UKARA Question

[Archie]

Hi,

I Was wondering.. Is UKARA A License to be able to buy a RIF From a shop But you can own a RIF Without The Ukara? I Know its not a license but Dont know what to call it

 

[Liam Porter]

UKARA is a defence (not a licence), which allows you to purchase RIFs, providing you are over 18 (which you need to be to purchase IFs or RIFs anyway).

Ownership doesn't matter, so you don't need UKARA to own a RIF. The possible ways you could own one without defence is either it being gifted to you, or purchased before the VCRA came into effect in 2007.

There are also other defences available, although UKARA is the most popular and most recognised.

To purchase a RIF, you actually only need to prove you skirmish regularly and are over 18.

Being a registered reenactor is also a defence which allows you to purchase RIFs.

 

[ScoobySnacks]

UKARA is a defence (not a licence), which allows you to purchase RIFs, providing you are over 18 (which you need to be to purchase IFs or RIFs anyway).Ownership doesn't matter, so you don't need UKARA to own a RIF. The possible ways you could own one without defence is either it being gifted to you, or purchased before the VCRA came into effect in 2007.

There are also other defences available, although UKARA is the most popular and most recognised.

To purchase a RIF, you actually only need to prove you skirmish regularly and are over 18.

Being a registered reenactor is also a defence which allows you to purchase RIFs.

Click to shrink...

Liam, can you point me to where the specific defence is stated in the VCRA? I've had a good look through the act and there doesn't appear to be a defence for airsoft skirmishers. The only defences I can find in the VCRA are:-

From the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, Section 37
(1)It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under section 36 in respect of any conduct to show that the conduct was for the purpose only of making the imitation firearm in question available for one or more of the purposes specified in subsection (2).

(2)Those purposes are—

(a)the purposes of a museum or gallery;

(b)the purposes of theatrical performances and of rehearsals for such performances;

©the production of films (within the meaning of Part 1 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (c. 48)_see section 5B of that Act);

(d)the production of television programmes (within the meaning of the Communications Act 2003 (c. 21)_see section 405(1) of that Act);

(e)the organisation and holding of historical re-enactments organised and held by persons specified or described for the purposes of this section by regulations made by the Secretary of State;

(f)the purposes of functions that a person has in his capacity as a person in the service of Her Majesty.

Click to shrink...

I'm guessing the airsoft defence comes in one of the regulations that section 36 allows the secretary of state to make, but can find no mention of any regulations, or where I might find the text of them.

I hold FAC and SGC, so like to know I'm fully on the right side of the letter, and the spirit of the law, especially where things gun are involved!

 

[M_P]

That's from 2006, there was an amendment in 2007.

You need to be able to prove you're a regular skirmishers, so your licences won't help you I'm afraid.