I thought I’d add a bit of text that Pablo posted in the VCR Bill section of the forums. There’s been a lot of questions lately about the bill, its affect and when it comes into play.

My understanding so far is that under the proposed scheme (set to come into play for April 2007) sites are encouraged to register with the ABA, then when a player goes to buy equipment their registration is validated against a known list of players.

The compulsory comencement dates set by government are 6th April and 1st October. The ABA have been told early spring so they assume the 6th april is the relevant date for us. The regulations must be distributed at least 21 days before that date, but as yet there is still no legal definition of a RIF (Realistic Imitation Firearm, as opposed to an IF). The ABA have a meeting with the Home Office next week.

At present, the ABA need more support from sites. The UKASGB which represents sites is working with the ABA to establish a scheme whereby players must register with a site in order to join a national database of players. Retailers (represented by UKARA) can then check this database to ensure they sell to airsoft skirmishers (to whom the exemption applies) and that they are complying with the law. If your regular site doesn’t sign up to the scheme, you won’t be able to register and therefore you won’t be able to buy guns from 6th April.

You can find the ABA website here, with the link to register to access their forums is hidden at the bottom of the page. We’d add more but as things stand news releases are few and just about all that’s relevant has been posted by Pablo at the top of the VCR forums.

At the moment there are obviously quite a few questions that remain unanswered which include how EU/HK/Japan/USA imports will work, direct EU imports across the border, customs declarations, and who is going to keep control of the proposed registration scheme. If you want to ask relevant questions I’d recommend registering on the ABA site and asking them there. We’ll add anything that’s noteworthy that is sent our way.

First up, some news from FarEast (as posted in the forums here) concerning the upcoming TM releases:

Well sorry to disapoint all you conspiricy theorists out there but Tokyo Marui’s gun will be two new models of the ever so popular M14.

This time these will be in the style of the SOC 16 in black and OD sporting a sandstone finishing texture to the stock, it will also come with rail mounts. I have seen the finished product and i have to say it’s very impressive, and what with the reliablity of the TM M14 over that of the G&G this is sure to put a dent in thier sales.

Estimated date of release is next month and knowing the Japanese holiday season it might not be out for Christmas but with 100% certainty will be out for New Years!

The price will be identical to that of the current full length M14’s so again it’s a win win situation. According to the people at Tokyo Marui they have also fixed some of the issues reported with the 1st generation m14’s. (FarEast)

In other a quick review of TM’s 3rd generation Glock 17:

Well I have managed to get my hands on Tokyo Marui’s latest 3rd generation Pistol (The Glock 17 for those that didn’t read the title). This is the first of a new line that Tokyo Marui intends to bring out of the course of this year and next. It seems that Marui has placed the AESMP (Automatic Electric Small Machine Pistol) range on hold and only releasing one a year, while they release as many pistols as they can into the market. Next in line for us is the Desert Eagle .50 AE 10 inch, but that’s for another time! Let’s take a look at the new Glock!

Straight away Tokyo Marui is going for eye candy for the boxes of its new gun and they haven’t failed the new Glock17. The out side of the box is a stylish black and white montage. (FarEast)

This has been forwarded on to me for publication from the ABA. It looks like they are going to get the exemption that they have been looking for for airsoft in relation to the VCR Bill. Here’s the news:

I refer to my letter of 16 August about airsoft skirmishing and the Violent Crime Bill.

I have now had an opportunity to consider the case which you and your colleagues put to me and you will be pleased to know that I have decided to provide a defence for airsoft skirmishing in relation to the ban on the sale etc or realistic firearms. As you are no doubt aware, there is already a power to make regulations in clause 34 of the Bill and we will include the defence to make regulation once the Bill completes its passage through Parliament. My officials will be in touch with you shortly to arrange a meeting to discuss in detail how the defence will work.

I trust you will be pleased with this outcome and will continue to ensure that airsoft skirmishing activities are in no way linked with the problem of misuse of realistic imitation firearms. Tony McNulty, (Minister of State)

Raif dropped me a line about some proposed legislation changes that may well affect Airsoft in Illonois, you can read more about this in the forums:

Arnie:

I am following the news about attempts in the UK to ban airsoft. Thought it would not happen here in the USA. Guess I was wrong! Thought I would drop you a note about this new bill proposed in our state legislature. House Bill 4132 would ban all replicas of “weapons designed for military purposes.” While this appears to be aimed at full size replicas of things like RPGs, clearly this would make airsoft guns illegal (at least those that are copies of military hardware).

I urge any of your Illinois readers to check out the Illinois State Rifle Association’s website at www.isra.org and find out how to contact their local legislators to kill this bill. This also would ban real guns that are otherwise legal in illinois (Garands, M1 Carbines, 1911 handguns).

Bill is reprinted below in its entirety from the state’s website:

“94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB4132

Introduced 10/20/05, by Rep. Daniel J. Burke

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

720 ILCS 5/24-11 new

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that it is unlawful for any person to purchase, possess, use, sell, give away, or otherwise transfer, or to engage in the business of selling, or to exhibit for sale, any replica rocket propelled grenade launcher, bazooka, artillery piece, grenade, mine, bomb, or items similar to weapons designed and manufactured for military purposes or replicas of those items. Provides that a violation is a Class A misdemeanor.

LRB094 14522 RLC 49459 b

CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

HB4132 LRB094 14522 RLC 49459 b

1 AN ACT concerning criminal law.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Criminal Code of 1961 is amended by adding
5 Section 24-11 as follows:
6 (720 ILCS 5/24-11 new)
7 Sec. 24-11. Replica military style weapons.
8 (a) It is unlawful for any person to purchase, possess,
9 use, sell, give away, or otherwise transfer, or to engage in
10 the business of selling, or to exhibit for sale, any replica
11 rocket propelled grenade launcher, bazooka, artillery piece,
12 grenade, mine, bomb, or items similar to weapons designed and
13 manufactured for military purposes or replicas of those items.
14 (b) Sentence. A violation of this Section is a Class A
15 misdemeanor.”

