Someone doesn't like UKARA, or here we go again

[Cannonfodder]

So it looks like it's the time of year for another ukara alternative to be launched. If it's anything like all the others give it 6 months before it all falls apart

Airsoft Defence | Airsoft RIF Defence & Player Verifi...

UK platform for airsoft player verification and legal defence for RIF (Realistic Imitation Firearms) purchases. Trusted by players, sites, and stores.

airsoft-defence.co.uk

 

[Austeyr]

That'll definitely not encourage the wrong'uns...

"Register your profile and attend qualifying games."

So... The exact same as UKARA, but £25 on top of the entry fee for 3 game days. Huh...

 

[Tackle]

 

[Punisher3990]

One of my Local sites has signed up for this and keeps pushing it at games.

I do like that it's essentially UKARA but without being restricted to the 3 games being in the same place.

It also allows player-to-player checks, unlike UKARA.

Dislike having to pay though.

I'll stick with my UKARA, thanks

 

[TheFull9]

Being entirely uninterested in having to go to the same place 3 times in a year to maintain a defence, the basic idea resonates greatly with me personally.

I've not been anywhere for some time that didn't require you to pay for a site membership once you had your 3 games done in order for them to put you on the (super non-transparent) UKARA database. I presume they exist given the comments, but I've not been to one, so that element is a non-issue for me.

Will it hold up, be run effectively and securely look after people's data? Only time will tell.

 

[Tackle]

Actually, maybe I allowed my cynical side to take over, to be fair on this set up, ukara, & all the other half arsed swerves in between, their only good, until they're not.
By that I mean until something happens that's serious enough to put any or all of the schemes under the political or legal microscope.
In that respect I think we've been fairly lucky, incidents involving airsoft rifs are rare, & haven't had a fatal element that would increase awareness or scrutiny,as opposed to the very common use, almost daily, of real steel illegal firearms.
As the @TheFull9 has said, only time will tell, given the apparent number of retailers who've signed up for it, maybe it'll prove to be an improvement on ukara, if retailers police it properly ?

 

[Mtemprell]

I can see the upside to this new defence as it enables you to use more than one site and in the modern Airsoft climate alot of people don't stick to one home site anymore and go to different sites for different experiences. People that do that are left in the dark with the ukara scheme and aren't forced to be tied to one site for 2 months.

The 25 quid is only comparable to the site membership fee you pay so I can't see much difference in the scheme. If it works then spot on but if it doesn't fair play some one tried to make an improvement to the current system.

 

[Colin Allen]

This could turn out to be a very positive development if enough sites sign up to it. At the moment, there is no point me joining as none of the sites I use are listed; in addition, I note that one of the sites is a range attached to Platoon Stores and another is an Attack Sense target range, neither of which should really qualify as playing airsoft.

 

[BRThoughts]

“Tracks game attendance for eligibility checks”.
So, someone other than the sites I play at (a privately owned limited company) will be compiling a complete list of every game day I’ve attended. Yeah, that kind of behavioural data collection fills me with huge confidence.

 

[JVacation]

UKARA is a bit of weird one.
For new players the set up is horrendous. Many sites usually skip the time period bit and usually register a player after just 3 games. The issue is sites would rather a player play 3 games, get a UKARA and a RIF and then keep playing where as I think new players are more likely to play 3 games and just wait and then come back which in that time they might decide to pack it up.

UKARA should scrap that time period, To be honest they need to relax on the restrictions a bit in general. Make it possible to register a player after 1 game, get their details on file and go from there. Adding a time period and 3 game minimum is not going to stop someone robbing a bank...

 

[Cannonfodder]

I'm kind of on the fence with this. The cynical side of me thinks how many times have we seen this before, only for it to fizzle out? But on the flip side it does look better organised than many of the others so there's hope.

I can see the upside to this new defence as it enables you to use more than one site and in the modern Airsoft climate alot of people don't stick to one home site anymore and go to different sites for different experiences. People that do that are left in the dark with the ukara scheme and aren't forced to be tied to one site for 2 months.

Click to shrink...

