Hazards of being mistaken for a real firearm

There have been a few highly isolated cases of airsoft guns being mistaken for real firearms, and some cases where armed law enforcement units have responded to tips of unlawful firearm use. This is the main reason that laws require orange tips to be present on all "toy guns" (including airsoft replicas) imported into the United States.
However, the effectiveness of such measures remains open to debate, because these tips can be easily removed or painted away.
Furthermore, their use means that criminals can attempt to disguise real firearms as toys by painting the tip of the barrel orange.
A measure that is often employed by airsoft players is informing local law enforcement officials where and when airsoft games will take place, so that such misunderstandings can be avoided. The worst known case occurred in Longwood, Florida when 15-year-old Chris Penley threatened students with an airsoft pistol at his middle school and was subsequently shot dead when he aimed it towards an officer.
The orange tip mandated by US Federal law had been painted black.
In many jurisdictions, using an imitation firearm to commit a crime (which often includes the generic term of "brandishing") carries the same penalty as if a real firearm were used.
It has been debated that Airsoft could be used to commit acts of vandalism or robbery.
As a general precaution, Airsoft guns should always be handled and transported as if they were real fire arms.
They should be kept in a carrying case when not in use, never brought out in public, and the orange tip should not be removed at all, unless on private property and allowed by law.