I understand what you mean. Partisan politics can be poisonous. Especially when people tend to vote a certain party because they either dont like the people who vote for the other party, or they vote based on a single policy. Despite the other party having a whole raft of policies that would benefit them. I find Left or Right is like supporting a football team, you rag on the other team for no reason apart from they arent on your perceived side.
Case in point I "might" vote for a party in the next election that may well ban Airsoft because I believe in the majority of their policies and enacting those policies are more important then playing airsoft once a fortnight.
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My opinion is that we have to base the reasoning of a license on what the average joe public sees. Sure, they are not live firearms, but to a "normal" person it's a firearm, which incites panic and for good reason. Hence why a license in my opinion will legitimise things more in the eye of the public and authorities.
The current defenses in the UK are not fit for purpose as it's still too easy to get a RIF without the most recognised one (UKARA.
IFs should be banned as bright colours can be painted on real firearms anyway.
The majority of problems we face in Airsoft is bad press because of unscrupulous and/or stupid people going nuts with a RIF in public. We need to stop them from getting access to them so easily. A license wont stop it outright as anyone determined enough can get hold of one, but a verified license will stem the incidences somewhat to a lesser level. It will also separate us legitimate airsofters, from the stupid rabble who use them for purposes other then airsoft.
You can yell at people until you are blue in the face, but they see RIF, they see firearms and I cant blame them.