Sniper Qualification?

[AciDeX]

So I was looking around at some airsoft forums up North West since I’ll be up there at the end of this month and thought I’d see if there was any games I could slip away to.

On Spokane Airsoft Forums I found some interesting information. Did anyone else know that up in the Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana area that use of sniper rifles is prohibited to anyone under the age of 18 and that you have to pass a “sniper qualification test” in order to be able to use one? By “qualification” I’m assuming that they play a couple games and measure your performance and actions to ensure you’re not out there to hurt others and that you can be effective in combat.

What are everyone else’s thoughts on this? I know it’s not really a “problem” for us per say. But would anyone have a beef if something like this was adopted by Airsoft Nebraska?

[gunfather6]

I think the concept is cool but we are not at that level here.  I think we do a good job of policing the problem players without adding restrictions.  Not to mention you would turn off A LOT of new players who purchase a bolt action sniper before even going to their first game. 

[AciDeX]

Agreed, like I said it's not a problem that needs to be fixed. I thought it was interesting though.

Up in Washington it looks like they hold a "Sniper School" every three months or so for new members that want to get "certified". Other states in the area seem to have different ways of certifying snipers too. What I found kind of strange is that if you are from out of state and want to use a bolt action sniper rifle at a Spokane Airsoft game you have to be certified by your home state's rules. If one of us were to go to a game up there we would pretty much be stuck to AEGs (bummer huh?), unless they accept our "Don't be a Jackass" policy as sniper qualification.   

Also I think their OPs probably have more relaxed rules regarding bolt action airsoft guns.

[Whiskey11]

So I was looking around at some airsoft forums up North West since I’ll be up there at the end of this month and thought I’d see if there was any games I could slip away to.

On Spokane Airsoft Forums I found some interesting information. Did anyone else know that up in the Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana area that use of sniper rifles is prohibited to anyone under the age of 18 and that you have to pass a “sniper qualification test” in order to be able to use one? By “qualification” I’m assuming that they play a couple games and measure your performance and actions to ensure you’re not out there to hurt others and that you can be effective in combat.

What are everyone else’s thoughts on this? I know it’s not really a “problem” for us per say. But would anyone have a beef if something like this was adopted by Airsoft Nebraska?

I have always felt that anything over 400 w/ .20's (or whatever the full auto limit is) is a privilige, one that needs to be authorized by game admins prior to the person using said gun.  This keeps johnny new guy (no offense to the new guys) from showing up with a 550 FPS sniper rifle when we have no idea if this guy is an absolute idiot or jackass and has no idea what the MED's are or what is within their MED or if he is capable of understanding the rules or not.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all about letting folks try and compete with me in range battles, but there is a HUGE safety issue involved, especially with the increasing number of minors playing, of injury and lawsuits.  It takes a great deal of maturity to be reserved enough to know when someone is inside your MED and when to switch to a sidearm or let someone else take the kill, because trust me, it's dang tempting to take some of the closer in shots!

So if this does happen (which I kind of doubt), that the rules be tweaked to whatever standard, I am for it, so long as it's reasonable.  There are some under 18's that I'd trust with a sniper rifle shooting 550 FPS, there are some 18+'s that I barely trust with an AEG at 330 let alone any higher  

[Ghost]

my opinion is keep it the way you guys have it unless rules are changed, for example back in ct field FPS limits are 400 with .25's, DM's are allowed 400-500fps with the SEMI only rule and a range limit off 100ft. and snipers must attend a course like stated, with a limit of bolt action only and a fps limit of  800fps at a 150-200 ft rule and limited to 18+ aged players.