The Evolution of SHOT Show

It’s gotten less cringe. There are still plenty of aspects where SHOT Show seems full-bore cult behavior (hello, Trump themed rifles - ironic when he is the only president in the last 20 years to enact more gun control). But, I digress. 

I have seen more cultural diversity at SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show) in the last few years of attending than I have witnessed at the show over the past decade plus that I have been participating in this gigantic trade show.  When I first started attending SHOT Show in 2014, everyone had a very particular look. Tactical cargo pants, a polo or flannel button up, and a beard. Even the women! Just kidding. There were no women. Lest maybe the booth babes and the few wives who played an active role in their husband’s businesses. For the most part, the tactical bros were there on their own, and ready to put the “Sin” in Sin City. The amount of married men that I saw cheating on their spouses, or trying to cheat on their spouses, was astounding. This was still in the age where the tactical industry hadn’t quite yet discovered social media and didn’t realize that Instagram likes were public. Remember when people’s creepy habits were listed in your Instagram activity for everyone to see? That’s what SHOT Show was like, except in-person. My first year, I was both verbally and physically sexually assaulted (constant inappropriate comments, frequent non-consensual ass-grabbing). I was still new to the industry and incredibly naive, so I thought it was all part of the territory and something that I had to put up with in order to be successful. Fucked up, I know. But for a small-town girl who was raised in a very strict evangelical culture that emphasized the “she deserved it” culture, I wasn’t even fully aware of what sexual assault looked like until many years later. Unfortunately, this kind of mentality and naivete allowed me to get taken advantage of in more ways than one. I saw and heard about men cheating on their significant others (or trying to) and witnessed way too many disgusting stories where women were demeaned and treated as transactional property. “Locker-room talk” was a constant; and if women didn’t put up with it, ignore it, or didn’t try to fit in as “one of the boys”, they were exiled and given far less opportunities than women who catered to every male authority figure with absolute deference. In many respects, the firearm industry is still very much built on that Old Boys Club model. 

However, the industry has evolved. Slowly and begrudgingly, the industry has been forced to accept those who don’t fit into the traditional 2A model, all in the name of the almighty dollar. In the past few years, I have witnessed women standing up for themselves against companies who have made sexual harassment part of their culture. Young gun models who have been groomed from their teen years into adulthood by predatory gun companies have made a stand against this previously accepted behavior. Influencers who have been sexually assaulted have publicly spoken out against their abusers. It takes an incredibly strong woman to speak out against this kind of good’ol boy behavior, because while her actions may inspire and support other women who are coming into the industry; on the flip side, these women are also receiving the full brunt of harassment from the overwhelming majority of firearm enthusiasts who still have archaic views about women and other minorities. I know this to be a fact, because I am one of those women who has been relentlessly harassed anytime that I have spoken honestly about my experience within this industry.  All one has to do is look back at the comments on my social medias when ESPN featured me in one of their articles. The blowback from that article actually resulted in me getting sponsorships and collaborations cancelled in a witch hunt style campaign led by beleaguered and male influencer/colleague who was infuriated by my speaking honestly about my experience and personal views. This same individual has also made consistent effort to get me black-balled from the industry; simply because I don’t fit into the “traditional” box and speak candidly and openly about my differences within this industry. It is incredibly hard to exist within this industry if you do not fit into a very specific lifestyle and hardline political affiliation. But, that is changing.

While social media tends to embolden hate; it also tends to embolden those who want to drown out the hate. Thanks to social media, I have been able to connect with lots of other airsoft and firearm enthusiasts who also believe in things like diversity, inclusion, social support, and equal rights for all. These fellow Rebels have been leading the online fight against the Empire in order to bring hope to the next generation. Thankfully, these people are also willing to show up in person to walk their talk - and I see more and more of these people every year at the annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Now, when I walk around the floor or attend the SHOT Show parties and after parties, I don’t have to worry about getting sexually assaulted and then guilted into helping cover it up. Now, when a person brings unwanted contact onto another person, the perpetrator actually faces consequences for their actions. Women are less and less afraid to call out bad behavior, and men are less afraid to stand up to those people who think that masculinity is achieved by harming other people. 

