AP Photo ABOVE: Mike Wheeler poses holding one of his favorite Airsoft guns at the Ohio Valley Airsoft store. The store will offer a wide variety of top-of-the line Airsoft guns and equipment to purchase.

BELLAIRE — Two law enforcement officers are opening a new store in Bellaire, hoping to teach children responsibility while allowing them to have fun.

Mike Hendershot and Mike Wheeler are the owners of Ohio Valley Airsoft, located in Bellaire. The store focuses on selling Airsoft guns and parts.

Airsoft guns are replica firearms that use springs, carbon dioxide or compressed air to shoot plastic pellets for simulated gun fights. Identified as replicas by the orange tip of the barrel, Airsoft guns can come in many different shapes and sizes, from simple handguns to expensive sniper rifles and automatics. The guns can be customized with a variety of parts to increase their utility, add lights or laser sights, or just make them look cooler. Similar to paintball, Airsoft players and enthusiasts form leagues to get together, exchange information and ideas, and participate in large-scale simulated battles, either in an indoor arena or outdoors. For the past few months, Hendershot and Wheeler have been working to bring the same idea of participation and enjoyment to the Ohio Valley area.

“Being cops on the riverfront, we see a lot of drugs and other issues escalating in the valley,” said Hendershot, an officer with the Bridgeport Police Department. “We just wanted to create something that would be fun for kids of all ages. It’ll also be an opportunity to teach them something about gun safety in a safe environment.”

The store, located on Union Street in Bellaire, contains a pro shop that sells all manner of equipment and accessories. Wheeler said the Airsoft guns available in the store are top-of-the-line models, with an average starting price of around $125, depending on the gun. Although the price is steeper than Airsoft guns available at Wal-Mart and other stores, Wheeler said the quality of the items makes the price money well spent. The store also caries a wide range of accessories to customize any chosen gun, and Wheeler said if a part or item isn’t in the shop it can be easily ordered.

The shop is also connected to a larger building, which contains an indoor Airsoft arena that can be rented for parties. Customers can either bring their own equipment or rent guns, goggles and tactical vests from the store. The indoor arena includes a variety of terrain and cover, including stairways, barrels and even two old cars. When a player is “killed” in the game, they must return to a “respawn” point for a certain amount of time before returning to the fight. The parties can be booked for any age, from middle school birthdays to adult bachelor parties.

“It really just gives the community something safe and fun to do,” said Wheeler, a Bellaire police officer.

The closest Airsoft pro shop is over an an hour away, making Ohio Valley Airsoft truly unique in the area. Wheeler and Hendershot both said they have already seen a lot of interest in the business, both from children asking if they store is open yet and from parents inquiring about the parties. The store’s grand opening event will be held Saturday and will include food, equipment vendors, and contest giveaways. The two invited anyone who is interested to stop by and check out the shop.

For more information about Ohio Valley Airsoft, visit the website ohiovalleyairsoft.com or call 740-325-1172.