Category: News

Gareth (our events manager) and I took a trip to the uprising event at the combat festival in April, held on the Swynnerton training area. Swynnerton is an active army exercise area in Staffordshire which used to be a munitions store. As such it is a big and somewhat overgrown playing area with a large number of bunkers, stores, warehouses and mock up FOB’s. Much of the area was quite overgrown with thorns so it paid to have thick trousers (DPM might be comfy but I’m still pulling thorns out of my leg 2 weeks later). The player numbers for the game were substantially less than expected which meant that the playing area had to be restricted. Personally I enjoy games with only a few dozen people per side and a restricted playing area, as the action is friendly and fast. It was certainly a change for the huge Uprising events held on Sennybridge training area; the Uprising team hope to hold an event at Senny later this year, have a look at The Uprising Website later in the year if you are interested in a big scenario led urban game. The Uprising game which was played on Saturday was furious and fun for the players. The training area was given over to the ‘scenario paintball’ players on the Sunday. UKAPU manned our stall for much of the weekend and tried to make these fellow geardo’s aware of the awesomeness which is airsoft! We also managed to recruit a few airsofters to UKAPU which really helps the association. On the Saturday evening the paintballers had a big party which we left when they started eating large volumes of paintballs. Paintballs are non toxic but I’m not convinced they are good for your health!

Overall the combat festival was well organised but the opportunities for airsoft play were quite limited as the Sunday airsoft events which were organised by the other companies were cancelled. I hope that the airsoft players were able to get a full refund for the CQB training which some of them had paid for in advance. I’m not sure that airsoft fits in so well with the festival but the players enjoyed themselves and the Swynnerton area is certainly worth returning to if any more airsoft games are played there.

Tim Clark aka KaRcop interviewed a few people at the event, including myself. The video can be found here.

Matt Furey-King
Chairman

If you are heading to The Arms Fair at The Grange this weekend, UKAPU will see you there. Come along and see our stall! UKAPU members are also welcome to place their for sale items on our private seller stall – come to the UKAPU area and have a word with one of the committee if you are interested.

The Airsoft Arms Fair

If you are heading to The Uprising this weekend, UKAPU will see you there. Come along and see our stall!

In August 2010, Roland Fejes (an airsoft skirmisher and now member of UKAPU) attempted to import a Deepfire M72 LAW. The Deepfire M72 LAW is a high quality airsoft replica but ordinary in function, using moscart type airsoft ‘grenades’. These are commonly imported to the UK as they are a replica which you are permitted to import or buy when you are entitled to the skirmishers specific defence under the Violent Crime Reduction Act.

To Roland’s surprise, his replica was seized when it passed through customs and his house subsequently raided by a counter terrorism unit in order to check that he did not have ‘any other prohibited weapons’. Roland was given no paperwork to explain the situation and no notice of seizure. When he was contacted by the Police he was aggressively bullied and threatened with nonsensical charges including firearms and terrorism offences in an attempt to scare him away from seeking his legal rights. He was accused of importing a re-activated real launcher.

Clearly a fundamental mistake had been made – on top of which something was very wrong with the way the authorities were handling this situation. As a normal player with no legal expertise Roland did not know how to approach this, so one of our members suggested he get in contact with us at UK Airsoft Players Union. One of the key roles we have set for UKAPU is defending individual airsoft skirmishers against prejudice in the system.

Over the course of 6 months UKAPU used our knowledge, contacts and community standing to fight this injustice. Eventually UKAPU convinced a senior Police officer to drop talk of terrorism charges, at which point UK Border Agency and Scotland Yard began disputing the legality of airsoft skirmishers importing moscart devices. Again our considered protest won through, and by UKAPU persistently refusing to let this issue drop Roland had his item returned to him this week! By this, the Police have admitted that they were wrong to prevent him importing this airsoft replica, that the harassment was unjustified and that the charges were unfounded.

Everyone who has joined UKAPU has contributed to this latest victory; We were only able to force the powers that be to respect Roland’s rights because of the strength that our members have lent to UKAPU by joining, so they should give themselves a pat on the back! United, we Airsofters can stand up for each other, so if you haven’t joined yet then please look at our website – we will need your support in the next fight!

Matt Furey-King
Chairman

So, what is it?

The Scotland Bill is legislation that aims to hand control of taxes and other powers to the Scottish Government.

Why does this affect UK Airsoft Skirmishers?

One of the “other powers” would be to shift control of low-powered Airguns to the Scottish Government. These plans could give the Scottish Government the power to license or prohibit low-powered Airguns completely. The proposal to devolve Airgun law to Scotland originated in the Calman Commission recommendations.

Airsoft Replicas aren’t Airguns though?

You’re correct. As the law stands today this is true, however to devolve Airgun law the Government will have to define exactly what an Airgun is (and what it isn’t). While there is an upper power limit defined, no lower power limit currently exists. Airsoft Replicas have come under increased scrutiny from the Home Office over the last year with increased pressure to define at what power Airsoft Replicas become “lethal”. This limit for lethality must be established before the power is devolved.

But I’m not Scottish…

We would hope that all UK Airsoft Skirmishers could see the significance of this proposed change. Even if you aren’t concerned with changes that may happen in Scotland, it is a UK law that will define lethality and will therefore affect everyone.

So, what next?

The Home Office has pushed for an upper limit of 1J (328fps with a 0.2g BB). However, it is UKAPUs intention to work alongside UKARA and UKASGB to find a safe and acceptable upper power level for Airsoft Replicas rather than an arbitrary limit. If all three associations can put their combined weight behind our findings then we stand a chance of influencing the decisions made by the Home Office and secure a safe future for Airsoft Skirmishing in the UK. If you want to have a say in this as a player then we would encourage you to sign up as a UKAPU member. Annual membership is available via the UKAPU website for £5. Our member’s opinion is important and entitles you to vote for the UKAPU committee. You can also have a say in the direction that UKAPU will move regarding the Scotland Bill and other issues.

But why shouldn’t we be happy with 328fps?

The primary reason is that you will be prevented for importing or using any AEG firing over (or near) the imposed limit. To do so would constitute possessing a section 5 firearm which means that you are guilty of breaking the law in the same way as someone who illegally possesses a real automatic assault rifle. You would not be able to downgrade the increasingly powerful Taiwanese and Chinese replicas in country. In addition there would be no concession for high powered sniper rifles, they would become air rifles in the eyes of the law.

The Home Office has always wished to see an upper limit of 1J (328fps with a 0.2g BB). However, it is UKAPUs intention to work alongside UKARA and UKASGB to find a safe and acceptable upper power level for Airsoft Replicas rather than an arbitrary limit. As an individual your voice is not of interest to the powers that be, but if players band together for a common goal and act centrally then we stand a greater chance of influencing the decisions made by the Home Office to secure a safe future for Airsoft Skirmishing in the UK. If you want to have a say in this as a player then we would encourage you to sign up as a UKAPU member. Annual membership is available via the UKAPU website for £5. Our member’s opinions are important and will be taken into account as the UKAPU committee moves this issue forwards. You can also have a say in the direction that UKAPU will move regarding the Scotland Bill and other issues.

Note – Current definition of a Low-Powered Airgun is currently rifles which shoot under 12ft/lbs and pistols under 6ft/lbs.