Having been in that situation I can definitely see the appeal, although my wallet probably wouldn't have thanked me . It's still possible to obtain rifs (legally) without site membership if you're willing to make the effort but this, if successful, would make it easier.

The 25 quid is only comparable to the site membership fee you pay so I can't see much difference in the scheme. If it works then spot on but if it doesn't fair play some one tried to make an improvement to the current system.

Click to shrink...

While it's comparable to site membership costs, actually less than both the sites I've paid for membership, most sites offer discounts for members so over time it pays for itself. This doesn't

 

[GiantKiwi]

Whilst in principle, i'm all for alternatives.

HOWEVER, Do not put your personal information into that, as it currently stands, as whoever made it doesn't seem to understand simple web development concepts, so the claims of having secure data handling and being GDPR compliant in that regard is incredibly unlikely.

Edit: Did a little more digging, company has a listing on companies house, one of the directors is also associated with Deadly Customs and some generic airsoft wholesale outfit.

 

[GiantKiwi]

UKARA should scrap that time period, To be honest they need to relax on the restrictions a bit in general. Make it possible to register a player after 1 game, get their details on file and go from there. Adding a time period and 3 game minimum is not going to stop someone robbing a bank...

Click to shrink...

UKARA has nothing to do with stipulating the time periods now, its written into the legislation - Section 38 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ommencement-no-3-order-2007-firearms-measures

 

[Colin Allen]

UKARA has nothing to do with stipulating the time periods now, its written into the legislation - Section 38 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ommencement-no-3-order-2007-firearms-measures

Click to shrink...

I am still waiting for my membership card with a photograph and recognised format that will be issued for production to retailers.

 

[Colin Allen]

Whilst in principle, i'm all for alternatives.

HOWEVER, Do not put your personal information into that, as it currently stands, as whoever made it doesn't seem to understand simple web development concepts, so the claims of having secure data handling and being GDPR compliant in that regard is incredibly unlikely.

Edit: Did a little more digging, company has a listing on companies house, one of the directors is also associated with Deadly Customs and some generic airsoft wholesale outfit.

Click to shrink...

He resigned as a director of Deadly Customs on 5th April 2023, but is linked to Airsoft Wholesale Supplies Ltd, who have a suspended proposal to strike off for non-submission of their accounts and confirmation statement.

It does not inspire confidence.

 

[Daveoc33]

The only bit that worries me about ukara is isn't it a bit of a mystery as to who runs it? Or perhaps it's more transparent if you're a site owner or retailer. I can't remember exactly but I'm sure the rumor was it's basically run by one guy at an old established UK retailer. If true and this person retires, or pops their clogs, or whatever, it would put the future of ukara at risk.
I welcome alternatives based on this worry, but I'd hope it's run by someone who truly cares about the sport rather than someone who's just in it for profit.

 

[Lyndication]

It's really funny ngl because UKARA is probably the most frictionless way to access Airsoft guns of any country. You get it by just playing Airsoft.

 

[Cannonfodder]

There's no mystery to who's behind ukara, it's Frank from fire support with input from other retailers. As for what happens if he retires etc, well I guess the remaining members will elect a new chairman

 

[Adolf Hamster]

It's really funny ngl because UKARA is probably the most frictionless way to access Airsoft guns of any country. You get it by just playing Airsoft.

Click to shrink...

Only if the site you're playing at is registered, round here a few arent.

The uphill battle any non-ukara scheme has to win isnt buy in from airsofters, its buy in from the normie border agents and the like who only know "you need a ukara loicense to import that gun guvnor"

 

[Colin Allen]

Only if the site you're playing at is registered, round here a few arent.

The uphill battle any non-ukara scheme has to win isnt buy in from airsofters, its buy in from the normie border agents and the like who only know "you need a ukara loicense to import that gun guvnor"

Click to shrink...

I have to wonder why sites would not be UKARA registered.

As for the “normie” border agents, I suspect that airsoft imports are a relatively tiny part of their workload, so it is not surprising that they focus on what is by far the most common way of providing a defence.

Airsoft may be a significant part of our world; that is not the case for the massively overwhelming majority of the UK population.