If I wanted to give an airsoft pistol to one of my children - all of whom are middle aged adults by the way - none of whom have ever skirmished, would this be completely legal?
I emphasise this would be a gift and not a sale.
In the unlikely event that the gun eventually ended up in the hands of somebody unkown to me, who used it irresponsibly eg. showed it in public, would I as the original owner be liable?
The legal requirement under the VCRA covers the manufacture, import and sale of RIFs …… and that the purpose is for one of specified reasons (defences) - airsoft skirmishing, re-enactment, film and stage etc ….. with relevant insurance in suitable venues etc
There is also the requirement to be aged 18 or older - (hence UKARA linked site memeberships are valid from age 18, but could begin the qualifying game period earlier depending on the site policy)
A (reputable) retailer wants to see some form of ‘evidence’ of meeting the VCRA defences, and won’t sell IFs or RIFs to under 18s
’Gifting’ (with no form of remuneration / ‘contract consideration - eg if a recipients gift is reliant on doing jobs around the house then that can be legally qualified as the payment, rendering it a sale rather than a gift)
If the buyer purchases with the intent of gifting, but not for the purposes of the recipient playing at an airsoft site etc (even if the buyer has UKARA etc) then technically the sale was illegal, but the retailer would be safe from prosecution if they ‘reasonably’ checked the buyers defence
……………..
Hence the follow up hint posts, that the RIF is being gifted with accompanying equipment —— and also the morality side of wondering why ask about gifting to adults who have never played airsoft
If they have just not played to date and are about to begin then giving them a RIF let’s them start fully equipped
As adults they could of course buy their own extra equipment as there aren’t VCRA restrictions on them