Tommikka

That Abbey link is poorly worded. It is illegal to sell an airsoft gun to anyone under 18 But it is not illegal to own - it can be irresponsible to supply one to a person under 18 If the father was confident in their child being responsible enough then the father could legally buy an airsoft gun and gift it (with no exchange of money or other service) Unless the father is an airsofter then they would not be able to purchase a RIF, therefore could only buy and gift a brightly coloured IF There is seperate legislation for the storage of air weapons that if minors have access to the property the owners must secure air weapons. The police recommend a gun cabinet - but that is not the legal requirement, and subsequently seperate firearms legislation exempts (compliant) airsoft guns from firearms/weapon definitions (which can depend on different parts of legislation) Therefore it’s not illegal for the OP to own an airsoft gun, but it’s up to the adult responsible for that child

For what, and to talk to who? One radio for you or a set for a group? Generic PMRs are fully legal, require no licence and transmit/receive on the common frequencies. They are available in various sizes and looks, different models / manufacturers handsets can take remote headset/microphones in either specific or industry standard fittings, and though most will take their own custom battery of various capacities some can have compatible spare batteries available and a number can take ordinary AAs or AAAs if you need some extra life when you can’t recharge

Vox - spawn of the devil Add 11% more pyro (((((Courtesy of my sponsors of course))))) The definition of ‘relief’ was the look on his face when I brought back pyro in the afternoon after I had earlier been handed cases of pyro first thing in the morning whilst he was still hungover half asleep I find it hard to believe that the advertising promotion resultant sales are anywhere near the free products that we’ve gone through at some of our events It does look good though when you have a valley full of multi coloured smoke

I would still disagree. Their messages try to say this, but the Zurich certificate confirms that there is public liability insurance provided to the Just-Cos group / society. The qualifiers on the other document (page 3 of 5 - either an extract from the policy or one of the supporting documents) tells me something about the scope of the policy application and therefore restrictions - it reads to me as a cosplay societies insurance policy, which would apply to an organised group attending an event - exactly as will happen this weekend - I will be at Weymouth for a Comic-Con which a cosplay society is attending, they will be paid ‘featured’ attendees wandering around and interacting with the public. I also have not been sent a code of conduct nor the Just-Cos risk assessment / mitigations

I certainly wouldn’t want to go there, it could easily backfire on our hobbies, and prefer something like this to highlight for those who might make a decision But the ‘advertised’ service is insurance, which does mean that Just-Cos are advertising a financial service rather than group / society membership, and are not a provider. The true insurer, Zurich, have sold insurance that does exist. Sloppy wording on the side of Just-Cos for a nudge nudge wink wink ‘insurance’ and ‘defence’

No. They refused to provide the full policy All that is available are the two documents of the policy summary and the “how you described yourself” Summarised in the text of part 4 of the second post above, and I’ll attach them now, but at a later date may need to downsize them for profile size allowances

