Battle over field game application
Wednesday 19th November 2008, 2:57PM GMT.
A WAR game which is illegal in many countries could be allowed in a field in Trinity.
A planning application has been submitted to turn the site into a simulated battle zone at weekends so that people can play Airsofting, a game in which people fire biodegradable pellets at each other from replica guns.
Planning are recommending the approval of Christopher Pace’s application for a one-year trial in field 1443, Route des Côtes du Nord, but a final decision will be made by a Planning applications panel tomorrow.
So far, concerns have been raised over traffic issues and the potential impact on the environment. Lawyer Paul de Gruchy (36), of Trinity, said: ‘Airsofting is illegal in Australia, Holland and Argentina and in the UK airsoft replicas are classified as realistic imitation firearms. It would be hard to think of a more inappropriate use of land in a rural area popular with tourists and local people.’
• Picture: Paul de Gruchy
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Airsofting is harmless, maybe a bit odd.
Forget what is approriate in the eys of yet another intolerant fool, and think more about the freedoms of people to engage in harmless activity.
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No matter how ‘harmless’ this particular game might be, the introduction of yet another type of realistic imitation gun is something of concern and shouldn’t be allowed in Jersey.
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Harmless activity? dressing up in combat gear and running around playing cowboys and indians with life-like guns? Isn’t this the sort of infantile behaviour they look for in serial killer profiling? What consenting adults do to each other behind closed doors is none of our business so find an old warehouse or shed somewhere and go and play at war indoors, but please leave our beautiful countryside alone.
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“Intolerant fool”? Harsh words, Marcus.
But the point is that there may be places in Jersey where airsofting is appropriate – the old Pontins camp at Plemont, for example, or Crabbe, or St Aubin’s fort, for example. I just don’t think an area of woodland that the States themselves have described as being fragile and of the utmost importance, with no parking, toilets or catering facilities, is an “appropriate” venue.
And you may wish to look up the definition of intolerance – it seems that you are very quick to reject without consideration ideas that offend your beliefs.
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Well, I think that is Marcus 0 – Paul 1.
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I disagree with Mr P. De Gruchy’s comments as described by the JEP, clearly playing airsofting in an urban congested environment would be wholly inappropriate, how much more appropriate to find a quiet field away from congestion. I believe the real issue is one of nimbyism.
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What harm would a couple of airguns do – just a bit of fun for bored men – good to keep them occupied!
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sounds like great fun
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Bruce, you harp on about moving away from the finance Industry at every opportunity and now someone seeks to set up a completely unrelated business and you have a go at that???? Do you ever have any positive thoughts?
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its hardly a new introduction, bb guns have been around for nearly 20years now.
pontins and st aubis fort is all states owned and the chances of using that for airsoft is gonna be like finding rocking horse poop.
it’s not just a grown men playing this sport but a good few youngns enjoy airsoft, which can teach them team biulding skills and respect and honesty. i think its only a good thing aswell keeping it in a CONTROLED enviroment rather than on the streets. Anyone seen the prison me no way video????
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If they truly are realistic imitation firearms then only a complete and utter idiot would ever give this permission… roll on Jersey’s Planning applications panel giving it their full backing!
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Oh come on. Firing paintballs at each other may not be everyone’s idea of a Sunday afternoon but as long as they are doing it in private using biodegradable materials then what the heck. If they wish to go home covered in mud and dog poo after pretending to be a soldier then so what? As long as they aren’t walking round the streets with their weapons scaring the pants off old ladies then let them have their fun.
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With I little re-thinking of venue I think this would be great fun. I know that I, and others, would love to take part.
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C. Gull… the critical point is made in your last sentence! There will be those that take the ‘imitation firearms’ off round the street to scare complete strangers.
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Leah, are you serious? do you really believe that? These people are trying to set up a new business to benefit the island and you’re assuming that the users will go around scaring people with their ‘imitation guns’. You do realise that imitation guns/toys are available in every toystore? It worries me when people think like you.
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Airsoft weapons are not available for purchase by people under 18 years old. Unlike toy guns which look perfectly realistic from even a short distance and can be purchased by anyone.
Users of these air weapons are drilled on safety and are aware of the dangers that they pose.
In any case, the law is very strict on firearms in public places, and should anyone be crazy enough to attempt to walk through, say, town dressed as Action Man carrying a weapon ( of whatever type ) then they should expect the full weight of the law upon them.
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Many positive thoughts bergerac but very few regarding such unsustainable and potentially damaging use of one of our most precious and dwindling resources – natural open space. I can’t see how allowing people to run around our fields and woodlands toting high powered air gun replicas of real assault rifles that can fire 6-8mm pellets (big ones, not the tiny 4.5mm pellets used by other game guns) anything up to 75m (that’s three times a shotgun in terms of effective range) is a good use of natural habitat. Would you like this going on in the garden next to you? These pellets can draw blood at close range and can blind. Take a look at the various Wikipedia entries on airsofting, including the one with the guys dressed in Nazi uniforms carrying replica WW2 guns, before you decide whether this is the future for Jersey. I thinks it’s a lousy idea and I can’t see how permitting this peurile nonsense does anyone any good. I can see quite a lot of ways it could cause harm though. Keep this indoors if you have to, but not outside where wildlife, pets or children might end up the inadvertent casualties. Or if you really want to dress up as a soldier join the TA.
