Sport News

Operation Lion Claws have released a statement in response to an inflammatory meme currently circulating:

It has come to our attention that the attacks against our organization have started once again. We chose to ignore the propaganda in the recent past rather than feed into it, but unfortunately the attacks made against us earlier in the week in the form of a photoshopped meme was done in poor taste, and was something that we could not simply ignore. We pride ourselves in honoring our nations heroes of the armed forces, and do as much as we can to support them through our charitable donations generated from our events.

    Although our organization is blessed to have men like Col.(RET) Danny McKnight, Ranger Hall of Fame inductee MSG.(RET) Howard "Mad Max” Mullen, Delta Force Command Sergeant Major (RET) Mark Collazos & many other staff members who are actual heroes of this great nation, we would never grant that title to airsofters who have never earned it, let alone create a meme saying that playing airsoft makes them heroes.

    The worst part of this recent attack, is that just three weeks ago, our nation observed Memorial Day, a day that we remember our fallen men and women of the armed forces who are real heroes. The parties involved in creating this meme, and started circulating it should be ashamed of their actions, and should be condemned for their disrespect to our service members.

We do not condone this type of behavior and apologize that our name and logo was used to create this tasteless image, but we assure everyone that our organization had absolutely nothing to do with it, other than being the focus of the attacks.

    We would like to thank our supporters and sponsors for recognizing what is fact, and what is not. We will continue doing all we can to help our service members, while hosting some of the nations best airsoft events.

    Keep airsoft positive.

Our heroes at Op:LC-XV, Memorial Day Weekend 2016.
( Left to right) Delta Force Command Sergeant Major(RET) Mark Collazos, US Army Ranger Sean Menches, Col.(RET) Danny McKnight & Ranger Hall of Hame inductee MSG(RET) Howard "Mad Max" Mullen

(Operation Lion Claws)

UKAPU have been updating their website including their membership system:

UKAPU Re-Launch Website & Membership System

United Kingdom: Matthew Furey-King, Chairman of United Kingdom Airsoft Players Union (UKAPU), today announced that UKAPU will introduce an enhanced and re-designed website. The new website, alongside UKAPU’s Facebook and Twitter, will allow the organisation to directly communicate with airsoft players around the United Kingdom.

The website will also include an updated membership system, allowing players to sign up for free and become a member of UKAPU. Included in the membership system is the ability to donate to UKAPU, giving players the chance to claim up to two UKAPU patches, as well as other membership benefits.

"I’m very proud to announce that UKAPU’s new membership system is now open,” said Chairman Matthew Furey-King. “Our volunteers have had to build a completely new membership system and website over the past month, and as you’ll see, they have done a cracking job. Membership is now free, so there’s no reason not to sign up, and tell your friends to do the same. Every extra member gives us a little more strength when we need to stand up for airsoft."

• Bronze UKAPU Membership is free, includes a UKAPU membership number.
• Silver UKAPU Membership has a donation fee of 5GBP, includes the choice of a tan or green patch.
• Gold UKAPU Membership has a donation fee of 10GBP, includes both the tan and green patches.
• Membership lasts for 12 months from the date of sign-up.

About UKAPU: UKAPU is an unincorporated non-profit association formed by a dedicated group of airsoft skirmishers to help protect and strengthen our hobby. By providing a united and official organisation that represents players, we can far more effectively engage in discussion with the government, other organisations, and the press when skirmishing comes under threat.

(UKAPU)

European Airsoft Association have some positive news from the EU:

As you should be aware, since November last year the EU has been considering a proposal to amend the firearms directive which would classify replicas, including airsoft devices, as real firearms. They also wanted to ban any firearm of ‘military appearance’.

The result would be that nearly all airsoft devices would fall foul of the law and be banned from use by the public, and the few types that would be allowed would be extremely difficult for people to obtain and had to be registered individually. The authors of the proposal set out to get rid of replicas and thereby wipe out airsoft in the whole of Europe. We were looking at airsoft Armageddon.