Just-Cos - the follow up. As everyone ought to know, I’m not an airsofter but a paintballer, and my airsoft interest is primarily as a game organiser / for the crossover in hobbies that involve shooting each other. I purchased Just-Cos membership to finally get answers to my questions on what it actually provides, £20 for peace of mind and if it actually provided cosplay personal liability insurance I do have a use for it. Following seeing the two documents, I emailed Just-Cos for clarification / cancellation as the cover is based on group 4 x cinema visits and 4 x event attendance. Reading the documents as written it would not cover me for my Comic-Con trips. No response (though only allowing a couple of days, so I then raised an eBay case of ‘not as described’ sending screen shots of the Just-Cos web page and subsequent documents (I could have given them longer on the email, but I always recommend using the appropriate process - if you wait then your process time is potentially ticking away) The following comms are edited to get the jist of it. My claim: The advertised cover is insurance to the individual The provided policy is group cover for organised cinema group visits and group attendance of 4 events This therefore provides no personal cover for myself at events I attend (with 13 more planned this year) Cosplayer Worlds response: You have misread the policy. It is individual insurance that has been in place for 7 years without any issues at all. The cinema part of it mentioned was an additional section of cover added because we initially held events at cinemas where we block booked the venues. Therefore we held that as additional cover as required by Zurich insurance. The cover is to insure claims against an individual or individual(s) -a group- in a single claim. Therefore, you are covered exactly as advertised. Me, not convinced, and their response focused on the cinema visits rather than the limited events. I’m not fussed as to whether or not there are cinema trips, of which it would be my choice to turn up or not. I’m swaying, so if they would back up that I’m covered (or make a convincing explicit statement of such) then I could retain it The cinema visits would have been incidental, and the event cover being the applicable area. Of the two documents the named cover is for Just-Cos (which is normal as a group etc), but the second document does state that “around 4 events” are attended. My concern is that it is documented that cover is for any event attended by any member. To date this year (prior to signing up) I have already attended 4 events and have another 13 confirmed for the remainder. I would expect to be attending a minimum of 17 events in the 13 month membership period Cosplayer World Ltd: I understand your concern however I can assure you that the limited attendance only applies to the group cinema visits. The policy underwriters considered it a greater risk to have a ‘large number’ of people in ‘fancy dress’ as they didn’t understand Cosplay was the same as re-enactment (which opened another tin of worms as they envisioned soldiers running around) were in fear of one of our group running around a PUBLIC centre with a replica firearm. So they made a pint of the limitation as a sub-clause. We stopped the cinema events after only three held, due to poor attendance, so the policy has only been in place for individuals as a VCRA exemption for the last 5 1/2 years. We will ask for the cinema clause to be removed on the next policy renewal to avoid any future confusion. They have made the wrong response - they were telling me covers unlimited, but have just told me that the insurers have enforced the numbers as limited - which contradicts them But the worse part - they have brought up the VCRA. (Stating what we all know, that JustCos is a dodgy RIF sales defence) There is no cosplay defence in the VCRA. (And if extra defences can be madeI have other memberships which are more appropriate for my activities) Me: Note that I do not require a VCRA exemption as I am not an airsofter. The advertised service is for cosplay, as you have confirmed this to be cover to provide a VCRA exemption then this is definately unsuitable for my purposes - the events that I have referred to are Comicons, Alt conventions and Steam Punk events The VCRA has no provision for cosplay as a defence Cosplayer World Ltd I don’t have any more time to waste with you on this as you obviously seem to be bored and just want an argument. The VCRA section is an addition to the base policy INDIVIDUAL cosplayer cover. The same as the cinema ADDITION for groups that I already clearly explained. The VCRA section is just there, you don’t have to use it. It’s part of the whole package that we provide you for a measly £20 a year. If you have car or home insurance, you don’t have to, nor are you expected to have a fire, flood, theft or accident at once. It’s also part of the whole insurance package, for your own peace of mind. I’m refunding and cancelling your policy as I personally consider your lack of basic understanding to be an additional risk in itself. Goodbye and good luck. I’m too stupid for Just-Cos membership and I can’t read policy documents - or am I just too stupid to think there is a CosPlay membership & insurance scheme as opposed to a dodgy VCRA defence ? I’ve had my £20 refunded and am no longer a member of Just-Cos

I know what they mean to say in the air safety video ……: they could really have done with leaving out oil from “Inspect your fill nipple for oil and wear” ….. only to later put up “Never use oil or grease on your air equipment” I’’m sure I commented on it back at the time I keep imagining someone sat at home, pausing the video to oil their dry fill nipple then starting up again to be told not to ……. Back on topic ……. All safety matters should be raised in the brief In an ideal world, spread the safety message via every route

Note that volunteers are working, and on a legal basis many volunteers and the organisations they volunteer for have unwittingly entered into an employment contract Though it may be common for airsoft marshals to be unpaid volunteers this is a poor model for the airsoft industry, it’s more of the norm in paintball for Marshall’s and other staff to be employees (In a number of activities I do and have volunteered, I am handled as staff, though unpaid, and I am insured for their liability to me and for their business liability of anything I do ‘in my duties’ None of this changes GDPR nor SIA status Driver Wood require a policy for data collected already (data collected for ticket sales, waivers etc) and cameras add to the data handled

Depends on what you mean by “displayed here” This is an airsoft forum. Blank firing guns are not relevant. No matter what form of venting If you however are referring to physically ‘displaying’ blank firers in a location in the UK (eg mounting them on a wall display) then UK LEGALLY COMPLIANT blank firers are legal to possess, without legal controls other than common sense (they do not need to be stored in gun cabinets etc) But should not be accessible to minors or in sight from inappropriate locations - hung up on the wall near a window could result in police at the door to investigate Most importantly, forward venting blank firers are not UK legal, and would be treated as a Section 5 firearm. You would need a firearms licence, which is unlikely to be authorised for a blank firer, and would need to be stored in an approved gun cabinet

