NOTICE to the Community
 

Folks,

It has come to my attention that the Assignment Editor for CityTV in Toronto has contacted members of the Airsoft Community looking for information regarding our use of "Replica Handguns".

I would like to ask that any individual from this community who is approached by any media source regarding this topic be extremely careful in your communications regarding the sport and the availability of AEG or GBB's.

Based on the questions being asked, it is extremely likley that any information volunteered will be used in the context of the current discussions to ban replica hand guns in various regions of Ontario. I should further note that City TV has a history of anti-gun support, and that fact should not be ignored when their assignment editor asks where he can get his hands on one our pistols.

Any information provided is likely to be presented in such a way as to have negative connotations given the current gun problems in Toronto and the visibilty that guns have in the media at this point in time. There is very little positive perception with regard to handgun use in any form, particularly when the target audience resides in an area which has been recently victimized through the criminal use of firearms and replica firearms. Our position is that of a minority which may come under unwanted scrutiny as a result of seemingly harmless statements made to a media Assignment Editor.

Note that a seemingly harmless offer to expose your collection of 12 GBB's and AEG's to the media on request may seem like a good idea to strengthen the perception of airsoft as a legitimate gun sport, but would very likely result in an outright ban on Airsoft guns by name within a short time of the story being aired.

I ask that you keep the community closed to the media, at least in the scope of the current discussions regarding replica firearms. If and when the time is right, perhaps our sport can be safely exposed for the game that it is; that time is not now, however, and I ask that you do whatever is possible within the law to protect our sport from undue and unwanted persecution.

Thanks,

Morb

110% agree with Morb!! Please, just don't make any statements. Chances are it will be taken out of context, and the media will put a very negative spin on our sport. Anything airsoft should be kept out of the media's crosshairs! Also, it's very well known that Ontario has a very large anti-gun population, so absolutely no good could possible come from something like this.

Good call Rob.

I made this post stick for awhile

Further to this the assignment editor indicated that he has reporters out looking for retail operations that are selling airsoft guns so they can 'get pictures of them'. He specifically wanted to be able to take an airsoft pistol to a police station and interview a police officer, showing him the gun and getting his response. I can't see how we could get a positive response from this, no matter how I look at it, even if the police officer is an airsofter. The AE said this story is a segway from the fellow that police shot back in 2000 at an emergency room in Mississauga and they are rolling that into the current debate about handguns in Toronto. What I told him about that was police would have shot that guy if he was wielding a bar of soap shaped like a gun, real, replica, imitation or bb gun, it does not matter, its considered a dangerous firearm until evidence to the contrary.

I love our sport, but even if we dress in fuzzy bunny outfits and shoot pink bbs at one another, the fact remains that this sport is NOT soccer mom friendly and won't play well in the media.

In essence, don't get suckered into showing anything to anyone no matter how well intentioned they may appear to be or what spin they give you about the story they are doing. I've had dealings with City-TV about 17 years ago, was on camera, and my words and the story got twisted around like you would not believe. Don't trust them.

Unfortunately, it probably won't be a member of the airsoft community that goes on air with all his guns and tells everyone how easy they are to get... it'll be a 16 year old --with a soccer mom that spoils him rotten and buys him whatever he wants -- that gets on the air and makes us all look like knobs.

The media isn't fair and unbiased... chances are they're LOOKING for someone to demonize. It makes for good ratings when people are scared, and that's what they're looking to do. Scare the people into believing that airsoft = criminal activity.

Thanks for letting us know... (I don't live in Toronto, but it won't be long before the same thing starts happening in the maritimes.)

Folks, to be clear this is not a "OMG ITS TEH END OF AIRSOFT" thread. I just want to bring attention to the fact that CityTV is ACTIVELY looking to do a story on airsoft guns, and NOT on airsoft. Therefore, it would appear that their intention is to present the guns, and not the sport.