The European Airsoft Association was founded specifically to react to such a threat. Over the last 5 months we have done everything possible to save airsoft.

Our member associations have convened with their own ministers and governments. We have been working alongside people from the airsoft industry and manufacturers. We have energised thousands of players to write to their representatives through our ‘EU attack on airsoft’ campaign. We have attended many private meetings with members of parliament and members of the commission, as well as conferences and assemblies of the European Parliament.

At every meeting we have been raising positive awareness of our beloved sport, highlighting the ridiculousness and impracticality of the proposal, and trying to keep the airsoftsport out of the scope of the European Firearms directive.

Our representatives and in particular President Joachim, have been to Brussels many times including a recent 2 day symposium.

Before the community took action the EU were not even aware that there was a legitimate use for replica firearms. After the combined campaign, MEPs publicly mentioned the airsoft sport as a positive!

The initial proposal was officially reviewed by Vicky Ford MEP, and the EAA worked with her team to get the amendment we needed put in to her draft report. The report of the rapporteur carries enormous weight. The draft report has just been released this week, and it recommends the following amendment at the very start of the document;

(3b) The definition of the term "firearm" should continue to exclude objects which expel a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of a non-combustible propellant, for example through the operation of compressed air or other gas, including so-called airsoft guns, as well as objects which merely have the appearance of a firearm (replicas, imitations), provided in both cases that such objects cannot be converted to a firearm or do not contain an essential component which is capable of being used in a firearm. Member States should be able to regulate such objects under their national law.

Amendment 81 clarifies this and amendment 85 specifically defines and excludes airsoft devices by name a second time!

This is amazing news! The airsoft community has made its voice heard and defended itself!

It’s very important to understand that we have not won yet, as the Parliament still needs to vote to approve the amendment, but the finish line is in sight. If the amendments are approved, airsoft will be enshrined in European law as non-firearms! Our sport will be in a safer position than ever before.

Another thing we were concerned about is that ‘blank fire grenades’ would have be controlled as firearms, but after our lobbying to raise awareness of these devices, more sensible measures have been recommended and, if adopted, airsoft enthusiasts will be able to continue buying and using BFGs in game as normal.

The firearms community still look set to lose some categories of firearm so we stand with them, as fellow shooters. Likely adoption of the directive will be later in the year but the amendments to the proposal will certainly be discussed in the coming months. Please watch our website www.euroairsoft.org and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/europeanairsoft/ for updates.

The European Airsoft Association Team.

Source:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-578.822+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN

(European Airsoft Association)

Matt Furey-King from the UKAPU has reported back on their meeting at the Home Office:

On Friday UK Airsoft Players Union, UK Airsoft Retailers Association and Airsoft Trade Body were invited to the Home Office HQ in Westminster to discuss the Police and Crime Bill and the airsoft exception. UKARA also brought along Police Chief Adrian Whiting, whose extensive political and legal experience was very helpful indeed.

All 3 bodies are on the same page and we have very similar concerns with the current draft of the bill which is primarily that;

1. 8mm airsoft replicas will not be defined as airsoft.

2. Airsoft replicas are defined as a device which can ‘only’ fire plastic BBs.

3. Fully automatic airsoft replicas could be defined as ‘readily convertible’ as you can push most of them over 1.3J easily enough.

4. Anyone importing or in possession of fully automatic replica that is found to be over 1.3J will be deemed to be in possession of a section 5 firearm (5 year prison sentence for most of us). This is of course very relevant to owners and traders of HPA and GBB models, whose equipment would be tested on the strongest gas pressure available.

Although this Bill is designed to clear up firearms law (amongst other things) we are now fully involved with Westminster politics. As such, there are allot of factors in play, such as party politics and also the anti-airsoft lobby (who are in staunch opposition to the airsoft exception). People will be watching what we airsofters say in public over the coming months. So things are pretty complicated and little can be taken at face value.

