What Are People Doing for UKARA Nowadays?

[gunbod007]

Normally threads on how to obtain RIFs without UKARA would cover the fact that VCRA doesn’t require UKARA but (for airsoft) a ‘defence’ that reflects the VCRAs skirmisher defence

Evasion wouldn’t be endorsed.

The current situation makes things difficult - we can’t play, some people

are strapped for cash and others have their disposable income piling up.

We want shiney things to keep us happy and we also want to support businesses so they still exist when this is all over

As your UKARA is only just expired, the first port of call would be to check in with the site you are a member of and see if they will extend 

Split deliveries are a ‘possible’ workaround as they are different sets of ‘parts’.  But customs are aware of methods of smuggling

Breaking down a RIF into multiple packages is exactly that - smuggling.  This was offered by many Hong Kong retailers when the VCRA initially came into force 

Not ideal ‘advice’ from a lawyer

‘Valid excuse’ is not enough under the VCRA, you need one of the defences under the VCRA ad your ‘valid excuse’

For target practice you do not need a RIF. An IF will do just as well, and you aren’t restricted to basic blue BB guns, there is the two tone painting service

On a sale within the UK it is the sellers responsibility, on import it is the importers responsibility 

UKARA has popularity because it was introduced in negotiation with government and is the scheme that’s proposition enabled the skirmisher defence

As on another thread a ‘shooter’ successfully managed to buy a RIF from a UK retailer for the purpose of practice for their FAC firearms.  They have the valid sportsman membership and insurance because that is their primary use.  On that thread we noted that the sale is not VCRA compliant on that basis, but as it’s a UK retailer to buyer sale then any fallout is the retailers problem

For gunbod it’s a different matter - they are the importer.  The different packages might get through, or they might get matched and challenged leaving gunbod with nothing or a box of RIF parts when one package gets through and the other gets stopped 

Sorry to clarify.

The lawyer said that Sportsman's association should be good enough as it is used as a defence for skimming per the law. 

The retailer is insisting on splitting the shipment and I have asked them not to because to me it just looks like smuggling.

I think if I split the packages it makes it look like I even I don't believe in the defence whereas if it ships in one I think it proves I am genuine and want to airsoft. At the end of the day I think I just need to convince them I am an airsofter and intend on using it for skirmishing. Which is all true.

 

[L3wisD]

Umm guys... I think we've gotten their attention ?

View attachment 68811

 

[Tommikka]

Sorry to clarify.

The lawyer said that Sportsman's association should be good enough as it is used as a defence for skimming per the law. 

The retailer is insisting on splitting the shipment and I have asked them not to because to me it just looks like smuggling.

I think if I split the packages it makes it look like I even I don't believe in the defence whereas if it ships in one I think it proves I am genuine and want to airsoft. At the end of the day I think I just need to convince them I am an airsofter and intend on using it for skirmishing. Which is all true.

Got you, thanks

I wouldn’t say that Sportsman’s membership on its own is enough, but it’s another layer - you would therefore be not just a skirmisher playing on insured sites but having the added degree of your own insurance.

If customs flag up the multiple packages then you are then in the position of justifying your defence, which is the same position as a single package but just with a potentially stroppy border official - who is used to dodgy Asian sellers

Its going to be suck it and see as to whether it just passes, they accept sportsman membership on the face of it, sportsman plus questions to back it up - or none of the above 

The final point is key - just convincing customs that your a valid airsofter 

 

[MiK]

Also split packages might not get seen by the same custom official so one might go through clean but the other half might get held up for weeks or bounce about the place 

 

[gunbod007]

Got you, thanks

I wouldn’t say that Sportsman’s membership on its own is enough, but it’s another layer - you would therefore be not just a skirmisher playing on insured sites but having the added degree of your own insurance.

If customs flag up the multiple packages then you are then in the position of justifying your defence, which is the same position as a single package but just with a potentially stroppy border official - who is used to dodgy Asian sellers

Its going to be suck it and see as to whether it just passes, they accept sportsman membership on the face of it, sportsman plus questions to back it up - or none of the above 

The final point is key - just convincing customs that your a valid airsofter 

Yeah I opted against the split packages. Just seemed dodgy to me.

But I am a genuine Airsofter with proof of pat links to sites, sportsman’s, contact with new sites, existing RIFS

invoices on multiple Airsoft related products. 
anyway I will update when/if it all arrives 

 

[Sean]

Hi guys,

the site where I used to play near me has been closed down and I want to get back into airport when we’re allowed out.

I sold my old gun.

how can I get a new one as I wouldn’t qualify for a ukara licence as mine expired some time ago. I’m happy to pay for any licence or membership.

thanks 

 

[Oneshotscott]

Sean, 

 You my friend are in the same boat as me minus the bit about selling old guns.