This is IMPORTANT. A great deal of Canada's legislation comes out of knee-jerk reactions to public opinion in Toronto. A story on CityTV watched by a dozen councillors and god-knows how many MP's can turn into a call in the commons for national law banning the guns outright.

Think before you act, please.

Yeah I got a quote for you
" Dude, I sell Pants! "

Thanks for the heads up Guys.

BTW, the AE specifically mentioned going down to Pacific Mall to look for airsoft guns.

Just send them to Canadian Tire and tell em to take pictures of Crossman Pellet pistols, they are full metal and look 100% real.

"RepeatAir® 1008SB CO2 pistol

Single or double action semi-automatic pistol. Great for fast-action fun. Fires eight rounds as fast as you can squeeze the shot off.
Model 1008SB"

Power Source: co2
Caliber: .177 (4.5 mm)
Max Velocity: up to 430 fps (131.2 m/s)
Capacity: 8-shot rotary clip
Length: 8.63" (21.9 cm)
Weight: 1 lb. 1 oz. (.48 kg.)
Material: Barrel: Rifled steel, Grip and Frame: Synthetic


http://www.crosman.com/site/listing/1028

http://www.crosman.com/2004/img/catalog/full/1008SB.jpg

Guy's the best thing to do is make like a liberal and say "no comment". Be polite though, and now matter how good they make it sound and how nice they are, don't buy it.

Thats what I am afraid of, they will look past all the responsible mature airsofters and find the few retarded teenagers with canadian tire guns to base their segments on. The fear mongering bastards they are...

I did take the opportunity to address his lack of knowledge of the classification of guns in his referring to airsoft guns as 'replicas'. I explained bb guns, pellet guns, imitation firearms (airsoft/not illegal), replica firearms (non-firing illegal guns), registered handguns (legal) and unregistered or stolen handguns (illegal), and that it would be helpful if the media used the correct references when reporting stories about said guns because everything is incorrectly being labelled a replica.

I just saw the SUN paper today there's a big pic of a glock and a small article about nothing intelligent. More print Info, smaller pictures, unless you really have nothing intelligent to say then the pic goes up in ratio to the print. Good paper guys. Stick to the half naked chicks, they got you this far.
Cheers

I agree with you Jay 100%. I like you, know a few cops that play, and have been told exactly what you just said. The problem as I see it, is the debate we as a community are always having on this. We can't seem to even agree amongst ourselves. So how can we circle the wagons when the bad guys come?! Getting quotes from the criminal code yet again in yet another thread isn't going to do anything except fuel the fire when the "interested parties" come looking on this thread for information. To all the forum "lawyers": when you graduate with an LLb from Osgoode Hall and have persuaded a judge how to interpret the law as it relates to our equipment, then come back and tell us how it works. Until then, shelve yer legal mumbo jumbo. There are cops that play here, if it were that illegal, they wouldn't be risking thier chosen profession by playing and/or owing the equipment.

THX for the Head's up Rob and Jay

I doubt that I would be contacted since I have no real team affiliations but thanks for the heads up Rob.

Media...and no comment
 

A statment of No Comment is translated as "more to the story" by any journalist.

It is situations like this where information is being "hunted" that someone intelligent should step up to speak to the media.

They will get their story.. it is what they are paid to do.

and push come to shove it is better to have some control over that story than none.

If the community all close the blast doors and skuttle back to dark corners.. it is just a matter of time before someone shines a light in there.
What they don't need to find is some goob polishing his glock in his underware.

Granted.. in most cases journalists write the story then start looking for "facts" and there is difficulty in presenting this activity in a light that would make it wholesome to the casual observer, but it is not impossible to do so.

Situations like this where a united front and a set media policy, and a designated spokesperson for the community would be helpful to cast this "sport" in a light that is positive.

Good heads-up. Thank you.
For my part, I would not show the media my real guns, let alone the airsoft ones, even if I have all kinds of permits and am 'old'.
Anyone from the media who ACTIVELY wants to know something makes all kinds of red flags go up in my mind.

