magicaldr

Thanks, I cant go into my profession as I don't want anyone to link this back to anyone involved, although ironically its not related to the guys I work for who have been great, its a tenuous link to say the least with a potential supplier. Pain not being able to go into detail, but its looking like someone who is just uninitiated in the ways of airsoft and just doesn't like 'guns'. They may have good personal reasons, but I dont think that should have a professional bearing.
 
I have written a careful and gentle introduction on what it is, how its legal and how we play including 'loadouts' that I hope will resolve the concerns.
 
I think I can say I don't work with the general public or public facing (not that they should be hunting my personal photo's down either), so this check should be more about someones ability to coerce me or illegal activity than anything else. Its not like I am ashamed of any of my pics, nor could any of them imply any threat to anyone or have any hold over me.
 
I have chosen to take down all images for my own sanity, but I am concerned on the precedent here.
 
So I suppose this is as much a warning to my fellow players who work in the business world, be very careful what you post with a 'Public' view tag. This includes backgrounds, profile pics (both of which are always public) and potentially posts from other airsofters.
 
This is liable only to get worse as we go on, I wish I had the ability to be a fighter for freedom of speech but I have taken the cowards way out. Some may say its a sensible one, but its still something I do with a heavy heart.

Well the good news is I now have my clearance, but its been a painful experience all round.
 
Rather ironic that this sort of view forces so many of us to 'hide' our hobby to protect our jobs as shown by the posts above. Since I would have thought a security check that finds I have a 'hidden' life would be concerning than one that shows I am open honest person who happens to play a game with RIF's.
 
Thanks for all the views and the supportive PM's, they made the difference and let me keep my sanity.

Well the good news is I now have my clearance, but its been a painful experience all round.
 
Rather ironic that this sort of view forces so many of us to 'hide' our hobby to protect our jobs as shown by the posts above. Since I would have thought a security check that finds I have a 'hidden' life would be concerning than one that shows I am open honest person who happens to play a game with RIF's.
 
Thanks for all the views and the supportive PM's, they made the difference and let me keep my sanity.

At the kind of ranges we're talking about when a burglar is in your house, you don't need a RIF anyway, you could simply tap them on the shoulder and say 'knife kill'

With today's standards in the law, chances are you'd be the one in trouble and not the intruder
 
One thing I was told when I did my training for a security licence was this
 
'You can harm (self defence) an intruder within reason if you can prove they posed a genuine threat to you and/or your family, the intruder was being intimadating, harassing you and few other things
 
We're not america where you can legaly shoot an intruder (I believe not in all states though) so I assume you may be charged for brandishing a weapon and all consequences that come with "a deadly weapon" situation
 
Problem is people sue each other these days and you'd be the one getting shafted by the justice (cough cough and pmsl) system

Whilst it's true and I wholeheartedly agree with the principle Qlimax, unfortunately there are an increasing number of companies that don't see it this way, particularly if you work involves some form of security clearance. The company or organisation may well have a policy on the use of social media and may wish to exercise some form of control over what you post.
you're right, the simple answer is to lock your pages and posts to all but friends, if the company doesn't see them, then it shouldn't be an issue.
The company won't be trying to control what you do, they're simply trying to protect their image or reputation.
It's not just airsoft either, but anything an organisation may feel brings bad publicity, bar crawls in Greece, drunken parties etc.
It may not be right or proper, it may be an invasion of privacy, but if we put it on the internet, then its so others can see, it's no longer private.
Companies, organisations and governments are struggling to come to terms with this, just as much as individuals are, Welcome to the 21st Century!
I guess the lesson to learn is, think before you post, especially if you work for someone or plan to work for someone who's twitchy about such things?

We live in a country where the prevailing thought is that guns are just bad and people have no need for them in their lives. Thus pictures with RIFs are deeply disturbing to many people. Its usually best to keep the hobby under wraps and only disclose to the people you think will respond relatively positively to the news. Avoid having pictures on your facebook that could link you to the sport. Its not about legality its about people prejudices and odds are you are going to find people offended by it. We don't live in a society where our first thought is to ask "oh whats airsoft", the first thought is "he's a gun touting lunatic, deport him". Its not your fault, its theirs, but we live in their world not ours as it is for so many minorities we have to do things to fit in so everyone else is comfortable even if they are living a lie.

