Airsoft Governing Bodies

[Nick G]

I have done the same and agree with you on this.

Likewise, upgraded my membership earlier.

Nick

 

[MiK]

Oh, I will add about the UKAPU patches they seem to send out in batches and you might have to chase them up on it on failbook (I don’t have a failbook account that I use so I got the boss to use hers to chase them up  ).

 

[Asomodai]

Oh, I will add about the UKAPU patches they seem to send out in batches and you might have to chase them up on it on failbook (I don’t have a failbook account that I use so I got the boss to use hers to chase them up  ).

Nowt much difference to this place then! 

 

[Druid799]

I would also say that the “two-tone” for non defence sales also needs tightened/looked at - all it takes is another 12yr old being given/getting hold of a pistol and being raided by the police like last year or the lad stopped in Brum a few years back, this will do so much damage to anything that is tried to make Airsoft legit.

I’ve never hidden the fact I’ve always been against two-tones , I feel there just a ‘backdoor’ way to sell RIFs . When the VCR bill came in to effect the same retailers who were pushing the UKARA scheme and trying to gain control of all retail sales are the same ones who then came up with Two-tones to circumvent it ! 

 

[Shamal]

Many people know my opinion in the need for a bonified license, which would only come with a governing body and recognition as a valid hobby/sport.

However some people don't want this recognition because people don't like change and oversight. It works for them right now, so why change? The answer is, Airsoft has been in or around part of this grey area of legality and acceptability for a very long time, which cant last forever. Are we allowed to continue, be visible and be legitimate, or not be legal and become underground? The risk of trying to find out once and for all is that we might get the wrong answer. But I think it's something we really have to deal with as Airsofters and get a definitive answer. If we come out of the gate wanting to become legitimate, it would give us an advantage in negotiations, rather then skulking around in the shadows waiting for an "incident" to bring the problem to us completely unprepared to deal with it.

I support some form of recognition and legitimate representation, as it would help legitimise Airsoft in the eyes of lawmakers and set us apart from the idiots with RIF's in public that you find in the newspapers.

Airsoft itself may come across a bigger (Unspecified) threat in the very near future which if we had representation in place, could help fight off whatever it is more effectively; rather then scramble around at the last minute fighting amongst ourselves to organise. If we have no representation in place to already deal with an (unspecified) threat, we would in a far worse position to defend Airsoft. 

Airsoft is already or will become political for those outside of the hobby, we need to acquire the tools to negotiate, defend and come out the other side as a legitimate sport or hobby. It might mean it would be harder to get into the sport as a new player, it might mean paying a regular yearly fee and as a result might mean less money flowing to retailers, but at least it will save the hobby as a whole which is far more important. 

Bottom line. I don't mind paying more money to help safeguard what we do. 

Are we not already a legitimate sport/hobby? And i think it is legal.you make it sound like its not. Ukapu is working all the time to defend and protect us. They have a proven record of fighting and winning moves to impose sanctions on our activities.

I can see that with a governing body more and more rules and regulations will creep in.Your whole life history will be under the microscope before you get your official photo airsoft player id card.lol

The briefing times will increase as well.20 mins site rules and 20 mins gov bod rules. Lol

??

Regards 

 

[Adolf Hamster]

I can see that with a governing body more and more rules and regulations will creep in.

i'd rather a governing body with some accountability to airsoft were setting the rules than some pencil pusher in parliment with an axe to grind against all things gun-shaped.

The briefing times will increase as well.20 mins site rules and 20 mins gov bod rules. Lol

not really, if the governing body is setting rules it'll be stuff the sites will merge in, if anything it'll be the opposite because folk will be used to the standard ruleset so it won't need explaining in minute detail at every site because people will know the score.

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

i'd rather a governing body with some accountability to airsoft were setting the rules than some pencil pusher in parliment with an axe to grind against all things gun-shaped.

not really, if the governing body is setting rules it'll be stuff the sites will merge in, if anything it'll be the opposite because folk will be used to the standard ruleset so it won't need explaining in minute detail at every site because people will know the score.

Exactly this!!!

The safety brief for a real steel site takes about 5 mins; why?  The safety brief is NRA standard.  The same could happen in airsoft.

If we really got our act together we could link up with BASC and add our membership of however many to their 130K members and get real clout.  They have media trained spokespersons, ex-parliamentarians, and professional PR people to hand. 

If we don't regulate ourselves, some other fucker will, and they may do so with some high profile media event behind them.  

 

[Cannonfodder]

Some very good points made here. 

With the way various parts of the shooting community have tried to throw other groups under the bus to save their own slice of the pie, I think we would be better off with a separate body to represent airsoft (IIRC the BASC did exactly that when the vcra was being discussed) 

 

[Guest]

My response is always, if you think there should be a governing body/group in charge, don’t sit back.

Grow some balls, set it up yourself, get involved.

Otherwise, you may as well be the mouse saying the cat should have a bell on its collar. It’s all rhetoric until you do something yourself.

 

[Adolf Hamster]

My response is always, if you think there should be a governing body/group in charge, don’t sit back.

Grow some balls, set it up yourself, get involved.

Otherwise, you may as well be the mouse saying the cat should have a bell on its collar. It’s all rhetoric until you do something yourself.

this is a fair point, i'll confess to not planning on doing it myself for various reasons that ultimately boil down to excuses.

so i'm pretty much exactly the mouse (well hamster) wishing the cat would have a bell on its collar.

in my defence, i do have a cat, tried to get him to wear a collar, and he refused by repeatedly removing collars, which feels like a parable for how me trying to do anything political will end up