We presented some proposals to Government representatives and (without pre-empting the minutes) very little was accepted or rejected outright. This meeting was really the starting point for the process. What seems clear is that they will hold us to the 1.3J/2.5J recommendations of the ACPO testing. We will have more meetings with them over the next year, and if we present an amendment that the Home Office finds favourable they could present it to Parliament. However, there’s still a fair chance that this won’t happen but we live in a democracy and the airsoft community may need to write to their MPs and the House of Lords in order to get our amendments sponsored and voted in.

If you’ve looked at the PCB you’ll notice that airsoft and lethality make up a very small part of it which is why we won’t be permitted the opportunity to submit evidence to the parliamentary committee.

So what’s the next phase? We need to all agree on the amendments that we are going to push for. We need to collect some more evidence. And we need to bolster support for the airsoft associations. The only viable option is for us all to work together and be one strong voice asking for the same thing through representatives and a well-coordinated lobbying campaign. Anything less will be fruitless. If we fail to clear this Bill up, airsoft players and traders could end up in prison in the future for holding normal airsoft equipment.

The Bill is in the committee stage of the House of Commons and the Home Office project it will be enacted in law before the end of the year.

Players should like UKAPUs Facebook page and then we can keep you in the loop. https://www.facebook.com/UKAPU/

If you are in the airsoft industry you should keep in touch with ATB and UKARA

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1554858821494063/?ref=br_rs

http://www.ukara.org.uk/

Matt Furey-King

Chair UKAPU

(UKAPU)

Matt Furey-King from the UKAPU has an update on the proposed changes to the Firearms Act following the law commission report:

Although the law commission firearms law report was released only two months ago, the Policing and Crime Bill 2015-16 has had its first reading in the UK parliament.

In simple terms, this bill will (amongst many other things) specify the muzzle energy threshold which defines an airsoft gun from an air rifle. In a way it sets legal power limits for airsoft (1.3J, or 375fps with a .20g BB, for fully automatics. 2.5J, or 520fps with a .20g BB, for semi and single action). Previously this was a grey area in UK law. Local legislation will still apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

From Parliament.uk

“This Government Bill was presented to Parliament on Wednesday 10 February 2016. This is known as the first reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage.

The date for this Bill’s second reading debate has yet to be announced.

If the bill passes second reading and is committed to a public bill committee the membership of the committee will be published in Votes and Proceedings and posted on this page under ‘Commons Public Bill Committee’. The soonest this can be is the Thursday following second reading of the bill, but it may be later.”

Whilst we welcome legislation which clears up the legal position of airsoft, we are sceptical of some of the wording of the bill. No airsoft replica is ‘only’ capable of discharging plastic projectiles. All of them can fire steel and glass BBs. This fact could arguably make the airsoft exception worthless as no airsoft replica could meet the requirements.

Contrary to the law commission report (based on our feedback), they have also ruled 8mm airsoft out of the exception.

We are still seeking clarification of the position of variable power devices such as HPA driven replicas, which can well exceed the specified 1.3J threshold if desired.

UK Airsoft Players Union intends to, at a minimum, submit evidence during the committee stage of the process. Please keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates https://www.facebook.com/UKAPU/

Matt Furey-King, Chairman

Matt Furey-King from the UKAPU has shared details of the law commission report on firearms:

The law commission has today published its report on firearms which you can read here;

http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/lc363_firearms.pdf

There’s a good chance it will be put into law, as this is the case with law commission reports generally. From our perspective the most interesting parts are that they state that the lethality threshold should be set to 1J, but that an airsoft exemption should be created (based around the VCRA 2006 specific exemption). They recommend setting this exemption at 1.3J/2.5J in line with the 2011 ACPO testing. This is great news. Sensible conclusions, no more ‘airsoft legal limit’ grey areas, and they’ve listened to the airsoft associations. Also note that we were supported by BASC and GTA.

