UKARA license enquiry

[BigAl]

Yes as the public could reasonably believe they are.  Dumb I know but pretty sure that's the case.

[Anonymoose]

44 minutes ago, Tommikka said:

The perfect solution for a display item is a deactivated firearm - but you need the right paperwork.

 

A 4.5mm air gun is an easier solution.

 

Walk in, show ID, buy. No paperwork.

 

Especially if they wanted something like a Glock that's easy to find in 4.5mm.

Edited November 10 by Anonymoose

[TrooperX]

1 hour ago, Tommikka said:

 

There are potential concepts for the use of airsoft type guns by firearms officers, such as a familiariasion copy - but they are better off using the real thing in a safe manner

True story… a few years ago a policeman who used to go to the same airsoft site as me borrowed my JG G36C.  His mate was applying for the armed section and they used it to practice drills.

 

 

Edited November 10 by TrooperX

[Tommikka]

10 minutes ago, TrooperX said:

True story… a few years ago a policeman who used to go to the same airsoft site as me borrowed my JG G36C.  His mate was applying for the armed section and they used it to practice drills.

 

 

As applying they wouldn’t have access to the real thing …. So a good use for some practice - but no need for it to be a RIF, the colour doesn’t affect the function 

[TrooperX]

8 minutes ago, Tommikka said:

As applying they wouldn’t have access to the real thing …. So a good use for some practice - but no need for it to be a RIF, the colour doesn’t affect the function 

This was before VCRA days so no pesky two tones to worry about back then 😄.  I think I had one of the first JG G36s in the country.  I imported it from Gunners if anyone remembers them.

[Tommikka]

56 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Yes as the public could reasonably believe they are.  Dumb I know but pretty sure that's the case.

Someone could look towards it and believe it’s a real firearm up on the wall.

 

But, as defined in section 38:

 

38Meaning of “realistic imitation firearm”

(1)In sections 36 and 37 “realistic imitation firearm” means an imitation firearm which—

(a)has an appearance that is so realistic as to make it indistinguishable, for all practical purposes, from a real firearm; and

(b)is neither a de-activated firearm nor itself an antique.

(2)For the purposes of this section, an imitation firearm is not (except by virtue of subsection (3)(b)) to be regarded as distinguishable from a real firearm for any practical purpose if it could be so distinguished only—

(a)by an expert;

(b)on a close examination; or

(c)as a result of an attempt to load or to fire it.

 

Someone could easily believe and report a moulded half dummy shell, but then (in my opinion not tested in court) it wouldn’t be ‘for all practical purposes’ ‘so realistic’ that it was ‘indistinguishable’ , and would not require ‘an expert’ to notice.  ‘Close inspection’ could be interpreted, but I would differ ‘being a bit closer’ to ‘close examination’

A case would be required to interpret those key points if the circumstances came up - but another argument for the defence would be the title of the legislation - Violent Crime Reduction Act’

The intent of the legislation is to reduce violent crime, RIFs fall into the act with their potential to be used in a manner of threatening violence  - so a lawyer would be expected to highlight the matter of their client waving a wooden panel around.

 

 

 

An Act to make provision for reducing and dealing with the abuse of alcohol; to make provision about real and imitation firearms, about ammunition and about knives and other weapons; to amend the Football Spectators Act 1989 and the Football (Disorder) Act 2000; to amend the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and section 8 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; to amend section 23 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969; to amend the Mobile Telephones (Re-programming) Act 2002; and for connected purposes.

[Cannonfodder]

If a police force were to purchase airsoft guns for training wouldn't they deliberately buy 2 tones to make sure they couldn't be mistaken for the real thing?

[Tommikka]

1 hour ago, Cannonfodder said:

If a police force were to purchase airsoft guns for training wouldn't they deliberately buy 2 tones to make sure they couldn't be mistaken for the real thing?

Yes.

They would be eligible for a VCRA Defence to purchase RIFs, but that wouldn’t really suit their needs, making sense that bright two tones would stand out as trainers