I had an update from the ABA today, and given that the VCR Bill is the most important subject at the moment it’s important that everyone reads this:
Update from the ABA. 8th November 2005
As you know, the ABA has been formed to help save Airsoft in the United
Kingdom from the worst effects of the proposed Violent Crime Reduction (VCR)
bill. The ABA is a council of nine individuals, three each from the three
main constituent sections that form UK Airsoft: Players, Sites and
Retailers. There are of course other interest groups who orbit the main
‘core’ of UK Airsoft, all of whom would of course be most welcome to
contribute positively should they wish.In essence the ABA agrees with the main principles of the VCR bill
proposals; in summary, the parts of the bill that affect Airsoft (and other
replica guns) are designed to get replica guns off the street; i.e. to keep
them away from the ‘chavs’ and other similar groups who might feel that it
is ‘cool’ to carry concealed weapons or who might attempt to use replica
weapons in criminal activities. Of course, any right-minded Airsoft
enthusiast would find such actions wholly abhorrent and doubtless would
therefore agree with the Government’s attempt to restrict their sale to such
irresponsible individuals.Lamentably however, as is so often the way with hastily drafted legislation,
the VCR bill proposes an all-out ban on the production, importation and sale
of any Airsoft replica-weapons. If the bill was to find its way onto the UK
statute books unchanged it would, in effect, sound the death-knell for
Airsoft in the UK. The VCR bill in current format is, in effect, a “sledge
hammer to crack a walnut”.Unfortunately therefore, the worst-of-all news is that, and despite
considerable and vociferous attempts made by the ABA (and others) to prevent
this happening, it does look as though the VCR bill (or at least those parts
which effect Airsoft) will now proceed through further readings in the House
of Commons and Lords, and eventually onto the statute books.(It should be made clear at this stage that this bill does not interfere
with Airsoft skirmishing and/or the ownership of Airsoft replicas – yet.)The actual wording of the VCR bill itself does however offer a glimmer of
hope to UK Airsoft; the Home Secretary can grant exemptions to the bill if
he can see a clear and reasonable case for such. At this stage, the only
realistic remaining hope for UK Airsoft is for it to therefore gain such an
exemption.Members of the ABA council have been working extremely hard and over very
many long hours to put together the case for such an exemption. This
exemption proposal is now almost complete and comprises a 60+ page document
plus associated appendices. This proposal will be printed, bound and
presented both in paper and electronic form to the Home Secretary and a host
of other relevant Public Servants for consideration. As a courtesy to these
individuals, the full content of this proposal document will remain
confidential until such a time that it is considered they have had a
reasonable chance to read and consider it fully. The document will then be
made fully publicly available.There is nothing controversial within the proposal, indeed it simply seeks
to protect the interests of Airsoft in the UK whilst making UK Airsoft
perhaps more structured and Airsoft enthusiasts more accountable. This can
be achieved and in doing so it would also help better the security and
well-being of the British public – which is after all the Governments first
priority. Again, the ABA would here wish to emphasise that in this last
respect at least, ABA aims are essentially the same as those of the British
Government.It is a frustrating truism that, certainly for the moment at least, there is
very little that can be done by individual Airsoft enthusiasts to help
further the cause. This may and probably will change over time and as the
quest for exemption gains momentum. Airsoft enthusiasts in the UK do need
to accept that some degree of accountability is inevitable and of course
responsible enthusiasts have nothing to hide, so this should not be viewed
as an obstacle. In the mean time, the best thing individuals can do is to
sign up and to indicate their support of UK Airsoft on the ABA website.From this point onwards, the ABA is able to undertake to keep Airsoft
enthusiasts in the UK fully briefed on progress. Please watch “Arnie’s
Airsoft” and other Airsoft focal-points for further briefings.Thank you.
(ABA)
