Correct me if wrong, but I think blank-firing
imitation firearms (meeting the
specifications in the regulations) are not
firearms, and are subject to VCRA the same way as airsoft RIFs and IFs, the same set of defence apply, including UKARA.
You’re wrong
A UK compliant blank firing pistol wouldn’t be a Section 5 firearm and wouldn’t need a firearms certificate.
The VCRA is another piece of legislation, anything covered within the VCRA is not automatically excluded from the firearms act.
The VCRA does not explicitly refer to blank firers, but the firearms does explicitly reference blank firers and their ammunition as to those that do comply to UK standards & section 5 requirements and whether or not blank ammunition would be subject to controls
There is a ‘statutory instrument’ that adds to the VCRA with definitions of ‘blank firing imitation firearms’
Airsoft did fall within firearms legislation as well with airsoft guns within the definition of a ‘low power air weapon’ until an amendment was made under section 57a:
57a Exemption for airsoft guns
(1)An “airsoft gun” is not to be regarded as a firearm for the purposes of this Act.
(2)An “airsoft gun” is a barrelled weapon of any description which—
(a)is designed to discharge only a small plastic missile (whether or not it is also capable of discharging any other kind of missile), and
(b)is not capable of discharging a missile (of any kind) with kinetic energy at the muzzle of the weapon that exceeds the permitted level.
(3)“Small plastic missile” means a missile that—
(a)is made wholly or partly from plastics,
(b)is spherical, and
(c)does not exceed 8 millimetres in diameter.
(4)The permitted kinetic energy level is—
(a)in the case of a weapon which is capable of discharging two or more missiles successively without repeated pressure on the trigger, 1.3 joules;
(b)in any other case, 2.5 joules.
]
This exemption is explicitly for airsoft guns that fire plastic BB within 8mm and within the 1.3 or 2.5 joule limits
Note that there is an interpretation that air weapons etc are firearms and therefore could not at the same time be RIFs / IFs (this is my interpretation) - but there has been case law that decided otherwise, thus an airgun that was a firearm under the firearms act also at the same time was a Realistic Imitation due to the look of the design
The VCRA is legislation governing the sale / manufacture / import - it doesn’t govern the use (Different styles of usage of RIFs within the VCRA define what a retailer can take as a valid use to justify sale rather than dictating the actual use after a sale)
Gun shops do sell blank firers such as starter pistols in bright VCRA style colours, and the industry do protect themselves from a VCRA type prosecution requiring theatrical & reenactment defences etc
Irrespective of an airsoft gun having being a valid purchase under the VCRA there can still be legal issues with inappropriate use - such as wandering around a town centre
AKA don’t be a dick with an airsoft gun
The same applies to blank firers