I see diversity on the floor. There’s still a lot of cargo pants, flannels, and beards, but now there are also a lot of people who dress outside of the traditional earth color palette. Women aren’t relegated to just being booth babes; they own companies and command sales teams.  I see a rainbow of ethnicities and cultures walking the show floor. People aren’t afraid to wear silly outfits and just be goofy and have fun.  Ten years ago, I don’t think anyone would have even thought it was possible to show up to SHOT Show looking and acting differently from the unspoken uniform and code of conduct without being verbally or physically assaulted. Maybe I’m being dramatic. But that’s what it felt like to me. I mean, I was sexually assaulted at SHOT Show before, and I know for a fact that I am just one of many people within this industry who have had personal dealings with this issue, so…I don’t think that I am THAT dramatic. 

People are less afraid to speak up for the little guy, less afraid to be authentically themselves. I know that our current political climate is incredibly polarizing, and it can feel hopeless for anyone within this industry who doesn’t fit into the traditional box. If you are one of those people, I want you to know - it’s not as bad as the media makes it look. There is still hope. The Rebels are showing up in bigger and bigger numbers, and they are all fighting for you. Keep showing up, it’s making a positive difference. After all, rebellions are built on hope. 

May the Force be With You; Live Long and Prosper,

Leah <3

Why I Play Airsoft

It’s nice to lose yourself every once in a while. After all, health professionals encourage adults to have hobbies and exercise their imaginations just as they did when they were kids. Multiple studies have shown that this can add years to your life as well as increase your overall well-being. In fact, it may be even more important to be able to “lose” yourself as the trials and tribulations of adult life can tend to weigh heavily on oneself; causing many adults to lose themselves in unhealthy ways - whether it be drugs, alcohol, social media, binge-eating, or any other addictive behaviors.

Airsoft : Adult Game of Cowboys and Indians or Video Games Come to Life?

I moved to California in 2012 after spending my life growing up in Kansas and Louisiana. While I was excited for the change in weather and proximity to the mountains and ocean; I was left with wanting to get back to my “roots” so to speak; growing up playing the childhood games of Cowboys & Indians out in the country. When I heard about a game played with realistic-looking guns where you shoot your friends with plastic BB’s; I was IN. Here was a fun, safe, and healthy way to essentially play video games in real life. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have some self-defense skills in real life. Here, you can use your imagination and hone your real-world skills in a fun and non-threatening way. 

There are lots of different ways to play airsoft. One spectrum is very X-Games-esque, with bright colors, sleek masks, and lots of engagement. Then, there’s the more tactical, long-game (think of the board game RISK in real life); where players simulate realistic war scenarios and learn tactics from real combat and special forces veterans.  In between those two spheres, there is a whole host of ways to exercise your imagination and have fun; whether it be role-playing an apocalyptic scenario, or playing casual “pick up games” or “skirmishes” with objectives like Capture the Flag, Search and Destroy, or any other popular video game mode - almost all of them can be played in real life.

Airsoft is the Spice that Gives Life Variety

For me, variety is the spice of life, and the wide range of ways to play airsoft keeps things fresh, fun, and diverse. This hobby reaches all across the globe - with airsoft being played in Japan, Chile, Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand, Russia, the whole of western Europe and North America to name a few.  I’ve been able to travel the world in this hobby, playing all across the United States;  in Aruba, Mexico, Scotland, and England. It’s a common thread throughout the world, and a way to bond and meet people from different cultures; sharing in a common hobby that brings everyone together in the spirit of camaraderie. (photo) When we play airsoft, we don’t alienate one another based on political or religious views. While playing the game; we don’t worry about whether or not someone is using Elite Force BB’s or guns - because we know there is a bigger picture at work.  No matter our opinions on guns, gear, or politics, we come together to meet a shared goal and work together despite our differences. And I think the world could use a little more of that - working together, despite our differences...because we’re really not all that different when it comes down to it. We just need a commonality to bring us together. That is airsoft.