Edit; I fully realize, as has been said, that it's only a matter of time until someone with a big mouth, big ego, and zero clues pipes up and shows them everything they know. That may include this website. Something to consider folks.

Didnt the RCMP already shut them all down in a raid like 1 year ago?

I bet they will visit TTAC3 soon - google "airsoft" "Canada" and you will end up here, search Toronto and you will end up with "Splatters" and "TTAC3"... there is full schedule of events, locations and people...

As far as I know, that shop still exists behind all the gas R/C and model cars they have, and they still do carry parts and accessories and I believe some aegs as well

Agreed!

pmall lol...they jus don't keep them on display now..besides, they just busted pmall, first markham, nd oriental centre for selling illegal DVDs but the business is up and running once more lol..you can't stop us chinese folks lmao

Not only is it up, the now have at LEAST 4-5 stores in the mall dedicated to selling copied DVDs.

I feel ashamed that I am of chinese descent.

Its a damn conspircay. My father recently got his pal after his fire arms were licensed under the old fac. He isnt grandfathered even though they were registered over 30 years ago because he didnt register them on 2003. How many times does it need to be done! Now he needs to get a barrell that is half an inch longer which doesnt make me feel any safer if its pointed at me!!!! Guns=bad? Many women wear high heels, and so do hookers. Does that mean that they are hookers? Were not criminals, but political strategy is political strategy so we just gota ride it out.

My dad's in the same boat. The guns, not the heels. I think that Jay has already pointed out that he once did an interview with City-TV and they completely misquoted him. I think Jay is a well spoken and articulate person. They can edit the story to read any way that they want. Would anyone here like to be known as the person who ended it all for airsoft because they had good intentions but the media spun an interview their way. As Rob said, this is not a "The sky is falling thread". It's just a heads up to the community.

Heh, in guessed what Morb was going to say from the first paragraph. Also I strongly agree. Its the media, what do you expect?

Who ever does decide to speak doesn't necessarly speak on my behalf (and I'm willing to wager there are others out there that do think this way as well).... If you are approached and an interview requested, just remember this: Who the hell died and elected "you" king of airsoft? (I mean "you" as a generalization to the public and not directaly at you Brian; no offence meant) What gives 'you" the right to speak for the others? I don't have to agree with "you" cause we're all entitled to our own opinion.

True that it's best to have some control over this rather than none at all, but who would you trust to handle this situation? If we had a person who is knowledgeable about the ins and out of this taboo sport and the confidence of majority of the players out there (a mod or greylocks himself???.. just remember to play nice and not flame the reporters okay?) to let this individual represent then fine, by all means represent us and tell the truth. But keep in mind, as Scarecrow stated, they have the final word in editing and the telling of the story. We could be truthfull and honest but it doesn't matter how correct everything is when you tell it cause if they want to make it sound like we're a bunch of psychos running around dressed up as GI Joe weilding guns that is what the general consensus....... remember we're all just a bunch of sheeps.

But the thing is we don't have a representative to deal with this. Not to mention everybody in their own minds will have their own spin on the topic. Hell half the time we can't even agree to disagree on some of the threads out there. So who has the right to represent any of us with their views and present them to the media? I'd dare say no one....

So untill there is a poll or a vote to say "Joe Blow" speaks for the community I'd appreciate some of the more opinnionated ones out there to obstain from voicing their views as a general view, cause you definately don't speak for everyone! This is why it's better to keep things in the dark.... But if you do decide to enlighten the world with your views without our consent please place a disclaimer that you do not speak for me.... (and me specifically!!!!..lol).

My $1.99 on the topic.

Looks like this very informative constructive thread JUST began it's downward spiral.

Well I for one know I'd rather not talk with the media, I've seen how they can make you say what they want you to say, they're as bad if not worse than lawyers. The 5th estate is no longer noble, they don't whistle blow on things because they are reporting wrong doings, they whistle blow because they want to sell papers/advertising/yadda yadda...

