@scalawag
The VCRA is full of holes, like most laws its all open to interpretation and abuse by whoever speaks faster/more confident or uses longer words. I have had no UKARA or defence other than I play and this has done me well up till now (and actually being a player IS a defence). I have plenty of RIFs, IF and bits and bobs to play and the stores were confident enough to sell to me.
I think you may have read my musings on the VCRA inaccurately or certainly not how I intended them. Of course this affects nothing right now and as you say it seems to work ok, and I am glad you have all you need. My intention was to get across that if in the future airsoft were seen by those responsible for law making to be more "sport" than "military" then the skirmish player defence (be it UKARA or any other form of proof that is used) for buying RIFs may well be reviewed. In some respects things do never change, but equally change is the only inevitable thing in life, and laws do get looked at and reviewed as we have just seen with firearms legislation and indeed as we did in the past when the VCRA was introduced. I think we as the current custodians of the sport/hobby or whatever you want to call it always need to have an eye on what might happen to it in the future too, and make sure that we do as little as possible to cause potential future problems or increased restrictions. We are ok now, but lets also think of what airsofters and particularly new airsofters might have to deal with in the future. Some of the comments here I have, rightly or wrongly, read as "military style gear and the people who like to wear it are taking things too far for general airsoft events, you don't need it or it gets in the way of playing airsoft" That seems to me to be moving airsoft away from its military style roots, and more towards it being a sport or game and its that potential shift that makes my VCRA musings relevant. Its about having an eye to protecting the future thats all, maybe not for us because we are ok, but for those that follow on. Anyway nuff said, I will shut up on this now.
Its good to hear that airsoft is still a laugh, and I'll be back in the saddle soon I imagine to find out for myself.
It does seem to me from the conversations here sometimes a little more fractious between people invested in different styles of play than I recall, but then what I recall was a good day out with likeminded mates where nobody took any notice much of who "won", how many kills they got, or how others were playing or were dressed differently from them, beyond any obvious cheating.
If you are not so intent on winning then it matters much less if people can't feel or hear, the odd hit. Of course if they are consistently claiming this its different, but then thats partly why sites have refs isn't it. And if that does not work there are plenty of ways for all the "law abiding" players to make a cheats life uncomfortable like not taking hits from the cheat either. Just chill its a bit of fun!! (unless of course you have to win).
I don't think I would ever see airsoft as a sport or something to be competitive as some seem to. From my point of view competition spoils hobbies for people who are not competitive. That is exactly the reason for me leaving my 2 most recent hobbies both of which I loved, but they became unbearable to participate in. I wanted to relax and unwind doing something I enjoyed, but the competitive elements in the hobbies who would only be happy if they won at all costs and told me I was not doing the hobby right if I wasn't going to be as competitive as they were eventually got too much for me, no fun in it anymore at that point.
For me airsoft is just a past time which includes the pew pew, but also dressing up and chatting with like minded souls.
There is lots of diversity in airsoft, thats what I like about it actually you dont have to be in the special forces to play, its quite an accessible hobby, even for those less able if they wish!
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