“Airsoft” has become the generic term for an air gun that shoots plastic bb’s. There are foreign companies that sell “airsoft” guns that look like the real guns and legions of airheads in the “airsoft” culture that wouldn’t be caught dead with an orange tipped gun (bad pun intended).
They have been instructed to NEVER have them out at night, especially not in an area where access is not completely controlled, and any neighbors are OK with them playing.
I have related to them that there have been a number of incidents like this, where someone with an airsoft gun gets shot because the airsoft is mistaken for the real deal by a nervous policemen.
I have further instructed them that if anyone shouts words to the effect of 'Drop the weapon" to immediately drop the toy, hold very still, and keep their hands in plain sight while shouting "It's a toy!".