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I am not against the practice at all as, these days, I have to assume anyone carrying something that looks like a firearm is indeed that, a firearm.
As kwikrnu stated, some people make their airsoft weapons look legit, and damnit, typically all they have to do is paint that orange tip to match the gun for a natural look.
There really aren't laws, at least they aren't common, regarding firearm colors. Manufacturers of guns make them look all kinds of fancy, green, pink, if you look at charter arms, they've got crimson red revolvers!
I would perhaps be more against an airsoft gun being painted to look real because they are built to look and feel convincing but they may tend to get people in trouble.
North Carolina has commonlaws that may be construed to fit someone that has a gun that is painted to look like a toy or airsoft, especially if one knowingly did so.
Kwikrnu, I am not against what you did, but your admission, in North Carolina COULD get a "going armed to the terror of the public" or aconcealed carry violation (if no permit OR it was done with anything other than a pistol, so your AK is fine) by the nature that you knowingly sought to hide the true nature of what you were carrying. It would be an interesting court case on the either charge but people have been charged with these in far less bizarre situations.