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The Violent Crime Reduction Bill
The VCR bill is legislation designed to kerb several types of crime one of which pertains to firearms, and replica imitation firearms - RIF's.
What this means to airsofters?
Airsoft does not have an exemption, we do however have a specific defence to allow us to buy new RIF's so we can enjoy our sport.
This will allow you to purchase RIF's for airsofting with the specific defence of using them in an airsoft skirmish and not say to shoot your mates in the nuts down the local park.
Is there a minimum age?
Yes, Eighteen.
How do I register at a site?
There's a form for you to fill in and after you've played responsibly at the same insured site three times in a minimum two month period, you can submit the completed form to the site owner. You need some documents that identify you too. You might be photographed.
Is Tech Brigade such a site?
Yes.
Then what?
If you are approved (and it's not guaranteed) your form will be endorsed and returned to you.
But I'm under 18 and want a gun now?
Sorry but you'll have to wait until you're 18 and a registered skirmisher to purchase any RIF (new or 2nd hand)
I'm under 18 but have already got an airsofting RIF.
The legislation only concerns purchases made after the 1st of October 2007 not existing RIF's you own so you're OK.
I'm under 18 and want to start playing?
As long as you meet site age & guardian requirements you can play, you will have to hire or borrow your airsofting RIF until you are old enough to purchase your own though.
I'm over 18 and want to start playing?
You'll need to become a registered skirmisher to buy your own RIF's ( played 3 times in 2 months at the same site) however you can turn up and play with no problem by hiring from a site (so you can get a feel for it)
What about second hand sales?
Second hand sales follow the same guidelines as new sales so you have to be 18 and a registered skirmisher etc to buy them. The onus here is on the seller to ensure the person buying them has a legitimate reason for doing so or you could both be in trouble. If you are registered and accredited with UKARA/Tech Brigade, you'll be able to use the Airsoft Classifieds section of this website.
The Violent Crime Reduction Act (Sec.36) makes it an offence to:
- Manufacture a realistic imitation firearm (RIF)
- Modify an imitation firearm (IF) so it becomes a RIF
- Sell a RIF
- Bring a RIF in to Great Britain or cause one to be brought into Great Britain.
HOWEVER, Airsoft has gained a specific defence in the act meaning that from 01/10/2007, anyone intending to purchase a RIF from Wolf Armouries must either:
- Be a registered UKARA member or a member of a registered Airsoft skirmishing site. To purchase online, customers will need to be UKARA registered.
- Have the majority of the RIF brightly coloured to make it an IF instead of a RIF (detailed below)
- Acquire it under other specific defence conditions.
The VCRA increases the minimum legal age to buy an IF or RIF to 18. Nb. This doesn't affect Wolf sales as we already operate a minimum age (18) policy. It is also important to note that the VCRA only affects customers in the UK.
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