LARPing Our Way Into the Old West with Airsoft

“Yeehaw! There's gold in them hills!”

I fondly remember playing “cowboys” as a kid; first using sticks as a placeholder for our six-shooters, then moving up to water guns or Nerf. But back then, Nerf guns never lasted long … they were relatively expensive, inaccurate, and we were always losing the darts. Myself, along with my brothers and cousins would act out westerns in the woods behind the house and I always thought that I could best them in a showdown. But it’s so hard to prove with stick guns! 

Imagine my delight when I discovered airsoft, a game where you can still play pretend, but it also involves the use of realistic replicas and accurate, non-lethal projectiles. My happiness was doubled when a company started manufacturing six-shooters and lever action rifles. Western dreams really do come true!

I have always wanted to play in a Wild West themed airsoft game - down to even co-hosting one almost a decade ago. My husband and I purchased a bunch of cheap spring-powered revolvers just so we could host a game and invite all of our friends to play pretend with us for a day.  It was fun, but man, it would have been even more fun using replicas of old west firearms!

Airsoft Live Action Role Playing– Side Quest to a Great Time!

Last year, I got the opportunity to attend a two-day open world airsoft event at Ballahack Airsoft in Chesapeake, Virginia. Think of it as playing Red Dead Redemption in real life. The field had strict rules about what airsoft guns you could use - single action only! Everything had to be western themed. Players had to earn their keep in the town - from fishing, to mining, to hunting - there were all kinds of side quests to collect 11 different kinds of coins in order to win the coveted golden medallion.

Live Action Role-Play, or LARPing, as it is commonly known, is starting to make its way into the airsoft sphere - bringing with it an entirely new and immersive way to play the game. The ability to host games based around a more open-world style theme of playing allows airsofters to truly play out their fantasies in real life. After all, airsoft is a big game of playing pretend, why not make the most of it? We always like to talk about what it would be like to play video games in real life, or to act out movies, or even to see just how difficult it really is to pull off those John Wayne movies.  Thanks to replica airsoft guns, we can do just that!

If You Are Reading This– It’s For YOU!

I had so much fun pretending to be a hero from the Old West, along with the added benefit of being able to take a shower and sleep in a comfortable bed after the games were over. We all know it’s fun to fantasize about playing all the fun parts of a western movie, but not having to give up our modern amenities at the end of the day really sells it for me. The other benefit of these open-world style LARP games is that anyone can do it! Old or young, any gender, any body type can play this style of airsoft. It’s ultra-inclusive and brings all sorts of new players into the hobby - and we all know that new players are the foundation for the longevity of airsoft.

Players at Ballahack Airsoft were able to come up with all kinds of costumes, characters, and backstories to fill the town and the narrative of the Wild West world. This style of gameplay allows for more creativity and imagination in the world of airsoft, allowing the hobby to grow even more exponentially into the mainstream world.  In the world of airsoft, if you dream it, you truly can do it.

Let’s Change the Game.

As Bob Dylan once sang, “the times they are a changing.” Social media channels and advertising companies are cracking down on and distancing themselves from any gun related content. Unfortunately for airsoft, this also includes our sport/hobby. It’s easy to see why the untrained eye can’t make the distinction between airsoft guns and real firearms, since airsoft guns are replicas of real firearms. Almost every single airsoft gun in existence is based off of an actual firearm. (Except for maybe the rare HALO gun?)

If you have played airsoft for any length of time, you are not unfamiliar with the challenges facing our hobby. It’s been banned in Australia, it’s faced multiple issues in Europe and the UK, and Canada is currently fighting legislation that wants to ban airsoft. The US has dealt with their fair share of anti-airsoft legislation as well, most notably in California and the Northeast.

What is the solution to all this? 

