Gel blaster RIFs - what's up with those?

[Rogerborg]

Prompted by the lad asking about how to get an airsoft gat for playing in a field, I was going to suggest gel blasters as I'd seen dayglo / stickerbomb ones for sale.

 

But, well, well, well, looks like they've gone full RIF.

 

For example https://gelweapons.co.uk/collections/gel-blasters/

 

You can even find them for sale on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blaster-Goggles-Upgrade-Version-Backyard/dp/B0DFP99WQY (I've reported that one to see if they care).

 

These are quite obviously RIFs. They're not airsoft guns, and they can't claim our defence.  They seem to be over 1J, so would notionally be "lethal barrelled" air guns (just because they're intended to shoot gel balls doesn't mean you couldn't drop steel BBs in).  They might even need an air gun licence in Scotshire.  Heck, full auto and "lethal barrelled"...

 

I'm assuming that the sellers and owners are just getting away with it because, well, nobody cares.  Just pure disinterest from the police and trading standards.

 

At this point, I rather suspect that having a defence and a defined non-firearm category is the only thing that's making airsoft retailers ask for a defence.

[Chev Chelios]

Are they classed as using "fraggable" projectiles like Paintball guns I wonder, but would being able to fire full auto negate that or cane they point to other types of gun ref projectile size. Could also fire projectile's other than Paintballs so not sure about that point. 

 

As you say the hole thing is just PR and until it benefits nobody cares. The rules on Airsoft guns are silly when anyone over the age of 18 can rock up and buy an Air Gun that looks 100% like an Airsoft Gun or just buy an IF and spray it.

 

I just thank God Hazel Blears got fucked off or we would all be speed softers right now