Rogerio134
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- Jul 9, 2012
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So quick question then, what happens if you are not UKARA registered (yet) and buy a RIF from Europe or the US or asia or whatever?? They will post it to the UK, would someone actually get the gun??
Buying Airsoft guns from Europe USA?
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mattswan2512
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- Aug 25, 2010
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No this has been commented on loads normaly it would be seized by hm customs and held until you pay tax and show proof of ukara from what i understand.
TheFull9
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- Dec 17, 2011
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VCRA Defence
Come on guys, that particular bit of mis-information has been spread around enough hasn't it? If we want to keep this sport going as it is we need to be giving people the right information. Most folks may think that it's only the few people who reply to a thread that actually read it, but the reality is there's a massive number of people who only ever lurk and read on airsoft forums, who would probably never realise the error. It's like bacteria spreading, one guy reads the wrong info and posts it in two places, 4 people read that and post it in various other places, etc etc until it gets to the point where almost every new player is getting given the incorrect legal information.
I apologise for seeming to have a rant I honestly do, but I really feel that for the sake of our beloved hobby we really need to get these things right, or it'll end up costing us somehow in the long run.
Come on guys, that particular bit of mis-information has been spread around enough hasn't it? If we want to keep this sport going as it is we need to be giving people the right information. Most folks may think that it's only the few people who reply to a thread that actually read it, but the reality is there's a massive number of people who only ever lurk and read on airsoft forums, who would probably never realise the error. It's like bacteria spreading, one guy reads the wrong info and posts it in two places, 4 people read that and post it in various other places, etc etc until it gets to the point where almost every new player is getting given the incorrect legal information.
I apologise for seeming to have a rant I honestly do, but I really feel that for the sake of our beloved hobby we really need to get these things right, or it'll end up costing us somehow in the long run.
Liam Porter
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- Jun 3, 2011
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CKinnerly, have you bought from abroad using a defence that isn't UKARA?
TheFull9
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- Dec 17, 2011
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It's the United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association, a separate organisation which has nothing at all to do with british law or the government.
They have a database which, if you're over 18 and you play your 3 games over 2 months, you can get your name put on to and that is one way of proving that you are 'an airsoft skirmisher' and allowed to buy Realistic Imitation Firearms, as laid down in the rules of the Violent Crimes Reduction Act. Technically, the VCRA bans the sale/import/manufacture of RIFs, it's only by having a defence against those rules that we are allowed to continue with non-2-tone weaponry in airsoft
UKARA database registration is not 'the' way of proving you have a skirmishers' defence under the VCRA, it's simply one of the possible ways. For some reason, somebody read it wrongly years back and started spreading the wrong info, and as evidenced by this thread (further reinforcing my analogy using bacteria multiplication) it really caught on.
They have a database which, if you're over 18 and you play your 3 games over 2 months, you can get your name put on to and that is one way of proving that you are 'an airsoft skirmisher' and allowed to buy Realistic Imitation Firearms, as laid down in the rules of the Violent Crimes Reduction Act. Technically, the VCRA bans the sale/import/manufacture of RIFs, it's only by having a defence against those rules that we are allowed to continue with non-2-tone weaponry in airsoft
UKARA database registration is not 'the' way of proving you have a skirmishers' defence under the VCRA, it's simply one of the possible ways. For some reason, somebody read it wrongly years back and started spreading the wrong info, and as evidenced by this thread (further reinforcing my analogy using bacteria multiplication) it really caught on.
Yes I have, and so have many many people I know. As long as you can prove you've done your skirmishes and met the other criteria in some way or other, that's all you need. Be it a stamped/signed skirmish diary, a simple site membership number (without UKARA) or whatever. I'm not saying that UKARA membership is a bad idea because it's probably the quickest and easiest way to prove your defence (particularly to customs) but it is not the only way.
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Liam Porter
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I know that, I wasn't being sarcastic or anything.
I was genuinely asking because I would like to know how it's done if you have a different valid defence to UKARA.
Do they call you and then ask you to prove that you skirmish regularly? Then you give them site details and they then call them to check?
EDIT: Just realised you edited your post, okay, they must be harder to prove than UKARA though.
I was genuinely asking because I would like to know how it's done if you have a different valid defence to UKARA.
Do they call you and then ask you to prove that you skirmish regularly? Then you give them site details and they then call them to check?
EDIT: Just realised you edited your post, okay, they must be harder to prove than UKARA though.
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TheFull9
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Not saying you were mate, but bare in mind I've no idea what you know and what you don't, so if I re-hashed knowledge you already possessed then that is purely accidental. My apologies if it seemed condescending.