The answer has always been: Educate the public. But, unfortunately, the simple appearance of airsoft is a gigantic hurdle that the industry has not been able to overcome, no matter how many social media campaigns or monetary donations have been made to foundations or local politicians. The fact that airsoft guns look and function almost exactly like real firearms will always be both the draw and the detriment of airsoft. While the 1:1 scale is perfect for safely teaching budding firearm enthusiasts the basics of weapon knowledge, it can be an almost insurmountable hurdle for recruiting new players into airsoft. Parents who aren’t familiar with firearms will find them scary and intimidating and will be extremely hesitant to allow them in their homes. People who have not grown up around nor been immersed in gun culture  will generally find airsoft to be a romancing of real life violence, rather than a harmless real life expression of gaming and role play culture.

In order to bring more “outsiders” into airsoft - and to grow airsoft as a whole, we need to expand our thinking and diversify its offerings. Embrace the cultures of gaming, LARP and cosplay and branch out into the future.

Companies should start making more futuristic and innovatively designed airsoft blasters that aren’t replicas of real firearms. Make replicas of guns from futuristic video games, like Borderlands, No Man’s Sky, Destiny - the list could go on. Event promoters should host events that revolve around live action role play along with objective based gaming. Fields and events should concentrate on the experience of both the gamer and the observer. Currently, airsoft is not an observation friendly hobby, and that makes it more difficult to bring in fresh customers. The only place for people to watch airsoft currently is social media - whom is also cracking down on sharing of videos and content. If you want to watch an airsoft game or event in real-time, there is virtually no way to do that as a casual observer.  It’s easy to get fans involved in sports like football, basketball, soccer, etc. because they are such spectator-friendly hobbies. A few airsoft fields have spectator areas, but they are few and far between. Other fields have started to include vending areas and cafes - even arcade and bar areas, which drastically improves the overall player/spectator experience and makes the customer more likely to spend more time and money at that facility. 

Incorporating Live Action Role Play (LARP) into airsoft has been extremely successful at growing and diversifying the hobby.  Milsim West has most notably and successfully incorporated this aspect with their Insurgency game series. This style of airsoft event has quickly become wildly popular with airsofters as it allows them to use their imaginations and expands the types of gaming scenarios available within the event. Players are allowed to role play as citizens, politicians, business owners, entrepreneurs - the possibilities are limitless. This allows the players to create the experience that they want to get out of the airsoft event, rather than relying on a company to provide the experience, which is beneficial for everyone. This style of event is also a very easy way for someone new to the hobby to get into airsoft. You can play an entire game without ever using your airsoft blaster. I’ve played “non-violent” roles at events like these, LARPing as Press, an anti-war hippie, and most recently, a politician. Some role players choose to run clubs, restaurants, churches, movie theatres, casinos, convenience shops or tech stands. Other players choose to operate taxi or delivery services, as well as serving as town infrastructure - the possibilities are limitless for the player. 

Adding futuristic airsoft blasters would also help to bring more of the fantasy gaming aspect into the hobby, as well as allow it to branch into other genres, like cyberpunk and futuristic apocalyptic or space scenarios. Content creator @justohl has been doing this with existing airsoft guns, and it has quickly become wildly popular on Instagram.  This can only be beneficial for airsoft, as it gives the hobby an entirely new and different breath of life and creativity.

In order to stay relevant and continue to add players to the game, airsoft must continue to evolve. If we do not continue to evolve the game, the game will die, it is simple as that. Just as businesses have to constantly improve, innovate and evolve in order to keep their businesses alive, so must the airsoft industry. 

What do you hope to see as part of the future of airsoft? 

How To Get Your Girl to Play Airsoft.

It’s a tale as old as (airsoft) time. You have this hobby that you LOVE, but you only get a few days a month to play airsoft, if you’re lucky. Since free time is highly valued, and relationships take up a significant amount of free time, you want to be able to share this hobby with your best friend and partner. Just HOW do you get your girl to play airsoft?

