Airsoft is more like a step above paintball and a step below (or on a par with) BB-guns. It’s a thing and there are a ton of videos on youtube about it. There are rules as the weapons can hurt you if the mass/fps ratio is exceeded. And they have electronic devices for checking this out before they let you play.
Your more serious and mentally balanced airsoft aficianado (going by the videos) treat their airsoft weapon rifle/pistol/whatever as real as their deadly counterparts and players will be escorted off airsoft fields if they ever forget it. Everyone typically wears heavy clothing, eye and ear protection, gloves, and a head cover of some sort.
But there are nuts out there, like the guy referenced in the story, who try to start trouble or just don’t practice the requisite discipline.
I don’t have any airsoft gear. I tried paintball 30 years ago and, while a lot fun with people you know really well, can be very unfun with ubercompetitive strangers. Especially with alcohol in the mix. Once I encountered that, it was no longer something I wanted any part of.
Fun to watch, like pro sports before it became thoroughly politicized, but not something I care to do.
I’ve played airsoft wars
It’s not that bad ....