3 games in no less than 3 months (after covid) and then you and I can go put to buy a nice toy gun but until then its either buy a two-tone or rental.   

Keep it legal ?‍

 

[Hells Airsoft]

UKFOB doesn’t require UKARA for you to purchase guns as the law states you must be a skirmisher which the site does ask you, select that option and then your good to go.

 

[Adolf Hamster]

Not sure i'd trust somewhere where "yeah mate i'm an airsofter honest guvnor" is all thats needed.

Very sketchy.

 

[ak2m4]

Not sure i'd trust somewhere where "yeah mate i'm an airsofter honest guvnor" is all thats needed.

Very sketchy.

It does ask you to enter additional info / UKARA number, whether or not they check is another story

 

[Hells Airsoft]

Not sure i'd trust somewhere where "yeah mate i'm an airsofter honest guvnor" is all thats needed.

Very sketchy.

I know what your saying, but it does bipass the whole UKARA situation for now. As long as you know your not gonna be an idiot with the guns after purchase, then I can’t see the problem.

 

[38super]

I found a couple of retailers willing to accept Sportsman's Association membership for the insurance cover but they did ask me to provide photo/video evidence of relevant activity before they agreed.

 

[Lozart]

I know what your saying, but it does bipass the whole UKARA situation for now. As long as you know your not gonna be an idiot with the guns after purchase, then I can’t see the problem.

UKARA is only there to protect the retailer. I think they'd be on a pretty sticky wicket if they ever got prosecuted for supplying illegally if their only defence was "but they said they were an airsofter". Still, that's their problem.

 

[Adolf Hamster]

Still, that's their problem.

hopefully, if it's a small enough issue that nobody notices it.

alternately it could get noticed and motivate more stringent procedures.

 

[Tommikka]

I found a couple of retailers willing to accept Sportsman's Association membership for the insurance cover but they did ask me to provide photo/video evidence of relevant activity before they agreed.

Nice to read that 

 

[straffham]

Hey folks. Not posted in an age as airsoft has been sadly on the backburner for me for the past 2 or 3 years, but I've been looking in and this thread caught my eye as I was wondering how lockdowns had affected UKARA registrations etc. I hope to get to a game or 2 again soon. I have been upgrading a couple of my RIFs during lockdown and it seems to have reignited the spark (being the wrong side of 50 doesn't help!).

Due mainly to working most weekends my UKARA lapsed a few years ago. My local site membership is fairly expensive, though pays for itself after several games (due to discount), plus you get 2 free Social events a year which is fair enough, if you can go several times a year. As my local sites don't hold midweek or evening games outside of the odd special event I couldn't go often enough to maintain my site membership, and hence UKARA, and these aspects annoy me more than any other - ie only registered if you pay the membership fee, the annual requirement to "renew it or lose it", and that you need enough free weekends to qualify in the first place. But I digress, it is what it is, just my opinions.

The retailers created the UKARA defences so it is primarily in their interest to make it as straightforward as possible for existing registered players to be able to renew their details, sites being non operational during lockdown being the weak link currently (and understandably) it seems. I am another who is in the position of having cash to buy new toys, but I can't due to the rules.

I was interested to read about the "other defences" mentioned (Cosplay etc) too.

 

[shadowfacex]

From mine and my mate's experience with UKARA renewals, it's all up to the club/site you register with. At the one we're registered, you can set up automatic renewal each year as long as you're a member. You still have to get your first three games with them initially, but as long as you've been previously registered, they should renew it for you at their discretion.

Also, unless the rules have recently changed UKARA is a valid defence from purchasing RIFs from retailers, not owning or playing with them. If you already own a RIF, you don't technically need UKARA.

That said, I am happy to be corrected, if any of this is a bull...

 

[ak2m4]

@straffham what were you planning on buying?  I know some retailers would take a forum profile as valid defense, might be worth a shot.

 

[Shamal]

might be worth a shot.

Very good. See what you done there. Lol

Regards 

 

[straffham]

@straffham what were you planning on buying?  I know some retailers would take a forum profile as valid defense, might be worth a shot.

Hi Pete, thanks for that, not busting for any one RIF in particular, although I'd like an Ares L1A1 (having missed them twice now for the reasons stated) and/or an S&T Sterling but both are in short supply it seems. 

In specific defence terms I wouldn't want to be seen as taking the pee though, it's not like my UKARA has just run out. Mind you if buying aftermarket upgrade parts helped with my defence (mainly several gear sets off you over the past couple of months) I'd be sorted!

Cheers.