Air Soft Guns

Steve, Joe and Kate have air soft guns that they use regularly in our yard. The first air guns we purchased could only go short distances and were not very accurate. Several other home school families have air soft guns and the kids would get together and have "wars" in the back yard.

After a while, the "wimpy" air soft guns were replaced with slightly longer range and more accurate guns. The wars continued in our backyards. Then Stephen started going to air soft days at a friends home in the country. Several of the kids had sharp shooter guns with a lot more power and accuracy. The kids began wearing snow pants in addition to the safety goggles we always required them to wear. Stephen bought himself a sharp shooter gun a few weeks ago which he uses when he's playing out in the country, but he isn't allowed to use at our house.

Sunday, Katie had a group of friends over who brought air soft guns. The kids played for a while and then left. Monday, I discovered that my bedroom window had a hole surrounded by spiderweb-like cracks. There were blue air soft pellets on the ground in front of the window. We don't own any blue pellets. Katie's friends had shot out my window accidentally. These are the same friends who collapsed the pool last summer. These are not bad kids. They are just careless. The problem is that I can't afford to replace items because they are careless. Nor do I want problems with my neighbors because of our guests behavior.

Now I need to figure out how to handle this situation. Stephen and Joe's friends are not careless. They watch what they are shooting at at aim carefully. Katie's friends tend to act without thinking about the principles of cause and effect. Do I ban Katie's friends from playing air soft? Do I ban everyone? Do I nag Katie's friends about safety? I really hate correcting other peoples children.