People’s view of how the sport of airsoft skirmishing will fair if Labour win the election

[novioman]

Anybody have concerns of how airsoft will go if Labour win. Are they any worse than the tories when it comes to our sport. 

 

[Emergencychimps]

There isn't a single mention of Airsoft on the labour website, nothing for firearm and a reference to tackling knife crime for gun. 

It's very hard to say, though I don't think there's real demand for banning the sport in the UK and seems widely known about, so if people wanted it banned/cancelled I'm sure there would be people calling for it. 

 

[Cannonfodder]

Whatever colour the next government is they've got bigger things to worry about than a bunch of people running around the woods playing soldiers

 

[Tackle]

If everyone continues to be sensible, we shouldn't have a problem with pretty much any government,  irrespective of party, after all our expensive hobby generates an equally high level of taxation, which governments love.

It's when people behave like cnuts & the media get hold of it, or criminal activity involving rifs, then the light is on us, & if said event coincides with a government fuckup, of which their are many, then we need to start sweating lol.

 

[Asomodai]

The only party I am aware of that has something that might affect us is the Green Party. It's pretty light on substance and doesn't mention our existing defence for Airsoft. But they may just make us turn our RIFs into IFs. 

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[Chev Chelios]

Will never forget that thunder cunt Hazel Blears was Labour so always a worry. 

 

[Tackle]

The only party I am aware of that has something that might affect us is the Green Party. It's pretty light on substance and doesn't mention our existing defence for Airsoft. But they may just make us turn our RIFs into IFs. 

View attachment 130636

Normally I would have said they don't have a snowballs, but after Trump & Boris, which I never believed would happen, & given the current level of distrust of all the main parties, I'm making no predictions this time?

 

[Cannonfodder]

A quick look on Google shows the green party only have 83 candidates named as standing so they've got as much chance of winning as I've got at becoming the next Pope. 

Full disclosure, I could only find 1 website with the list so I can't be sure how accurate it is

Edit because I posted before finishing.

Alot of people will be put off voting green by their other policies such as increasing road fuel tax and cutting funding for road building

 

[Tommikka]

The only party I am aware of that has something that might affect us is the Green Party. It's pretty light on substance and doesn't mention our existing defence for Airsoft. But they may just make us turn our RIFs into IFs. 

View attachment 130636

That is an extract from a brief dated in 2004, which relates to what subsequently went into consultation and ended up with the VCRA legislation (covering the quoted film & theatrical uses and clear IF definition) and the additional statutory instrument which resulted in the Skirmisher defence 

https://www.greenparty.org.uk/files/reports/2004/Gun control.htm

As others have posted airsoft (and other recreational gun like activities) aren’t really on the politicians radars.

Scotlands politics is a very different beast with a long tradition in politicians targeting ‘guns’

Back in the day when paintball arrived in the UK the nearest legislation was for low powered air weapons, but paintball ran on CO2 (and still does for some) The difference between CO2 and air was ignored for the majority of the UK but not for Scotland.  In England paintball (on legal & safe commercial sites) was ignored, but in Scotland paintball sites were regularly raided and prosecuted for firearms offences.  Ultimately CO2 was added to the law on air weapons

In recent years the ‘air weapon certificate’ was introduced, and though the specific legislation wording could be interpreted differently an ‘intent’ was shown that airsoft and paintball would not be air weapons under that legislation 

(Airsoft has also had explicit amendments to firearms legislation excluding compliant airsoft guns from being firearms / air weapons - paintball has no such exclusion but Home Office guidelines set paintball aside provided other projectiles are not used)

Don’t be a dick, keep showing ourselves as ‘responsible voices’ on the forums etc and don’t act in a knee jerk manner in anticipation of a knee jerk action

 

[Asomodai]

That is an extract from a brief dated in 2004, which relates to what subsequently went into consultation and ended up with the VCRA legislation (covering the quoted film & theatrical uses and clear IF definition) and the additional statutory instrument which resulted in the Skirmisher defence 

https://www.greenparty.org.uk/files/reports/2004/Gun control.htm

As others have posted airsoft (and other recreational gun like activities) aren’t really on the politicians radars.

It's still on their policy list updated from 2024

Crime and Justice - Policy (greenparty.org.uk)

A quick look on Google shows the green party only have 83 candidates named as standing so they've got as much chance of winning as I've got at becoming the next Pope. 

Full disclosure, I could only find 1 website with the list so I can't be sure how accurate it is

Edit because I posted before finishing.

Alot of people will be put off voting green by their other policies such as increasing road fuel tax and cutting funding for road building

Current polls suggest that Labour are unlikely to win an outright majority and will need a second party to prop up a government. It will probably be Lib Dems, but could be Green party if they only need a few votes. 

