1967PF44

There may have been a few posts before about this, but a few things have changed recently so I thought I’d have a a bit of a moan and justify it at the same time . Posting Rifles (between 2kg and 20kg) total weight Many have got away with posting Airsoft guns using a variety of services and couriers - but please be certain they have “got away” with it The only Uk mail service that will knowingly ship Airsoft guns for private customers who do not have a special terms account is the Royal Mail Group (this includes Parcel Force). As long as the package is less than 150cm long and under 20kg they will ship. Most RIFs can be shipped for under £10 (cue my first moan ….. sellers charging £15- to as much as £30 I’ve seen today) for postage for a RIF). If you don’t want to post say that in the add, it’s fine, but don’t charge £30 for postage that will cost £9. Enhanced Compensation RM groups enhanced comp does not cover Airsoft Guns, BUT it does cover accessories shipped with the RIF, If you want to cover the full cost and pay the high cost of extra insurance, you have to be a bit smart. list accessories separately and make you you keep separate valuations in the unlikely event of a parcel force loss - get retail valuation on extra mags, optics, foregrips, suppressors etc, it soon all adds up? however my experience and it is extensive over 200 RIFs now shipped - 3 damaged in transit, no losses, 1 incoming seized by Rm and destroyed, 1 sent seized and destroyed by RM. DANGEROUS GOODS RULES Pistols, GBBRS and HPA- are all potentially caught by the DG in transit rules - with RM group what you have to do is properly vent all pressure vessels (gas mags) and either remove or wedge open the release valve. The easiest way to do this is using a small tight roll of cardboard held in place one the release valve button. Never leave a mag in guns, RM claim they won’t examine a gun with a mag fitted and it is automatically destroyed. I always pack mags outside the pistol box. For ease of examination for pistol packages under 2kg you can use RM 1st class. COURIERS all couriers have different “prohibited” items lists, but all of the Uk couriers specify “firearms” in their list of prohibited items. Please don’t try and be clever with couriers and claim that an Airsoft gun is not a Firearm. The fact is it’s not a firearm under Uk law, but it is a firearm under most (if not all) courier small print definition - the6 don’t have to recognise the legal definition and some have now amended their prohibited list to actually make it clear that a firearm includes anything that looks like a firearm. KIT AND ACCESSORIES The best postage option just now for all kit and accessories is by far the RM Tracked 24/48 service. Tracked 48 is currently £2.85 booked online and that’s including £100 comp cover and free collection from home - you can’t beat that, and it’s a service that is prioritised during industrial action. Cue next moan…..people charging £5-£10 to post a £30 optic…… or a JPC because it’s bulky….lol PACKAGING when posting RIFs please beware there are minimum standards of packaging rules. If you don’t follow them, you lose your right to claim in the event of damage. Use a minimu of a stiff cardboard box, the original retail box should almost always be sufficient but take extra care when retailers use flimsy boxes. Plea to bubble wrap, vinyl foam wrap (like the stuff new tvs are in) even crushed newspaper helps. Take pictures of your packing layers - you will need them in the event of a claim. And always wrap external layer with something waterproof. Bin bags are cheap and good enough. If you ship a lot of stuff, pallet wrap Is the way forward cheap and makes external wrapping piece of cake. finally - always keep your proof of posting ! Without it you have no claim. Happy to answer any questions, there is not much I haven’t come across in terms of shipping problems, claims, losses, dangerous goods seizures. long post I know, but it’s important stuff to know - and looking at adverts clearly many have no idea (or they are at it…lol) happy new year 2023 Paul

Absolutely- anytime I am carrying airsoft guns - I know exactly what I’m telling the police in the very unlikely happens and I’m asked !! I’ve been stopped 3 times (I happen to pass a regular road check point) on the way home from late evening games with guns in the car- police have never really flinched, always been professional, never been a drama - one occasion the guns were not in bags or cases as I had collected a couple of extras lol

I’m pretty sure the conviction was quashed on appeal- it’s probably an unreported appeal (probably undefended by the CRown) so no internet trace of it on Scot courts website - I remember the case - it actually met the legal classification of a “Toy” - it was all very bizzare - I think the important factor in convicting him was his own explanation of the purpose of having it -“ I’ll use it on people who don’t give me money” -

