or toy guns that shoot small plastic pellets using air pressure. Just like real guns, they can come in many different forms from pistols, rifles, and snipers.
Unlike BB guns, which fire metal ball bearings, airsoft guns are designed to be shot at other people safely in games.
Typically these guns can be recognized by an orange cap on the tip of the barrel, indicating the gun as not being real. The guns have gathered a recreational following for military simulations or tactical tournaments.
3 students hurt in airsoft drive-by at Granger High School; 2 taken into custody
How dangerous can an airsoft gun be?
To humans, airsoft guns are pretty safe but if you get shot with one, it’s going to hurt.
More often than not, anyone shot with an airsoft gun will suffer no more than a nasty welt or bruise. On some occasions, depending on what kind of airsoft gun was used and how close the shot was taken, it may break the skin, though they aren’t meant to.
A shot to the eye, however, could cause more serious damage.
The American Academy of Pediatrics said the recent rise in popularity of airsoft guns has also led to an increase in eye injuries. These ranges can cause scratches, lens dislocation and even blindness.
“The bottom line is that all of these guns are potentially hurtful,” said Dr. Eliot Nelson, an injury prevention expert with AAP. “Parents should be very careful not to think of any of these as harmless toys.”
Indeed, airsoft guns can cause significant damage to small animals such as birds, rats, squirrels and rabbits. According to one retailer, unmodified versions of the guns won’t be lethal but could cause significant suffering and injuries.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
