UKARA Be Joking?

My first Airsoft session had arrived.

I had my MTP camo clothing, an old pair of steel toe capped boots from a job I hadn't done in 8 years and a baseball cap. I was ready for war! 

Oh Yeah? You and whose Army??

Myself and the boys turned up, I signed us all up as members so that I could start working towards getting the required number of games in so I would qualify for my UKARA number.  UKARA  for those that are new to Airsoft stands for United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association and is a database of people who have an legitimate defence to purchase an RIF.  Defence?? RIF?? its all getting a bit complicated now isn't it!  OK ..... lets take it in steps.

• RIF - this is a Realistic Imitation Firearm.  As Airsoft guns look very much like the real weapon they are intended to imitate they are categorised as RIF.  With this comes its own set of complications.

• Defence - this is where it gets complicated.  Under the VCRA (Violent Crimes Reduction Act 2006 - a UK legislation set up to reduce violent crimes surprisingly!) it is an offence to manufacture, import or sell a RIF in Great Britain.  Ok so no Airsoft guns then?  Wrong.  There are exemptions from this if you can provide a suitable defence (reason) why you want to sell or import a RIF.  Now those exemptions are for :-

1. the purposes of a museum or gallery;
2. the purposes of theatrical performances and of rehearsals for such performances;
3. the production of films;
4. the production of television programmes;
5. 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;
6. the purposes of functions that a person has in his capacity as a person in the service of Her Majesty

Where does that leave us then?  Well there was a further amendment made which allowed Airsofters to purchase a RIF.  Job done then eh?  Well not quite as it is the responsibility of the retailer/seller of the RIF to be certain that the person purchasing the RIF is a legitimate Airsofter and not just some kid who fancies flashing a real looking gun down the park.

Well first of all its illegal for anyone under 18yo to purchase a RIF or to sell a RIF to anyone under 18yo.  So  assuming you're over 18 how does the retailer know you're a serious Airsofter?  Well that's where UKARA comes in.  In order to qualify for a UKARA number you must have played Airsoft a minimum of 3 times over no less than 2 months at an insured Airsoft site who, in turn, are registered with UKARA.  So you can play 6 times in 6 weeks but you still need to wait the required 2 months.

UKARA Police - may or may not be an actual thing

In order to get me ready to be able to purchase a RIF for myself and my boys I signed up for a membership at NTAC and started to log my games.  I know I said its illegal to sell or to buy a RIF if you're under 18 however it's not an offence for me, with a UKARA number, to purchase 2 RIF's and gift them to my under 18yo sons.  They'll be locked away at home and only brought out for game day.


Phew ...... I didn't realise it was such a legal minefield when I first took the kids that first day however after seeing the guns in the flesh I can understand how they'd be mistaken for a real firearm.