 

[Cannonfodder]

Look how well it went when the green party formed a coalition government with the SNP in Scotland I think any party would seriously think twice before entering into a joint government with them

 

[Tommikka]

It's still on their policy list updated from 2024

Crime and Justice - Policy (greenparty.org.uk)

It is, and the last amendment for that section is 2009 

It’s a 15 to 20 year old section, which has had the predicted legislation put into place (subject to consultation and review)

If they were to pursue further controls as detailed they would still be subject to the legislative process (though the skirmisher defence isn’t core legislation and can be subject to the strike of a pen) there remains the matter of getting through the majorities required to raise legislation, including every MP that gets petitioned by their constituents - especially businesses/employers in their constituency.

Tag on the preservation argument from sites and land owners about use of  the forests of the UK generating a level of income to the owning farmer from the site and the associated rates & taxes going into the treasury

It is of course a potential risk, but one that can be managed 

 

[BreadyC]

I’m a Green Party member, we’re embroiled in leadership power struggles, internal politics and various other operational issues.

I wouldn’t worry, and if we did get a sniff at an election win, which we won’t, but if we did I assure you I’d personally take a significantly more active role as a party member to ensure the right people are put in front of the right decision makers to ensure the longevity of airsoft.

As much as I or others don’t want to believe it, party donors have a lot of sway in the Green Party, a fat donation could wipe that policy right off the manifesto.

 

[Krisz]

Airsoft is a 'huge' business so I'd be extremely suprised if any gov would like to ban it.

What goverments (aka corrupt politicians and their cronies) love more than anything? You guessed it right. Taxpayers' money.

 

[Rogerborg]

Challenge accepted. "And the next game scenario..." will become "And the script outline for the next improvised theatrical performance scene..."

 

[Tommikka]

Challenge accepted. "And the next game scenario..." will become "And the script outline for the next improvised theatrical performance scene..."

No worries ….

FilmSim has it covered, just ensure that scenario has an actual scenario complete with some embedded NPC role play marshals and market your ‘immersive theatrical experience’

I’ve even just come up with a bare bones overview that could be marketed for anyone from the experienced to the one off amateur taster, with a low(er) budget homage to Bill Murray, I’m provisionally calling it “The man who knew even less” 

This will work best in those non standard urban environments, and even better we don’t need to wait for disused shopping centres.  Make it a full immersive experience so that customers never really know who is an NPC, a player or just random public 

what could go wrong? 

 

[hunter511]

Honestly as a grown adult who has a mortgage and has seen that payment go from "tm recoil" to "GBLS DAS416" a month courtesy of Truss (elected by the Tory membership) whilst seeing a 14 year slump in my actual take home pay honestly, I love airsoft, but the less the current tory party (who by the way have a very nasty tendency of knee jerk bans and sneaking stuff into legality through "questionable" means) have to do with running the country the happier I am.

 

[GenuineGerman]

My personal view is that it doesn’t matter what clowns/party are in charge. They would all ban anything in order to get votes so political affiliation doesn’t matter. All these people want is to line their pockets at the expense of us. 
 

Apologies but I’m so disenfranchised with politics in this country. I can’t see it being better under labour or greens or anyone else for that matter. 

 

[John_W]

To echo comments above, we worry about Labour, but the Conservatives (who opposed the VCRA) had 14 years to repeal the act but didn't.

The VCRA was a hobby horse of Hazel Blears, and was derived from the unpublished Home Office Consultation on Firearms (allegedly never published  because the public gave the wrong answers, and unavailable through FOI).

The manifesto pledge was:

"Most respondents to the consultation wanted some controls on Replica Weapons, particularly sales to under 18s".

This as we know became a total ban, partially overturned by the Lords.

It was also based on a blip in the figures caused by instructions from the Home Office to Police forces to record unidentified weapons (where no weapon was fired or recovered so type uncertain) as "replicas" rather than "unknown". 

There are figures for the paltry number of convictions under the act since 2007 and no evidence that Replicas are a problem.

As others have said, the next Government has much bigger things to worry about and the best thing the Airsoft Community can do is not draw attention to itself.

Current polls suggest that Labour are unlikely to win an outright majority and will need a second party to prop up a government. It will probably be Lib Dems, but could be Green party if they only need a few votes. 

One outlying poll predicted that. Other polls with larger numbers of respondent are still showing a 20-22 point lead.

 

[rj1986]

Normally I would have said they don't have a snowballs, but after Trump & Boris, which I never believed would happen, & given the current level of distrust of all the main parties, I'm making no predictions this time?

I'm sure all 19 people who vote for the Green party appreciate your enthusiasm