Thanks for your time and attention.
Raif

The chaps at ARMS sent me a copy of their latest issue this month (thanks guys), so courtesy of them I thought I’d run a few highlights from the magazine this month (I don’t often get a chance to do this myself).

There’s some interesting new toys shown in this month’s ARMS Magazine (Issue 11, November 2005 #209). Inside the front cover there’s a poster from Tanaka of their rather nice new M1897 “Trench Gun” shotgun (src: page #1, page #2). Mojji (Sanken) have some new scopes out called the “Needle” range. There’s a 3-9×40 and a 2-6×30 both of which you can get a laser mount for from Mojji. You’re looking at around 20,000Yen for the scope and 30,000Yen for the laser itself. Moving on there’s a poster of TM’s 4.3 Hi-Capa pistol, priced at 14,800Yen. With the success of the 5.1 model the 4.3 will certainly prove popular, although the Taiwanese copies are sure to follow suit quickly. For you Western Arm lovers out there WA have a page with their latest releases on it including three new SV models (6/5/4.3in), and the Tactical Law Enforcement TLE/RLII (the Kimber look-a-like).

Laylax’s parts always have a pretty familiar look to them, and to be honest one I quite like. There’s a look and style that aren’t readily matched elsewhere. There’s a nice set of custom SIG front ends, and a custom case for anyone that wants to keep their mini AEG M93r pistol clean and safe (src: page #1, page #2). They also have a series of custom Hi-Capa slides and barrels to choose from.

Tanaka’s new rifles are showcased which include the aforementioned Trench Gun (in both wood and black stocks), and a revised model of their M700, this time it’s an L96 copy named the M700 A.I.C.S, that is fitted with a metal reinforced M700 stock (src: page #1, page #2). It’s not particularly faithful to the real thing, the barrel is too short, and basically it’s an M700 barrel and receiver set mounted in an L96 style stock, but I’m sure it’ll sell well.

On page 28 there’s a round up of what was on show at ASGK Festival 2005, which included a rather interesting 40mm style custom pistol. I’ve always been a sucker for those things.. have been for years. Sure it’s hugely unrealistic, but it’s fun and vents gas like there’s tomorrow.

A company by the name of “nite” look to be making a direct competitor to the Traser lineup of watches. I love my Traser, but am on the lookout for something a little less worn (and a bit more suitable for wearing with a suit) so I’ll be keeping an eye on these ones myself. There’s a broad range from “nite”, and as you’d expect there’s the cheap round faced models, the ones with a rotary bezel, then there’s the full metal models. Prices range from 30-48,000Yen. Their website quoted in the magazine is http://www.bigwing.co.jp although you can find the manufacturers at http://www.nitewatches.com/.

There’s a huge article covering the 2005 Ash Bash, sadly I can’t read the text of the write up myself, although the pictures pretty much say it all.

It was bound to happen sooner rather than later. Someone has made a decent pistol/shotgun mount that can take CAW’s 27mm grenades from their PEQ launcher. It’s priced at 36,000Yen, but I don’t have a clue who made it.

In the parts section there’s a rather nice wood mount for anything that takes the M4 mag, and a hideous looking top rail mount for the electric M93r. There’s also a lovely series of builds on the CAW CA870 spring shotgun showing off a series of stock and barrel mount including some decent looking grips.

In the old black and white pages towards the back there’s a few things that caught my eye. CAW’s advert shows off an ankle launcher style 40mm mount and their new CQB mount. Factor-brain.com have a custom CA870 grip, m4a1 grip adapter and laser mount for the front grip. Head1950 have a rather hideous looking M93r silencer adapter mount, but hey it might tickle someone’s fancy.

Poseidon.co.jp’s upcoming custom Glock slide is shown off, including another Manga inspired P226 under mount. Elfin’s (www4.ocn.ne.jp/~elfin712/) model M11 front grip is in the back pages too.

Right at the back there’s a rather interesting page that shows some of the early days of Airsoft, including what looks like a top heavy .177 spring pistol that’s actually calibered for 6mm BBs and a very early P38 from Maruzen; both date from 1980 (src: page #1, page #2).

You can grab your own copy of ARMS Magazine from most good retailers, although you’re more likely to find it in stock at a HK dealer.

Airsoft Collector has sent in some scans from Gun and Combat Magazine while he had a free moment. A huge thanks go to him for them for finding the time, as he’s been very busy of late.

The scans include a pre-review of the KSC Colt M1911, an update concerning the KSC Sig P226 and their USP. There’s also a strange advert form WesternArms and an article documenting the evolution of the Tanio Koba USP.

Airsoft Collector dropped me a line about an article that was in the August issue of Gun concerning the new upcoming KSC GBBs. I’ll paraphraze as he asked me to tidy up the translation a bit.

How they choose the models they are willing to release? KSC just asked Japanese customers through their website, the first three pistols were the M1911, SIG P226 rail and full size HK USP.

The 1911 is working already, the R&D stage is finished and they are under testing. There’s no new system in it instead it uses the same blowback mech as the SW945.

The P226 and USP are still at the R&D stage, with only the external moulding having been done.They dont know yet if they will fit a new GBB system inside or not.

KSC knows that there will be a big competition with other makers, with the 1911 WA and up and coming Marui version announced for this Summer. With the Marui P226, and Tanaka P226 they’ll try to make their model cheaper. The same goes for their upcoming USP given the already existing Tanaka and Tanio Koba versions.