Hi, I am looking for some advice (please feel free to move if the wrong place). I will not include any names here for obvious reasons but I am being denied clearance currently at work for 'unprofessional' behavior as there are airsofting photos of me on facebook which can be publicly seen.
 
All photo's are either in my garden of load outs, or at professional games and were during my active airsofting phase (while I held UKARA). Also 1 shot of me with a real firearm (in the US) target shooting. The argument appears to simply be that having photo's of yourself with a 'weapon' is unprofessional / unacceptable.
 
Is there any legal basis I can defend myself with? Has anyone else had similar challenges with work and this hobby?
 
While I can simply remove all the photo's I feel this is unfair, this was a part of my life, this is a legal hobby and I don't want to live in a country where I have to self censor because of public opinion. Ironically I am sure recent events are the driver (maybe I look too scary), but free speech is what the recent events are really all about.

Looks good, I'd cinch up the straps and wear that rig a little higher though, it's a chest rig not a belly rig!

If you're new, please take some time to look around the forums and view pinned topics. There is a lot of useful information. As a starting point..
 
 
Finding a place to play:
New and looking for somewhere to play? The law and Airsoft:
Our UK Law Forum The "Violent Crime Reduction Act" in Full Popular UKARA Related Questions Beginners Guides:
Beginner Guide to Airsoft  
 
Ian's Guide to Noobism on a Tight Budget AF-UK App with useful stuff:
AF-UK App Guides forum containing lots of useful info:
Guides Forum Chances are simple questions will have been asked before. If you can't find anything on the above links then please search:
http://www.airsoft-f...e&module=search

My new ATACS-FG loadout

 

 
and, of course, the fish pout
 

Ok review as promised here: http://www.airsoft-forums.co.uk/index.php/topic/13465-we-np-xw40-gbb-pistol/
 
Pics for you pic lovers out there of new toys:
 
Tornado impact grenade Christmas bundle, wifes new N&P and my new Hi Capa ready for more money to be spent on upgrades
 

 
 
 
May have been lucky but they replied within 24 hours, great on telephone and next day delivery for £9! So for me all been very positive Oh and they hope to have a UK website early next year (finally)...

Ok review as promised here: http://www.airsoft-forums.co.uk/index.php/topic/13465-we-np-xw40-gbb-pistol/
 
Pics for you pic lovers out there of new toys:
 
Tornado impact grenade Christmas bundle, wifes new N&P and my new Hi Capa ready for more money to be spent on upgrades
 

 
 
 
May have been lucky but they replied within 24 hours, great on telephone and next day delivery for £9! So for me all been very positive Oh and they hope to have a UK website early next year (finally)...

Ok review as promised here: http://www.airsoft-forums.co.uk/index.php/topic/13465-we-np-xw40-gbb-pistol/
 
Pics for you pic lovers out there of new toys:
 
Tornado impact grenade Christmas bundle, wifes new N&P and my new Hi Capa ready for more money to be spent on upgrades
 

 
 
 
May have been lucky but they replied within 24 hours, great on telephone and next day delivery for £9! So for me all been very positive Oh and they hope to have a UK website early next year (finally)...

Happy to review once I get 5 mins with it
 
Its really for wife (and my daughter who also after it) I want to get wife out airsofting but she "Doesn't like guns", so a purple one is a good back door since its not fitting her definition of a "Gun". Wont try to understand, if I can get her out plinking I am hopeful it will grow on her and I will get slack to buy more toys. Hehe... So on that front it a winner already.
 
Its pricey compared to the Hong Kong price (coming on double) but it had to be purple so what choice does one have. Redwolf HK are out of stock anyway, but luckily the UK arm had some. Total cost was just over the £100 mark for gun with mag + £9 postage from Redwolf UK.