Whats the deal???

[Iceman92]

I know people ask this all the time...but, what is the deal with orange tips?

I know it is against the law to paint over the orange tip of the gun but I have watch many AP videos and 98% of the guns that I've seen in those vids had NO orange tip.

I just need someone to split the hairs for me cause I dont understand.

[basby]

In order to import and/or sell you need to have the orange tip.
Having it is not a requirement for the actual end user.

[CommieHunter]

I know it is against the law to paint over the orange tip of the gun

This is where you're off.

The red tip is required for import, commercial transport, and sale.

Any end user can take of the orange tip if they please.

There is one place where people think it's illegal, and that's in Beaverton. In Beaverton, you can't have airsoft guns in public (i.e., park, street, parking lot, etc). If you do, it's a $250 fine. $500 without an orange tip. So it brings a bigger fine if you're already breaking the law, and only if you're already breaking the law.

[Braddock]

Can you legal experts please quote your source?

or STFU.

[CommieHunter]

I'll find it.

But while you're waiting, can you please be civil?

[Iceman92]

Every gun I ever bought(airsoft) came with a peice of paper that said
"It is unlawful to paint over or remove the orange tip from this or any airgun." or something of that sort.
That WAS my legal info. source and it is also the reason I was confused.

[lunacite]

What makes you think that this paper that came with your airgun is more legally correct than any of the postings above? Did it actually cite any law, or are you just taking it on faith that whoever tossed that in there accurately knows the law in the end state to where it was shipped?

[Bad Karma]

Federal law prohibits the shipment and receiving of replica firearms without orange tips permanently affixed to the item. It does not require that the final owner of the replica keep the orange tip intact. I have cited the federal law below.

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=fe6593e6c18f07b9f6b29ffca8409aa9&rgn=div5&view=text&node=15:3.1.3.7.1&idno=15

That said, the federal law is subject to stricter regulations by state laws and city ordinances, although after some fairly extensive digging through the Revised Code of Washington, I was not able to find anything that spoke to replica firearms any more specifically than the federal law does.

EDIT:

Unless you plan to parade your weapon around in public areas, or plan to use your replica in a crime, the fact that your tip isn't orange is really a non-issue. Treat your replica like you would any real firearm (i.e. always in a case unless you are at an event or on your property where you are out of the public view) and you won't have any issues. 95% of airsofters on this site have their tips painted black, and none of us have ever had any serious issues (that I can think of) because of it. Use common sense and you'll be fine.

[Crusader]

We have a local police officer on our team and he said (at least in Washington) it is not against the law to own a replica without an orange tip. That being said, if you have it in the open when an officer stops you, he will treat it as a real one until he knows different. As Bad Karma said, keep it in a gun case or stored out of sight if you are not on the field of play, and it really doesn't matter. You should be doing that no matter what, just treat it like a real firearm.

[CommieHunter]

The paper says that you must abide by any federal and local laws.

It doesn't say you can't. I've read it many times.

[Braddock]

case closed.
see here.
http://www.airsoftpacific.com/viewtopic ... 611#294611

Thanks to bad karma for researching.