Green Party banning airsoft

[BrightCandle]

no one can be happy with the current government their about as much use as a chocolate teapot,labour if you are foreign and ukip if your a racist,simples

So where do all the moderate Britains go to vote? Because there is a lot of room between foreign and racist!!!!! I looked at the political compass yesterday and was kind of horrified how authoritarian and right wing the entirety of British politics is these days, its a huge swing to the extremes. When the SNP is your only central party you know something has gone wrong!

I just want to play Airsoft with my legally bought RIFs. I can live with them being brightly coloured if that is what it takes but I don't want to. I feel as each day passes the chance this harmless sport will get banned increases. We are living on borrowed time in a country that vilifies anything to do with shooting at all. At the shooting range (you know where olympians train) we were told to never say what was there to passer bys that asked, so it was also a lecture on something crazy like molecular biology or some such to throw people off the scent that they were near guns used by trained professionals for shooting holes in paper. This countries ruling elite is off the wall gun stupid.

Yet when I travel back and forth to airsoft games I find the average taxi guy is quite interested in the sport and they certainly aren't afraid of it. I don't think the average Britain is afraid of a country knowing about weapons as the establishment is. My own pet theory is its just an attempt to control the narrative and try and disarm an ever annoyed public that might one day revolt when the strategy of working within the system becomes obviously pointless.

 

[NickM]

I have voted green in the past and intend to vote green again. My reasons are this,

Their standpoint on fracking is one I agree with, we should be working towards a future that is powered by sustainable energy and not fossil fuels the reasons for that are clear but until someone starts pushing things that way we will continue down a route we will regret later.

Many of their other policies are actually quite good and they will fight for their ideals (just look at the Green MP for Brighton and Hove, arrested protesting against the fracking in West Sussex).

Like many parties they have some wacky ideas but on a scale including LibLabCon to UKIP they are far more moderate than most. This is a protest vote if nothing else.

While in many areas my green vote might be a wasted one I now live in Norwich which has a strong green presence and is making progress towards actually gaining a seat at the next election, the other likely places are Brighton and Hove (my previous residence and currently a Green MP) and Bristol again another place that is looking promising as a green seat. So elsewhere it might be wasted but it is likely to make a difference here. However 3 seats does not make a strong party to be making waves at Westminster. They will have little or no power realistically in the wider law making arena and realistically they would be pushing some of the larger issues that they are more concerned about like climate and the environment.

If nothing else they are miles better than UKIP as a protest vote. Lib dem probably would have been my protest vote of choice previously but current performance suggests they are not worthy. Any seat lost by LibLabCon and not won by UKIP is a great thing in my eyes, it will force the parties to consider their position.

 

[cavninja]

Oh I do hope and pray that not only does some do gooding politically correct nutter who thinks airsoft is evil gets in to power, but more importantly i hope they don't get in to a position to be a minority in a coalition government and be king maker and make airsoft one of their pet projects the big boys let em have as a sop to keep them quiet! Remember how big a lobby the countryside alliance is and look how far they got?!

I would agree with all that there is a perception in the UK that all guns are bad and all who like em are nutter, but if you talk to people about airsoft and show them what we do and what we use, they're generally very interested. Have any clubs or groups done any out reach like that? Perhaps at Uni?

Having spent 23 years in the military and now 6 years in the diplomatic service, I know when the "good idea fairy" turns up with another load of b*ll*cks!! and right on cue come the Greens!!

PT, thank you for your service my friend, only met your strange breed very briefly during my time, but was always thoroughly impressed with those who'd earned the Dolphins, always wanted to do the SETT course myself, just for shizzles, had some friends in my old dive club, who blagged a dive there!

I think that's far enough off topic now.......

 

[Colonel Kurtz]

The link appears to be one side, not an unbiased report: "Greenpeace would like to thank the following for their help in the background research for this submission - [/size]John Ainslie, Scottish CND...."

But you are right, we have gone way off topic and even my 12yrs service as a submariner is a bias one so back to the point intended:

Banning RIFs from airsoft is stupid. [/size]

Its a report from a parlimentary select commitee. It is their job to wade through information submitted to them related to a specific issue/topic and come up with a 'factual' report that has had any bias removed. So yes some of the sources of the report can certainly be deemed biased such as Greenpeace, but the whole point of such commitees is removing bias and coming up with what can be considered a factual report. People with any kind of bias are more likely to submit information to them because they have an opinion they want to try and backup with facts. The committee must verify the facts and the validity of the related opinions.