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Why am I not surprised at the attitude of the fun police… Bruce Labey, Leah Holmes etc, it’s getting boring listening to you trot out the same old ‘anti everything’ lines.
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Some people are never happy.
I live very close indeed to the airsoft site and have no problem with the proposal. I know the woodland and valley concerned very well which I doubt the moaning minnies on this site do. It’s smelly, swampy, pretty much inaccessible from the road and way out of range in case of the odd bit of friendly fire.
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Not anti-everything sir, just anti-stupidity, anti-waste, anti-selfishness, anti-cruelty, anti-thoughtlessness, anti-corruption, anti-abuse and anti anything else that degrades human beings or damages the natural systems that we rely on totally for our survival. If your idea of fun falls into that list then yes I am against it.
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Bruce’s house most be really fun a Christmas time
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the uk has just bought in a law banning all realistic immitation firearms which now states that no1 can own a R.I.F. unless they are a registered member of UKARA which means you have to play regularly, like 3 time in 2 months. if you are not a member of this organisation, its illegal for you to own a realistic looking bb gun unless 50% of the body of the gun is in a bright colour i.e. orange or green.
if anyone thinks that a gun that is bright green or orange is real then they are really pretty stupid.
as long as you have a governing body similar to this, then why not approve this?
people who think this is a bad idea are a prime example of the sort of people that jersey is governed by, stuck in the dark ages. get a grip and get a life, stop taking everything so seriously!!
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I really dispair at the views of some people on this island.
To clarify calling the site a field is wrong and conjures up images of potatoes growing or cows grazing.
As C Gull pointed out the “field” in question is of no use what so ever for farming and is well away from the road and areas accessed by the general public.
All the airsofters I know have great respect and admiration for members of our armed services and I know of many active soldiers who are also airsofters.
However not all of us are cut out for the army and unlike airsoft when you get hit in the army thats you out for good.
I know for a fact that Chris will insist all players transport their guns to the site in gun bags.
As for Bruces comments about people being blinded Chris will operate a no eye protection no play policy, this will include before and after games outside of the designated safe zones. Any players seen with their masks down will be warned by marshalls and repeat offenders will be asked to leave.
Footballers and rugby players get bloodied or worse but I don’t hear cries to ban those sports.
Yes the BB’s can sting but its all part of the game and you forget we are shooting at other players who can shoot you back.
Also Bruce if you go searching for horror stories and the negatives of something on the internet you will find it in droves.
How about you do a search for the positives of the sport and I’m sure you’ll find more then enough.
Every Airsofter I know is also responsible and mature enough to know that yes their guns are classed as “toys” they are also RIF (Replica Immitation Firearms) and they for should only be used at a legal site and certainly shouldn’t be brandished in public.
As with anything though you can have a small minority of people who are not responsible and will try to ruin it for everyone else.
Just because some people drive their cars like idiots putting the rest of us at risk we on’t ban cars outright!
So please stop this bad mouthing of our sport and leave us be to shoot at each other and “play at soldiers” in a safe and responsible manner.
Oh and Paul de Gruchy if you can get us permission to use the sites you mentioned for games it would be much appreciated by us airsofters
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I forgot to mention the fact that having a site on the island could bring in tourism.
As many players are also interested in military history I can see many of UK players coming over to play on the site and also take in the many tourist attractions on the island in relation Jerseys time during WW2.
Add the fact that Airsofting is not a seasonal game this could mean visitors out of our usual peak period.
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I’ve played airsoft for a number of years in the UK and it’s a highly regulated sport with strict controls and safety procdures. Now I am back working as a chartered accountant in Jersey, it would be nice to be able to take part in my sport again
What Chris Pace is proposing has had a lot of time, effort, money and thought put into it. He will ensure that it will be safe, fun and most importantly not disruptive to the public.
From the large number of airsofters in Jersey, We thankyou Chris and we thankyou planning for giving us the opportunity to prove that what works in the UK and in Guernsey, can work here!
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It would be great to have a designated site where airsofters could have games. It would bring structure and organisation to a sport that is quite underground here in Jersey.
Does anyone have any info on if this is going to happen?
Also are there any airsoft clubs currently in Jersey? Would be great to meet up with some others interested in the sport.
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I would also like to state that Guernsey has had a Airsoft Club/Organisation (Battletec) for over 6/7 years with their own area/land.
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Google aeg airsoft jersey and have a look a couple of links down
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