DOs and DON’Ts of Sharing Your Airsoft Hobby

First, let’s talk about the DOs and DON’Ts. In your enthusiasm to share your hobby, it can be easy to forget just how big the learning curve is for someone that is getting involved in airsoft for the first time. Before you baptize your girlfriend/wife/partner into the airsoft fire, read through this list of do’s and don’ts.

DO NOT start by shooting your girlfriend with our favorite airsoft gun.
DO let her shoot you with your favorite airsoft gun. As an avid airsofter, you’re used to getting shot by plastic projectiles, so no complaining if your girl turns out to be a good shot!

DO NOT just hand your girl an airsoft gun (or any gun, for that matter) and expect her to know how everything works.

DO let her pick a gun that she would like to learn about, teach her how the airsoft gun works (how/where to put the battery, how to load mags, how to know when it is dry-firing, how to change mags, how to sight in on a target, how to properly hold and manipulate the airsoft gun, etc.) This is also the perfect time to teach her the 4 rules of firearm safety. Everyone that plays airsoft should know and abide by these rules:

1. Always treat every firearm and replica as though it is loaded.

2. Never let the muzzle cover anything that you are not willing to destroy.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights on the target.

4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

DO NOT show her cheater videos, videos with injuries, or any other videos that can be construed as dangerous, painful, or unfair.
DO show her videos of women dominating on the airsoft field.

DO NOT take her to play airsoft for the first time in a high-intensity CQB environment with full-auto. No girl wants to get bruised and bloodied on her first airsoft experience. Additionally, it’s hard to learn about a sport/hobby when you are in a high-intensity situation. 
DO take her to an airsoft field where she can hang back, shoot from longer ranges, and get comfortable with her gun.

DO NOT leave her alone on the field. Unless you want to be single.
DO stay with her and help her with tactics; allowing her to gain confidence in her abilities. 

DO NOT give her a giant gun, a heavy gun, or a crappy airsoft gun.
DO give her the best gun in your arsenal. You wouldn’t want to play with a crappy gun; don’t force someone new to airsoft to use something that you wouldn’t use yourself. People are bound to have more fun with a high-performance gun, like the Elite Force Avalon. 

DO NOT place her in bulky gear that is too big for her frame. Girls want to look and feel good about themselves, and looking like the Michelin Man isn’t going to inspire her to play.
DO find gear that she is comfortable in; that gives her protection, while also allowing her dexterity and movement. 

DO NOT expect her to be able to pick her own guns and gear. If she is brand new to the hobby, she won’t know anything about the benefits or drawbacks of certain guns and gear.
DO give her lots of options and explain the benefits and drawbacks to her so that she can pick the setup that allows her to be the most comfortable.

DO NOT take her to a field without first letting her test out the guns and gear in a comfortable place (like a backyard). Again, no one wants to be learning how the guns and gear works in a high-pressure situation. 

DO let her test out the guns and gear in the backyard, give her targets, and let her become familiar with the equipment before taking her to a field. 

DO NOT just fix things. Walk and talk her through it. Let her discover how things work. This will boost her confidence in the airsoft rifle or pistol she’s using.

DO be patient with your boo. The old saying, “love is patient”, certainly applies here.

You (should) Know Her Best!

This list of do’s and don’ts isn’t an end all be all list of commandments. Every female is different and unique, and you know your partner best, so use the suggestions from this list at your discretion. Keep in mind that the best way to get someone involved in your hobby is to show the benefits, uses, and finally and most important-  the FUN of airsoft. Everyone likes to have fun, so try to make her first few airsoft experiences as enjoyable as possible.

Lastly, keep an open mind. Everyone is different, and your partner may like a different style of airsoft than you do. There are TONS of different ways to play airsoft, whether it be pick-up games, hardcore milsims (like Milsim West), milsim-lite cosplay events like DesertFox Events, speedsoft, or just fun backyard games or target shooting. Whatever she enjoys, encourage it! Even if it isn’t your cup of tea - just be glad that your girl is supportive of your hobby. And if she isn’t into airsoft, don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world. At least you can count yourself in the minority of airsofters who actually have a girlfriend. ;)