Of course there's potential bias in who gets appointed to such committees, and then plenty of bias in terms of how their findings are acted apon. The report is full of reasons for the common justifications of Trident being an outdated misconception, but rather than simply deem it therefor pointless, it has come up with more pragmatic justifications in their place. The generally theme of these being that where America leads we must follow. And this was the decision made, and the next generation of Trident has been signed up for and too many deals made to make cancelling it anything less than catastrophic in cost.

Essentially these reports don't really mean anything until the decision has been made and the results of the decision clear. If it turns out to be the wrong decision, then it's the kind of thing cited in parliament against the party/persons who made the decision for why it was an obviously bad one. If no shite hits the fan, then it doesn't matter how 'for' or 'against' the findings of the report the decision was.

 

[PT247]

PT, thank you for your service my friend, only met your strange breed very briefly during my time, but was always thoroughly impressed with those who'd earned the Dolphins, always wanted to do the SETT course myself, just for shizzles, had some friends in my old dive club, who blagged a dive there!

Haha, the SETT is awesome.... or rather it was.... the health and safety brigade (ironic that I now work in health and safety) put a stop to the fun parts as they deemed it too dangerous to practice in a nice heated tank with fully qualified divers and first aiders and a decompression tank should the need arise, instead submariners are now expected to try escape from a submarine in the cold, pitch black, smoke filled and poisonous gas filled environment whilst probably injured with crew mates dead and get it right first time in probably far deeper waters than the 30m tank in Gosport!

 

[beastmode]

I'm happy with the current government there's always things that could be done better but better than the shambles we had before. And the greens will never get in power, thankfully. We don't want to be like Australia and have no airsoft.

 

[Russe11]

Bio ammunition is just as good and having seen the difference in appearance of a local bio only site (spartan airsoft) I have to say I think it is the way forward.

As for banning replica weapons, this will hit re-enactors even more than airsofters, they won't even be able to have 2 tone weapons in public. The whole thing is so badly thought out that it has no hope of becoming a reality.

 

[Colonel Kurtz]

We could form the Peoples Airsoft Reformation Party and stand in every town with Green candidates

Or whats the criteria for getting something legally defined as a religion?

 

[cavninja]

Haha, the SETT is awesome.... or rather it was.... the health and safety brigade (ironic that I now work in health and safety) put a stop to the fun parts as they deemed it too dangerous to practice in a nice heated tank with fully qualified divers and first aiders and a decompression tank should the need arise, instead submariners are now expected to try escape from a submarine in the cold, pitch black, smoke filled and poisonous gas filled environment whilst probably injured with crew mates dead and get it right first time in probably far deeper waters than the 30m tank in Gosport!

Seriously??!!! WTF??!! That's like have paras who've never been trained to jump and just giving them a chute and expecting them to crack on?!! Insane!!!

 

[cavninja]

We could form the Peoples Airsoft Reformation Party and stand in every town with Green candidates

Or whats the criteria for getting something legally defined as a religion?

A political party??!!

Association of National Airsoft Leagues anyone??!!

Religion??!! Well I do donate most of my income to airosft??!

Could I be a registered addict??!!

 

[CES_williamson]

god i hate the Green party!

This thread seemed to go to a UKIP hating thread as well, lets keep on topic, i am not a UKIP supporter but i dont get why everyone calls them racist? they just had a few nut jobs who where racist and where fired! No racist policies ! But oh well, im a strong tory atm don't know what will change in the years to come but thats who im voting for atm. But i would like Nigel ferage to become an MP i just think it would be hilarious to hear him on a Wednesday shouting at the PM, not for him to do anything just because it would be funny XD

 

[straffham]

First off the thread title is a little sensationalist to say the least. I don't think I'm alone in saying I'm not going to lose any sleep over this "threat". Airsoft isn't currently in danger of being banned, certainly not compared to what was threatened in 2006, when thankfully a consortium of players and retailers convinced the Government to grant defence to allow airsoft to continue with the proviso of the specific defences specified in the VCRA. It might not be a fantastic Act but its better than the alternative at the time of no more rifs. Its worth mentioning that the Govt at the time did not really realise what airsoft skirmishing was, but were enlightened to our pastime and the "suspense of disbelief" factor which was part of what allowed legit skirmishers to be able to keep the ability to buy rifs. Skirmishing has of course grown massively since 2007. But for any future threat to be met we would again need to rely on retailers and players to fight that threat.