How ever if you are approached, like Jay says, they will quote you out of context. You say that you play the sport to live out harmless fantasy's you'll be portrayed as a blood thirsty antisocial demon. It's been a long time since cops and robbers was acceptable, and an even longer time since cowboys and indians was allowable and allied vs terrorist err freedom fighter just isn't polliticaly correct.
If you mention that playing the sport to relieve stress and you'll be shown as some one who is one frayed nerve from going postal at any moment.
Tell the media how you have to be verified to buy a gun and the age verifiers will be depicted in a bad light.
Mention how it's 18 and over (except it's not, select minors get to play) then they'll say kids have no where to play but the streets.

You're better off with a tactic of avoidance. Some one phones you, tell them you're not there, just like a telemarketer. You can not save airsoft talking to these people, as it's been said before, no matter what you say, the story's been written you've already been judged and you're guilty. You can't fight the press in their court with their ball. While we are not as bad with the fearmongering as the USA we certainly are headed that way. The press is more likely to look at an airsoft team (insert your favourite highly organised team here) and say they're paramilitaries training to overthrow the government then compare them to a bowling team of buddies who like to joke around have a few beers and be armchair experts on everything.

Spokesman or no spokesman, the time is not right to try to sell our side of the story. Anything we say can and will be used in a court of public opinion.

Saying "No Comment" may look like you're hiding something, but it's better than saying "We use these Airsoft guns as a useful tool in force-on-force training" and having it turned around into a voice over that says "They use these tools and train civilians to shoot and kill people more efficiently and effectively, and they call it fun".

I cannot tell you what to do. I can simply ask.

Control over their story is a complete illusion Brian. You have no control over what they will do with your words, none. The only time I advocate any kind of public front is what we do when people meet us when we play and how we conduct ourselves on public fields. As Morb says 'the time is not right' and I will stress that even further and say the time is absolutely WRONG. As someone pointed out earlier, I would not want to be the one misquoted and demonized thus demonizing airsoft and putting everyone's sport here at risk.

We're just coming off a contencious election where firearm policy was front and center, you've got city mayors with as much if not more influence than an MPP, misquoting legislation, using incorrect terminology and calling for bans on things that have been banned for over 70 years. Emotions are high and politicians are looking for a scapegoat - put your head up over that berm right now and it will get shot off no matter how you word it or present yourself.

They are not interested in our story. They are not interested in supporting our right to use these imitation firearms to play our sport. Our sport scares the shit out of them. Tactical operations is not an accepted sport - and the left-wing barely accepts that target shooting is a sport, let alone the simulation of a kill team entry into close quarters eliminating a terrorist opfor. No matter the fact that what we are doing is completely legal, the optics of it will work against us on TV at this time.

If this was the Globe and Mail doing a paper article with no pictures and it was an airsoft piece, that might be different. The only reason City-TV wants pictures of airsoft guns is because its sensational. Look at those evil and dangerous looking things. Showing them your publically joinable club killhouse and they will go absolutely apeshit.

I'd let airsoft get more momentum in the US first. It has begun. I get Shotgun News each month, a real steel publication, and they are featuring Airsoft as the next up and coming sport - so penetration is beginning to happen. But the US has a strong gun culture and gun lobby to support that transition. Canada's anti-gun lobby is much stronger than in the US and would use this as yet more evidence of an out-of-control fringe group in society that needs to have these toys taken from them.

We don't need Airsoft mixed up in the replica and illegal handgun debate in Toronto. If we tie our pony to that wagon, public opinion will be against us and we will most certainly lose.

Another day, another time, I am not going to war on enemy chosen ground. And certainly not with a news organization with a record of pro-liberal, anti-gun sensationalism.

Argh my head...

Mods - My opinion only.

