Save UK Airsoft
What you can do to help
The VCR Bill: On the 8th June 2005 the government unveiled their Violent Crime Reduction Bill (VCR Bill) which if passed in its current form will prohibit by law the trade/sale/import and manufacture of anything that looks like a firearm in the UK. The sport and hobby that we all enjoy now lies in severe jeopardy.
The current proposal represents a bill that has had multiple topics thrown into it so as to bundle it through the Commons on the back of the popular topics that no one would dare contest.
Our premise is simple, tighter controls on Firearms are pointless, years of amendments to the Acts have left us with some of the tightest laws in the world in relation to guns of any form and gun related crime is still out of control according to the statistics that are peddled to push this bill through.
The bill fully demonstrates how the majority of this country's population have been made irrationally scared of anything gun shaped, with the popular media and the vast majority of politicians to blame for the current state of affairs. We now stand poised to ban anything and everything that looks like a gun in one final amendment to protect the population from their own phobias.
The proposed VCR Bill actually encourages the use of real firearms in crimes and does nothing to address real firearm related crimes. The proposal that making it illegal for responsible people to own replicas will deter the criminal fraternity is pure nonsense.
This country needs effective laws and legislation that support our Police and allow them to be more effective in upholding order and combating antisocial criminal behaviour not more draconian laws.
The start - a unified UK Airsoft body (saveairsoft.org): In a direct response to the problems here's a new website up online called http://saveairsoft.org/, where retailers and Airsoft companies have joined together in an effort to have the bill adjusted so that it is fairer to the people and minorities that it affects.
What you can do: The aim is simple, get as many people as possible involved and aware of the issue to contest the proposed legislation in its current form. The more individuals that contact their MPs to have their opinions heard the better.
Players: You need to spread the word and help out as much as possible. Get hold of your friends and collegues and get them involved. If your local sites or retailers (this includes responsible stores that don't simply sell Airsoft) don't know about the proposed bill let them know, print material off and take posters down to them to stick up, give them useful website addresses. Every little helps.
I strongly suggest that individuals that feel passionate about the situation make educated and worthwhile communications to their local MPs at http://www.writetothem.com/, or direct to Downing Street http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/page821.asp. You can also discuss the matter in our forums here.
Collectors: As a collector you will be unable to bring anything that looks like a firearm into the country and will be barred from making future purchases and private sales.
I strongly suggest that individuals that feel passionate about the situation make educated and worthwhile communications to their local MPs at http://www.writetothem.com/, or direct to Downing Street http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/page821.asp. You can also discuss the matter in our forums here.
Sites: Please contact the folks at http://saveairsoft.org/ and get involved. Please distribute posters and materials at your games and put posters up. Please ensure at every event and game that everyone attending is made aware of the issues and that fact that what they currently enjoy is facing a ban right now. No one should be leaving the playing field at the end of the day and not be aware of the issue. You can also discuss the matter in our forums here.
Retailers: Please contact the folks at http://saveairsoft.org/ and get involved. Please distribute printed material with your sales to educate your customers about the proposed bill. Please add posters where appropriate and hand out flyers so that walk in customers know of the issues that they now face as a law abiding citizen. You can also discuss the matter in our forums here.
Members of the public (Non-Airsoft): The proposed bill actually encourages the use of real firearms in crimes and does nothing to address the issues it tries to address.
Sports such as fencing, martial arts, competition shooting, target shooting, paintball and airsoft; hobbies such as historical re-enactment, model collectors, model makers, and museums; sporting stores, people’s past times, individual livelihoods and all relating industries will all be completely destroyed or severely curtailed if this new bill is passed in its current form, all under the false guise of “public safety”.
I strongly suggest that individuals that feel passionate about the situation make educated and worthwhile communications to their local MPs at http://www.writetothem.com/, or direct to Downing Street http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/page821.asp. You can also discuss the matter in our forums here.
Posters: Here are some useful posters that you can freely distribute (SoS posters kindly produced by squarepusher). PDF of "future" poster available here.
Useful links:
- http://www.associationofbritishairsoft.org/ - the Association of British Airsoft, who are a recognised stakeholder in relation to the proposed bill. They need your support and help in their efforts.
- http://saveairsoft.org/ - the obvious link
- Violent Crime Reduction Bill - the proposed bill it its current form
- http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alms.cfm - list of all UK MPs
- http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/page821.asp - contact Downing Street
- http://www.writetothem.com/ -write to your MP and/or get their contact details