You’ve smashed that hammer right onto its head We hear what is nearest to us and that which is further away is relatively quieter than it would be up close We don’t fire with explosive elements, so we don’t get the bang, which means our noise is down to the moving parts plus the escaping air/gas - no matter whether the air/gas came out of a pressure vessel or compressed in a tiny chamber as we fire Some body’s may muffle or amplify the mechanical noise - but that can also dissipate in our own proximity The escaping air frequency is nowhere near as powerful as in real steel and doesn’t have enough power to disapear into a real steel suppressors baffles. Over engineering of supressor baffling in our toys might have no effect, but then right one with the right barrel can have an effect I’ve made my own with sponges, scouters etc with varying effect and also had some made for me But the most effective one I have is a carbon fibre tube, just the right size to slip onto a ported barrel and it somehow absorbs the pop of the barrel - it probably only takes away vibration in the barrel, but it might also be absorbing vibration from the minuscule amount of air trying to escape through the small are of each port It could also of course just be a well made barrel It does have a high level of psychological effect

GDPR requires information held to be used for the purposes for which that information was collected Using the GDPR as an excuse to not confirm details could be a breach of the GDPR in itself - particularly if the subject provided their reference details to a third party on the basis that the third party may request verification An address is personal data, the GDPR does not prevent the release of personal data - but to do so must be valid Technically a UKARA members address could be released, but the most practical outcome would be a query of whether or not ABC1234 matches with Joe Bloggs of 1 The Avenue. A nice simple match would be a yes or no. Less simple would be that Joe Bloggs has moved, but that goes beyond an easy yes or no and becomes dependent on the policy under which the data was collected eg should it be a simple no that there isn’t a 100% match or something inbetween ? - which probably shouldn’t be in the remit of a friendly site / retailer I’m sure there have been cases highlighted on this forum of issues occurring on import etc due to to customs blockage because of an import to a work address that doesn’t match the players UKARA registered address

No, it doesn’t The 4 + 13 events that I referenced for this year are comicons, steam punk shows (cosplay with a higher average age) and alt cons (alternative people) I don’t go as a paying customer/public, I’m not a member of a cosplay society, but I go as a trader. Existing PLI that I’m under could exclude anything odd A personal liability insurance for dressing up, carrying equipment / props might have actually been appropriate But it doesn’t insure me, and there is no such thing as a cosplay defence for RIFs In the other recent thread a different member of the forum signed up to Just-Cos to buy a RIF - the shop required him to send a photo playing airsoft which is what they will have used as a defence ( Note that I don’t even need a defence to buy airsoft RIFs - I don’t play airsoft, but I do run paintball & airsoft events)

Regarding the number of events per year, I’ve already attended 4 and have 13 confirmed for the rest of the season

As this topic covers a few areas, and to make a dedicated thread, I’ve added the above mentioned information plus some other information arising from the Just-Cos membership / policy I’ve contacted Just-Cos about some of the issues, so we’ll see what happens