Think that conviction has been overturned on appeal ?? That happened near me

I don’t think anyone in the discussion disagrees about the instant consequences of the public waving of an imitation - and that offence is actually very straightforward (as explained) and the article doesn’t even have to resemble a gun - as said two pipes taped together resembling a shotgun barrel is an “imitation firearm” for the purposes of the 1968 Firearms Act

This is another interesting discussion actually, for an imitation firearm to be a “Realistic” imitation Firearm, it must actually be a copy of a Real firearm produced by an actual firearms manufacturer- the famous star wars blasters produced for airsoft are in fact not RIFS. And do not require the seller of them to verify a defence. it’s all made even more complex (and confusing for airsofters) by the fact That the term “Imitation Firearm” is defined differently for the purposes of the Firearms Act, 1968 (the principal licensing and criminal ownership legislation) and the Violent Crimes a Reduction Act, 2006 which deals with importation, selling manufacture and modification. If I recall correctly “Realistic Imitation Firearms” are not mention at all in the FIrearms Act 1968, and I believe under that Act an “Airsoft Gun” which has a specific legal definition cannot be an “imitation firearm”, I say that as in all my years of experience in enforcement roles, I am yet to come across any legislation where 1 item can be two different defined things in the same legislation. This principle of not being able to be two different legally defined things however I am less certain of, however a Police firearms expert agrees with me. “Realistic” in the definition in the VCRA2006 ONLY relates to size, shape and principal colour. (See section 38(1), 38(2) and 38(3) - imitation Firearms for that Act, are specifically define pd to be imitations of “REAL modern Firearms”. the “Realistic” concept only relates to the offences of selling, importation, manufacturing and modification. The only mention of “imitation firearm” in the 1968 Act, is at Sections 16-20 ? (There may be others) Which the part of the Act that prescribes the various offences involving imitation firearms, possession with intent to cause fear, commit crime, resist arrest, in public without reasonable excuse….etc For those offences “IF” is defined very simply as “any thing which has the appearance of being a firearm” (at the time of the offence and not at any other time- and it can be based on the perception of a witness and not necessarily based on expert testimony) (unlike. RIF which requires expert testimony to prove the article) This definition covers all sorts of things e.g 2 pieces of pipe taped together poking out a bag to give the impression it’s a shotgun during a robbery, but not someone making the shape of a gun with their fingers in their pocket (case law references are here https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/firearms) Right must sleep, that was going to be a short explanation highlighting the confusion caused by the two separate pieces of legislation, with differing definitions, but became very detailed and referenced knowing how much evidence some individuals want on this forum. if the legal stuff really interests anyone, I do enjoy the discussion feel free to PM

I spent a fair amount of time arguing with Traffic and a lot of time “with” professional standards lol (is that what you meant ??)! Rapidly approaching the point however where I’ve been away longer than the 19years plus I was in

Fortunately I don’t actually have to write shit for that particular client … and it’s not connected to my paralegal work….lol so we are all goodest

It moved a long time ago from a specific case discussion to a more general discussion- however - in my specific case I do some work for organisation that have clients particularly sensitive to firearms - my involvement in airsoft would not align with their moral standing and if revealed to them it would almost certainly cost me financially quite a bit- that said in reality the source of any leak of information to them is highly unlikely to be a UKARA data breach lol. its been an interesting discussion - quite eye opening - the level of ignorance and offensive aggression in this forum

I think your missing what I’m actually saying - and you are right in almost all of what you’ve say - when you sign up you are agreeing to share the information held (crucially your player status) with the subscribing retailers - what your not agreeing to is sharing that player status with the general public - because that status in law is considered to be “sensitive data” to some individuals it may be very sensitive and it being revealed to a non entitled member of the public maybe harmful . As I have said from the outset I provided my details to the seller- knowing that he was likely to obtain the information- potentially unlawfully, but I didn’t care as I wanted to buy his offerings - when he didn’t then use the information supplied - it sparked a curiosity? And I like a discussion to asked the questions - the problem is that some muppets on the internet get involved in things they have no expertise and when someone who has experience/expertise and genuine knowledge of a topic he is written off as a liar lol

They “share” your status “active” “inactive” “void” or no trace .. and it’s that status that is the “sensitive data” in law