The second one would be the more common. It depends on the retailer you buy from what they'll write on to the postage labels for you, but generally you'd put down the details of the site you regularly attend (potentially with your membership number) and customs would contact them. You could scan a copy of your site membership card if you had one and send that to the retailer, or do a similar thing with your diary. Depending on which inspector looked at your package they might contact you directly instead at which point you could write them a letter, somehow attaching proof of your skirmisher defence.
Liam Porter
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- Jun 3, 2011
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Okay, thanks for the info 
. Anyway, let's get back on topic.
What actually happens if you order a gun and don't have a valid defence?
Is it simply seized and then destroyed? Or is there more, are you charged with anything?
. Anyway, let's get back on topic.What actually happens if you order a gun and don't have a valid defence?
Is it simply seized and then destroyed? Or is there more, are you charged with anything?
TheFull9
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It would very much depend on the customs inspector dealing with the case and what mood they were in that day.
I've heard all sorts of trains of events from various different people when they ran in to problems proving their defences (or newer players or made the mistake of importing without one). The likely course of action would be that customs would contact you, asking you to prove your defence while they hold on to your RIF, and if you didn't do so within a month or two they'd just destroy it. Not heard of anyone being charged/arrested thus far, but end of the day you are breaking the law by attempting to import a RIF without having a defence, so it could well happen.
I've heard all sorts of trains of events from various different people when they ran in to problems proving their defences (or newer players or made the mistake of importing without one). The likely course of action would be that customs would contact you, asking you to prove your defence while they hold on to your RIF, and if you didn't do so within a month or two they'd just destroy it. Not heard of anyone being charged/arrested thus far, but end of the day you are breaking the law by attempting to import a RIF without having a defence, so it could well happen.
mattswan2512
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- Aug 25, 2010
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im not sure where i stand on this issue, in one hand i think ok it stops imitation arms being used for crimes etc etc and on the other i think its a wee bit blown out of proportion within the world of airsoft communities. Some people get on their soap box should i say about owning a RIF and look down on those who have two-tone etc and it is always a bone of contention i mean a site near me only allows RIF's no two tones!!!
Now i came out the mob just as many airsofters have done and to find this law in place and the negative way people talk to you when u first start out when you enquire about the law and potential loop holes a bit off puting, concidering ive fired pritty much most main stream RS guns out their and been in real contact situations within Iraq.
Im sorry if thats a bit full on just dont really like the way younger or new people get kinda treated with two tone weapons and to be honest i managed to get my first RIF wich was my first gun without ukara of a forum site so others must agree.
As for the import thing sorry mate seems like u will have to play those few games before u can get a RIF but ive seen twotone "newbs" kick reg players asses as ive found a few regs are a little bit scared of pain.
Having said all that most people on here are really helpful and supportive!
Now i came out the mob just as many airsofters have done and to find this law in place and the negative way people talk to you when u first start out when you enquire about the law and potential loop holes a bit off puting, concidering ive fired pritty much most main stream RS guns out their and been in real contact situations within Iraq.
Im sorry if thats a bit full on just dont really like the way younger or new people get kinda treated with two tone weapons and to be honest i managed to get my first RIF wich was my first gun without ukara of a forum site so others must agree.
As for the import thing sorry mate seems like u will have to play those few games before u can get a RIF but ive seen twotone "newbs" kick reg players asses as ive found a few regs are a little bit scared of pain.
Having said all that most people on here are really helpful and supportive!
mattswan2512
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- Aug 25, 2010
- 230
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yes no point getting yaself in trouble on the site but i would sell a gun to any of my friends or players ive seen regular at site even if they were not ukara as long as i knew they were airsofters. i think its a common sense jobbie!
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TheFull9
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You know there's nothing to stop the police etc reading this forum? People from the MoD actively check other UK airsoft websites.
I certainly do not encourage it (quite the oposite), but no one here can stop you breaking the law laid down in the VCRA if you decided you want to take that risk; just a warning you might want to be a bit more careful about it.
I certainly do not encourage it (quite the oposite), but no one here can stop you breaking the law laid down in the VCRA if you decided you want to take that risk; just a warning you might want to be a bit more careful about it.
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lemon191
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- Jul 26, 2011
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there has been a case of police taking posts from a forum and useing it in the case against them. there was a person on a car forum who hit a biker and caused serious injury the police read posts on the site he was on and found posts that made him look like a young boy racer type making it an easy conviction for them (wouldnt be surprised if some of them were taken completely out of context but they wouldnt care much they just want to win the case.) he later made a diary about his time in prison which was an interesting read.
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mattswan2512
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- Aug 25, 2010
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yes but i do not have a ukara number as such i have a site membership wich allows me to buy RIF's. infact i orderd one today from wolf armouries so im a reg player with a site membership if i sold a gun to friend or someone who was a site member and a regular how would i be breaking any laws? i wouldnt as the guy above said UKARA is just one method off proof!
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