Brian - in a way you already have been a spokeman for the community. You have a public place to play which is housed in the same area where "soccer moms" bring thier children to do martial arts. You are also quite quick to label our equipment as something which has not been properly defined yet by anybody. As I said earlier, we can't even agree amongst ourselves, nevermind the lawmakers, or law enforcement. Whether you have good intentions or not, your flagrant posting of the law and your insistance that our equipment is "replica's" is only going to fuel the opinions of those who are no doubt reading these boards looking for just such ammunition. You, for all I know are seeing airsoft as a business opportunity (IMO), and don't have a love for the game in such a way as the rest of us do, so as was said, you are not a spokesman for me either, and since you can't differentiate individuals when giving your opinion, please say nothing on behalf of the community. Let the community decide who, if anyone, should be a spokesperson. End rant.

Im of the opinion that we as a community should have a spokesperson who is articulate and "stand up member of the community". If we look like we have somthing to hide, it really makes us look shady. For us old folks remember when paintball was for "terrorist training" and such? I do, now its played in Skydome with spectators. Is the general public ready for airsoft to be played(even if we wanted) in the skydome?? no I dont think so. The media looks to twist stories as much as they can for thier own inrests this is true. I would make a tape of any conversation had with a media person and dick slap them with a libal (SP?) suit if they twist it. This is me tho and im of the mind we should all be unified one way or the other. All it takes is for one 13 year old nub who gets shit on for not reading the FAQ to talk to the media and give them a "story".

Chris AKA SockMonkey

Just send me to talk with CityTV...sheesh. I'll tell them how I used my aimbot and wallhacks to eradicate the area of evil Terrorists n00bs. ;)

well put lol

While I don't entirely agree with the spokesman idea (how do you decide who that is? we can barely agree to FPS rules on a field) I don't think Brian was necessarily saying 'he' should be the spokesman, I think he was discussing the concept.

I've thought on and off about this problem for a while and come to no conclusion.

The parallels between paintball and airsoft are there but there are significant differences too. The paintball industry and manufacturers had a lot to do with pushing its acceptance by downplaying military simulation and realistic guns - precisely things that make airsoft appealing. There are many other differences as well, but I'm too tired to repeat them in this thread for the nth time...

ok how hard is it to just say: ' its the same as paintball...we play it on paintball fields'.. end of coment. i dont know, just throwing it out there...

Edit: i know i know, its not PAINTBALL, its better, blah blah.... Im just saying, people know about paintball, so they can kind of understand it better. whenever someone askes me what the hell airsoft is, i say,'its the same as paintball, only you dont need to waist money on paintballs, or gas, and you dont get as dirty'... And after that, just dont make any further comments...keep it simple stupid...

Anyone consider that these reporters are reading this thread as we post?

I think this could be a problem...There are game listings from most provinces on here.
What would be the best course of action if "they" did show up to a game?



Cyrus

I hate to think this way but they probably have most of the info copied by now... Like other people here already said, type airsoft and Canada in google and ASC will be the first page to pop up.
It happened before, sun printed bunch of quotes in their artice from russian forum where I used to post few years ago.

I was wondering the same thing.

Also wondering if the game listing section should go private and only verified ASC'ers gain access? Of course it's a catch 22, you need to be verified to check out the section but need to know where games are to get verified (it may also be advisable to have verification meets posted elsewhere).

They don't really have to show up to a game. We got pictures, videos and so on posted here. Enough info can be gathered from online sources.

Nothing you say in these Forums can go on the record as this is the internet... You could say the World was flat still online...


However... I do agree with the spokesman idea... personally I think Airsoft is gonna do the same route Paintball did... be tucked away for some time before BLAME... we'll have speed-soft... ((snicker))... we just gotta learn from the mistakes of paintball... IE. the underage... slack refs... and so on and keep that out... because if we are PITA Soldier Wannabe's as I've heard from some in the Paintball racket ((retailers and such)) then we need to keep that professional group influence... but yeah... everyone going on the record to any reporter is the dumbest idea you can do... I don't know if it was on this forum or on ASO... but someone posted this link to a news report out in England about the growing "sport" there.. and they show all the guys running around and portraying the idea behind the game... I'm not saying we should do this... but I want to ask... what if we did something like that.. made a video that is clean... well scripted... shows the public what we are... and... yeah... nevermind... public... enemy number one...