ANY Government in future cannot just ban airsoft overnight, it would require a change in the law by way of an amendment bill, which takes time to progress through parliament, allowing it to be challenged. A majority would still then need to vote in favour for it to proceed.

Its best we keep playing, be seen to be responsible, and support our UK retailers, and worry about challenges when we KNOW they are happening, rather than panicking that a minor political party wants to stamp on us.

 

[Shortenhauzen]

Very simillar to trying to ban " Air Rifles " and or licence them. Any time there is an election this gets rolled out and doesn't really get anywhere. I have been shooting and Hunting / pest control for the last 5/6 years with sub 12ft/ib Air rifles and am still surprised by the reaction when and if the subject matter arises re guns / hunting.

" you have guns ? you hunt ? you shoot rabbits ? thats just wrong , All guns should be banned and the rabbits don't do any harm !!! "

Poorly informed, knee jerk reaction in my opinion and when you try to explain the damage rabbits cause etc well you may as well spit in the wind. I have found the same reaction to my recent venture in to Airsoft !!!

Won't get anywhere as it's just plain stupid !!!

 

[Lord_Metile]

 

[Zak Da Mack]

god i hate the Green party!

This thread seemed to go to a UKIP hating thread as well, lets keep on topic, i am not a UKIP supporter but i dont get why everyone calls them racist? they just had a few nut jobs who where racist and where fired! No racist policies ! But oh well, im a strong tory atm don't know what will change in the years to come but thats who im voting for atm. But i would like Nigel ferage to become an MP i just think it would be hilarious to hear him on a Wednesday shouting at the PM, not for him to do anything just because it would be funny XD

I suppose the issue is that UKIP is currently the most right wing party out there (Is BNP still a thing?). Therefore racists are going to be considered with that party than any other one. I don't support UKIP because of their policies, not cause they're racist. Although the fact that Britain First supports them only makes me dislike them more.

Back to airsoft: How many airsofters do you reckon are in the UK?

 

[SoapAirsoft]

They are kicking off about the fact there is 100 more TASER officers on the streets today as well. Bloody joke, we're on the same terror alert level as Northern Ireland, and they all carry sidearms!

 

[Airsoft-Ed]

Back to airsoft: How many airsofters do you reckon are in the UK?

Around thirty/thirty five thousand would be my estimate.

 

[Airsoft_Mr B]

Saw int Guardian recently they were kicking off about fucking police carrying guns and how they were "American style patrols" Fucks sake 90% of the world's police are probably ALL armed - nevermind only 6000 or something with access to firearms. The majority are going to be nothing like some police in the US.

And this is coming from someone who is left wing and disagrees with police militarisation / authoritarian government etc.

As was mentioned earlier it seems there truly are no moderate political parties. They're all hoplophobic (although admittedly giving us back the right would probably open it up more to those in society we don't want to be armed, and all the good people would be the unarmed one, just saying they shouldn't have banned them in the first place) Found out it was Labour who banned pistols in '97 so don't really like them anymore. Not to mention how increasingly right wing they've became since Blair.

Ffs we need a constitution IMO, stop govs just banning things all the time. I mean what was that shit recently about Cameron banning types of porn? I know it's nearly the end of his term but come on fucking seriously is that what they are spending their time on debating in the House of Commons.

Didn't realise how bad the greens were either, again over the top unnecessary proposals to ban airsoft for no legitimate reason. Saw a FB comment about how they wanted to get rid of the military and thing is I don't even know if it was serious or not but I can imagine they'd try and do it.

 

[jcheeseright]

why don't you try reading their manifesto instead of other people's opinions on facebook.

 

[Snowdrop]

Personally I think ukip get a bad rap in the press because the lab and cons control the press and are paranoid they will make big gains hence every slight nut job comment gets mentioned.

I have no doubt that the media are well aware of all the child abusing politicians, tax dodgers etc but don't go after them too much because the will loose access. However they are very quick to go after celebs.