1) Go to the Just-Cos website and read the meaningless page: https://www.just-cos.co.uk Just-Cos is a membership based insurance policy. We approached them with a view to covering CosPlayers with Public Liability insurance in their right as a re-enactor to wear and carry costume articles that may prove alarming or ‘scary’ to third parties who may not understand our purpose. This policy particularly covers the right to carry imitation weaponry that could otherwise be mistaken as real or mistakenly reported as an offensive weapon. In today’s ‘Americanised’ legal system of ‘No claim no fee’ companies and similar ambulance chasers, it is now more important than ever to be protected by insurance. It’s better to be safe than sorry, right? Just-Cos is exactly that: It’s just for us CosPlayers. You can join up for a small annual fee of £20, that’s it. For your £20 you will receive £5 million maximum claim cover against public liability. It’s quite unlikely that you’ll ever need to use it and we sincerely hope you don’t! That is not all though. With membership we have power! We can use our strength in numbers to apply for discounts and other awesome deals on behalf of the club. This is just the beginning and it’s your chance to be part of it. America is irrelevant, you can’t claim for seeing something scarey in the UK (other than being put into genuine fear) and you can’t but a ‘right’ to carry a RIF You can have good reason to transport one - eg going to / from an event What is relevant is you could be held liable for injury / damage to property - and liability insurance can be handy to have (not essential for individuals) 2) Sign up to Just-Cos As you create a user name and password you gain access to their member area. I received my notification email whilst going to the payment page (so I stopped to check if policy details were there - they were not) 3) Pay £20 by card or PayPal (I used PayPal) You then gain access to policy documents in the members area 4) What does the policy say? Insurance Company = Zurich Insurance Ltd Our Reference: xxxxxxxxx Name of Insured: Just-Cos This is to confirm that Just-Cos have in force with this Company until the policy expiry on 17 May 2024 insurance incorporating the following essential features: Policy Number: xxxxxxxx Renewal Date: 18 May 2024 Limits of Indemnity: Public Liability: £5,000,000 any one event Products Liability: £5,000,000 for all claims in the aggregate during any one period of insurance Pollution Liability: As per Products Liability Professional Services Extension: £1,000,000 any one event Note: Cover for Financial Loss, and Third Party Property Damage or Bodily Injury is provided where arising from advice or services carried out by the Insured in the furtherance of its purpose as a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation. Excess: Public Liability: Nil any one claim Products Liability: Nil any one claim Pollution Liability: Nil any one claim Professional Services Extension: Nil any one claim Indemnity to Principals: Covers include a standard Indemnity to Principals Clause in respect of contractual obligations. Full Policy: The policy documents should be referred to for details of full cover. What does that mean? The policy insures Just-Cos. That’s OK, as I’ve joined Just-Cos The £5m cover isn’t mine. It’s £5m public liability per event. So if just me then I can be covered up to £5m, but elsewhere there are 100 to 500 members per event, rendering the cover to between £10k and £50k each Another document is enclosed, which tells us that Just-Cos run 4 cinema trips and attend 4 events per year Therefore as a member the insurance above covers Just-Cos and the members attending those 4 trips & 4 events There is a newsletter subscription in the account details, so presumably I would be notified of the trips & events - but that’s no good to me for the cosplay events I attend unless Just-Cos align with them As a new member I have not been provided the code of conduct (but it may follow in a newsletter etc) Your organisation type: You are a not for profit group. Your aim: Describes our understanding of your organisation and its aim. To promote social interaction between members by using Cosplay. Your principal activities and services: This details your activities and services. Where and tow oen ese lake place. • You organise around 4 cinema trips a year at screenings which are open to the public. These will average around 6 around 20 At arenio, mentio bute group may. dress up to watch the film if they wish, however this is optional as the main purpose is to view the film. • You will attend around 4 third party events throughout the year and can get between 100 - 500 people from the organisation attending each one. These will mainly be Cosplay conventions and involve members of the group carrying replica weapons whilst interacting with other members of the group and members of the public. • You will charge a membership fee which will predominantly be used to create a Database. This will also help grow your organisation and fund towards future activities. Your current Risk Management: Provides details of your organisations risk management provisions for each service and activity You will comply with all local and national laws for transporting replica firearms and weapons. and wilpons are in vil of re puaional laws when replica frearms. You will comply with all third party regulations. You complete written risk assessments. Inductions are given to all new members regarding the organisation's code of conduct. You have a written safeguarding process in place. Your structure You have at least three trustees. Previous claims New organisation so no previous claims. Currently the policy does not relate to the public web page, and does not insure members other than as part of a Just-Cos group attended event - the cover is for the groups liabilty as a result of its ‘advice’ / ‘services’ I don’t give advice on behalf of Just-Cos, I won’t be providing services as Just-Cos Where I do provide advice and/or services it is part of other organisations / groups / as an event organiser - which do not fall within this insurance I could make use of the peace of mind of public liability insurance to cover my personal liability in activities I participate in - At comicons for example I am covered as staff / volunteer in events and with traders, but not for any actions should I choose to Cosplay beyond the scope of staff / volunteer This sums up as a mis-sold policy, not fit for purpose

As per a recent related thread, I signed up to Just-Cos to get the true cover information. A member of the forum recently signed up to Just-Cos to obtain their ‘defence’ to purchase a RIF. In their actual transaction they were required to submit the insurance certificate and a photo of them playing. (Below I will show the certificate that you get upon joining Just-Cos which does not insure you, but the group/society) The ‘defence’ provided and used by the retailer was therefore the playing photo which rendered JustCos membership redundant to the transaction …. TBC

Or they didn’t catch me …… You are of course correct I have for a long time been an advocate for not being a dick and not using ‘special words’ to avoid saying the scary ‘gun’ word Use your brain, handle appropriately (your kit and the people you encounter), don’t be a dick and outcomes are normally good

Or Darth Harry But it is worthless insurance for any liability an individual could have, that the insurers could reject

I did manage to satisfy the inquisitive police, asking me what I was doing parked up late one evening, with one talking to me through the window while the other curiously scanned through my back window I’’m on my way back from having run an event and am having a rest stop ….. and not quite in these words but to the nosey one at the back ….. “That’s shit loads of guns and pyro bagged & boxed up in there” They were perfectly happy with that !