I will bet they will show up a game in the near future. The games are publicly announced. They may not need to, and yes there are plenty of pics up already, but it's an opportunity to take thier own pictures, and try to speak to players. Last thing I want is to see me or any of my guys faces on TV. Unfortunately, some dingbat gloryhound kit-whore will want to get his face on TV looking like G.I.Joe, and not realize what he's done.

Sure the pics on the net are good, but the videos are no tv quality. I could see them showing up at a game if they wanted quality media.

*EDIT*
Not the best choice of words...
*EDIT*

Devin

What makes you think they already haven't? Look at any new join requests to your teams lately?? What about the 'I just found airsoft and loved it can I come out and watch?' questions?

Fact is they can and I would bet have already done so. I headed one off at the pass back during the Deadlands days that very few people know about - turned him away from one of my Thursday night games 2 years ago. So I know they do it. This one had the balls to show up with a pad and camera when he said he was coming in cammies with a gun. He never got past the front gate. Worked for the local Herald. He gave up and nothing ever got published.

So, I know it happens.

You are right, but large number of general public will still eat the stuff if it's presented right. There was an incident couple of years ago where Sun was working on a story about a fight between two ethnic groups where a person was killed. Bunch of idiots who were not known to regulars of the board posted racial comments. Sun picked it up and printed translation of those posts in their article and presented my community as bunch of blood thirsty maniacs. I had really hard time dealing with some people after that article came out.

i wouldn't let the media look at my gear. cause they well always make things worse then they need to be.

Unofficial remedy from "somewhere" is to use the "F" word as every second word. Hee Hee. :roll:

While games are publicly annouced they are not on public property, nor are they on general public access property (like a mall). Access is limited to those that pay, and I would bet venues have something to say about various tv crews waltzing into their land.

For the record, I have played at TTAC3 several times now and I certainly do not feel that Brian's motives are masked or insincere. I have played with him personally and he does share the same love for the sport that I do at least.

As far as media attention goes, there is not a whole lot that we can do. If we remain silent we will be looked at poorly. If we speak up, our words will be used against us. The only hope we have is that Canadian's still believe in freedom.

If we somehow managed to remove all guns from the country, criminals will use knives. If we remove all knives and swords, they will use blunt objects. It is impossible to remove blunt objects from society as they can be anything. The point is, how much are Canadians going to allow to be removed from them? Airsoft is a sport that a large number (thousands?) play, respect, and are responsible with. So is baseball (only millions). Airsoft can be used to commit a crime. So can a baseball bat.
At some point, Canadians are going to have to consider what we are willing to give up in our society because of the abuses of the few.
At some point, Canadians will have to realize that you cannot remove the rights of law-abiding citizens, to combat crime.

Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscripti catapultas habebunt - When catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults

Media likes to blow things out of proportion and loves to cut clips so that it sounds completly different!

This again?

Seriously - this is just yet another repeat of a sequence of events that are driven not by a requirement to address a problem with guns in Toronto but to simply give the sheep who watch news like it's the gospel their 'sacrificial lamb'.

If you cannot step back and assertain that there is more to this than a 'genuine' attempt at righting this gun problem, then you really should pull your head out of that toilet.

Look up Airsoft in Canada and you will find it labeled under 'EASY TARGET'.

Good luck with trying to keep your mouths shut guys! Sorry if I don't share the same level of faith in that.

Yeah, too many people think they can "save airsoft" by explaining what it's about...

For you n00bs that want to save airsoft go back and read my post on the different scenarios... then even if you don't understand that you can't save airsoft shut the hell up anyways.

Well, I was trying to be a little more circumspect about it, but yeah, you're pretty saying what I've been trying to say (politely) throughout this thread.

Just going back to post #1, don't give City-TV anything, don't show them anything, don't invite them anywhere to see your collection if they call you. Thats all. No good will come of it because of the nature of the story. Simple as that.