Payment went to Cosplayer World Ltd, and the insured name is Just-Cos, so it is a legitimate policy seperate from any site. Very likely to be Zurich’s standard group / club PLI policy

I’ve decided to bite the bullet and have signed up to JustCos to see the policy cover for myself …… On sign up (and payment) you receive a copy of the policy certificate (Zurich insurance): Name of Insured: Just-Cos This is to confirm that Just-Cos have in force with this Company until the policy expiry on 17 May 2024 insurance incorporating the following essential features: Policy Number: @@@@@@@@@@ Renewal Date: 18 May 2024 Limits of Indemnity: Public Liability: £5,000,000 any one event Products Liability: £5,000,000 for all claims in the aggregate during any one period of insurance Pollution Liability: As per Products Liability Professional Services Extension £1,000,000 any one event Note: Cover for Financial Loss, and Third Party Property Damage or Bodily Injury is provided where arising from advice or services carried out by the Insured in the furtherance of its purpose as a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation. Excess: Public Liability: Nil any one claim Products Liability: Nil any one claim Pollution Liability: Nil any one claim Professional Services Extension: Nil any one claim Indemnity to Principals: Covers include a standard Indemnity to Principals Clause in respect of contractual obligations. Full Policy: The policy documents should be referred to for details of full cover. That means unlike the wording on the JustCos website I have not purchased insurance of £5m public liability for £20, but I have joined a club/society that has £5m PLI ‘per event’ - and covers injury / damage arising from the advice of JustCos If I have any actual cover then it’s only the full £5m if I am the only member at any event then I can claim against £5m of PLI, but if there are two or more then the cover drops - there’s no mention of ‘being scarey’, Just-Cos is a membership based insurance policy. We approached them with a view to covering CosPlayers with Public Liability insurance in their right as a re-enactor to wear and carry costume articles that may prove alarming or ‘scary’ to third parties who may not understand our purpose. This policy particularly covers the right to carry imitation weaponry that could otherwise be mistaken as real or mistakenly reported as an offensive weapon. In today’s ‘Americanised’ legal system of ‘No claim no fee’ companies and similar ambulance chasers, it is now more important than ever to be protected by insurance. It’s better to be safe than sorry, right? Just-Cos is exactly that: It’s just for us CosPlayers. You can join up for a small annual fee of £20, that’s it. For your £20 you will receive £5 million maximum claim cover against public liability. It’s quite unlikely that you’ll ever need to use it and we sincerely hope you don’t! That is not all though. With membership we have power! We can use our strength in numbers to apply for discounts and other awesome deals on behalf of the club. This is just the beginning and it’s your chance to be part of it.

There would be two reasons for those differences 1) JustCos is not a VCRA RIF defence, but a cosplayers Public Liabilty Insurance policy - in case you scare someone with your cosplay The cosplay event that is referred to as a ‘partner’ does not/did not even allow RIFs in their cosplay rules I would recommend that cosplayers who feel the need to protect themselves from any liability to the general public ought to join one of their local/regional cosplay socities and benefit from the groups PLI plus all the other benefits of being part of a society in your hobby / interest 2) The UKARA list shows registered retailer members of the Retailers Association and have access to verify UKARA membership. Other retailers may accept UKARA as a defence without the ability to directly verify

Regarding any sites disallowing two tones - that’s entirely down to them - their site, their rules It does as mentioned reinforce the entire justification of establishing a VCRA RIF defence with ‘immersion’ into the game I don’t, not never, there is not an abundance of photos of me making staged advances towards / past photographers, furtively looking down the lens whilst trying to pretend not to look at them. There also definitely is not a set of posed portrait photos of me in the midst of a firefight, and that non existent photoset was not used as a reference guide for the design & manufacture of a custom event player stautuette trophy Not

You don’t claim from their insurance, you claim against the individual / site / organiser. They then refer your claim to their insurer The insurer then pays out or doesn’t - directly to you or via the individual / site / organiser The individual / site / organiser remains liable or not irrespective of whether their insurance covers the claim Pedantic correction A VCRA defence is essential for the sale of RIFs The buyer needs to express a ‘defence’ in the terms of the act, but the legal impact lies upon the seller - they may need to defend themselves in court to establish that they took reasonable steps to establish that the buyer had a ‘VCRA defence’ at the time of sale UKARA is the defence established by the retail industry - but it is not a specified method in the law I would argue in your case that your photo/photos are the ‘defence’ that matters. In asking for that they are acknowledging the elephant in the room that JustCos has no bearing upon the VCRA You’re happy that you obtained your RIF, they’re happy that they made money selling a RIF & an extra £20 was spent on JustCos It’s not a bad thing to have PLI - providing it gives you relevant cover