Retailers are aware that cameras are roving around looking for 'replica guns for sale' and each are doing what they feel they need to do to protect themselves from unwanted attention for the next couple of days. Thats all that is needed to prevent airsoft from getting a 10 second video-byte. They'll probably resort to going down to a local Canadian Tire and buying a soft-air gun, which will look pretty dumb anyways.

Just use your heads and failing that, "me no speak engrish" works too.

There are probably hundreds of airsofters that won't even be able to read this thread. I hope they don't get picked.


Zeon, Scarecrow and Morb (I nominate you 3) should have a plan for our big game in March. If we get media showing up, we should know the fields position on them coming onto their property and have someone block them. (or just point an M4 at them and scream profanity)

as much as i would love to do something like that, its probably not the best course of action.

i dont think there is very much the airsoft community can do to avoid this citytv calamity, all we can do is hide from the storm and wait it out.

Really? Geez I was sure it would have been the best Idea yet.

Could you maybe show them how intellegint you are like.

Reporter: So you play airsoft huh?
You: Yes I do. I am also studying _______ (insert course) At ________ (insert post secondary school here). I hope to become a ________ (insert job here). etc. etc.

They'll probably cut all that stuff out and just make it so that you say "yeah I play airsoft".

Basically show them that mature players play and that you actually want to get a carrear and become a productive member of society.

Don't be fooled the media is basically Jack Thompson in a disguise of "I tell the REAL story" and I'm the media.

I think that only works if you're Asian or have some sort of non-english accent (russian, german, flemish, french ect.). If you're asian though speak in your own language and hope that the reporter dosen't know that language. failing that "I on-nee speek klingon (insert language here)" or some random language that no one knows about.

Someone mentioned "That if it was the globe it would be different". Would they portray a story in a better light? If so, why not jump the gun on City TV and talk to the Globe? I may be totally wrong, but it may be worth a shot.

*edit*

I was talking to one of my friends studying journalism at the U of C who writes for the university paper (not trying to get him to write a story for us, just asking question) He said that when it comes to public interest issues, News agencies hate being second. He had written up a good article on that guy's mom in Calgary who was living in a hallway because of lack of beds, but his editor canned it when the Sun beat him to it.

He also suggested that if we did find a new media we trusted, we could point out the fact that this sport largely originated in Japan, yet look at it's gun crime rate. Clearly there's no correlation.

ok... lets get out of the tree
 

first.. I have zero interest in being a spokesperson for the community.

This community has a great distance to go before there could be any sort of central body that would be accepted as any sort of "authority" . The 3 other boards of directors that I serve on preclude me from taking on any other responsibilites should some body develop in the future

I feel 100% empowered to be a spokesperson for TTAC3,

I take exception to suppositions to my motives.. I spend 13 to 20 hours a week facilitating, organizing, and running airsoft events for the people who enjoy our "flavour" of airsoft.Over and above the 12 to 16 hours I spend teaching martial Arts, while holding down a 50 hour a week job while serving on the board of 3 not for profit corporations. So far for my efforts I'm in the hole by serveral thousands of dollars, this is certainly not about money. Ask anyone who has met me what their perception of my motives are.

Through my efforts I have introduced 80 people to the activity since September, many of these people have gone on to buy kit, gear and pay game fees. Many people on these forums have benefitted directly from my work. If there is someone else contributing to this magnitude to this community for little to no compensation I'd like to meet them.

Does this make me qualified to speak on anyone elses behalf?

not at all, And I would not presume to speak for anyone.

Rest assured that I would never seek the media.. I'v been there and done that I know how it works. Should they show up on my door, neither would I refuse to talk to them.
Refusing to talk to the media certainly will not limit their ability to fabricate a story.

At the end of the day all this talk about banning this or that.. or implementing bylaws is just so much bread and circuses.
I can't see any will within the government to change laws that work quite well.

I'm tired of the debate.. as it has been so "done" before