We’ve copied the relevant section below for people who are interested.

"IF THE THRESHOLD OF LETHALITY WAS SET AT 1 JOULE SHOULD THERE BE A SPECIFIC EXEMPTION FOR AIRSOFT GUNS?

2.33 As we have already pointed out, groups representing both airsoft retailers and players suggested that a 1 joule threshold would be detrimental to the trade in airsoft guns for a number of reasons. It is important for us to point out that we are aware of the fact that the use of airsoft guns is not confined to airsoft skirmishers.

The analysis in this section is applicable to anyone who uses an airsoft gun in furtherance of a “permitted activity”.

2.34 First, the United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers’ Association estimated that 85% of its members’ sales take place online and a requirement for airsoft guns to be sold face-to-face would undermine the viability of a significant number of retail businesses.

2.35 Secondly, the lawfulness of possessing a realistic imitation firearm (which includes airsoft guns), is dependent upon the possession of third party liability insurance.14 Both the United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers’ Association and the United Kingdom Airsoft Players’ Union pointed out that an insurance company would be unlikely to insure an activity that involves players shooting each other with what the law classifies as firearms.

2.36 Thirdly, the United Kingdom Airsoft Players’ Union also made the point that many airsoft guns are capable of automatic fire and have a muzzle kinetic energy of more than 1 joule. If a 1 joule threshold were to be adopted it was suggested that this would have the consequence that such airsoft guns would become prohibited weapons by virtue of section 5(1)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968.15 Possession of such a firearm without the authority of the Secretary of State carries a mandatory minimum five year prison sentence. The United Kingdom Airsoft Players’ Union said that it is highly questionable that Parliament intended for such low powered air weapons to be classified as prohibited weapons.

2.37 Finally, both the United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers’ Association and the United Kingdom Airsoft Players’ Union suggested that there are no reported instances of potentially deadly injury occurring through misuse of an airsoft gun.

2.38 Consultees from outside the airsoft skirmishing community also stated that there ought to be some form of exemption for airsoft if a 1 joule threshold were to be adopted. For example, the Crown Prosecution Service said:

If the threshold of lethality was set at 1 joule, the CPS considers it appropriate for there to be a specific exemption for the airsoft trade.

Such an exemption, similar to that already contained within the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, would allow the operation of the 1 joule setting for lethality for all other firearms, without having a disproportionate impact on the airsoft trade.

2.39 This view was also expressed by, amongst others, Her Majesty’s Council of Circuit Judges, the Gun Trade Association and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation.

Discussion

2.40 In evaluating whether there ought to be an exemption for airsoft guns, we agree that it is necessary to consider the impact imposing a 1 joule threshold might have on businesses. On the basis of information provided by representative organisations, it is clear that there could be quite a significant impact.

2.41 We therefore agree that classifying airsoft guns as firearms (because they have a muzzle kinetic energy above 1 joule) could have a number of undesirable consequences. These would appear to be disproportionate given that it is unclear whether there would be any corresponding benefit to public safety: we are not aware of any reported instances of serious injury being caused through misuse of an airsoft gun.

2.42 We do not believe, therefore, that creating an exemption for airsoft guns would be detrimental to public safety and believe this would be a proportionate approach.

Recommendation 3

2.43 We recommend the creation of an exempting provision in the Act exempting airsoft guns from the scope of the 1 joule kinetic energy threshold which deems a barrelled weapon to be lethal.

2.44 In making this recommendation, we believe it is important to examine how such an exemption could be crafted. Our aim is to minimise the impact upon the airsoft trade whilst also ensuring public safety is not compromised.

2.45 We believe that a suitable approach is to define in law what an airsoft gun is. Currently there is no legal definition. The United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers’

Association suggested the following definition:

An airsoft imitation firearm is an imitation firearm (whether a realistic imitation firearm or not) designed for use in permitted activities and which is;

(1) Only capable of discharging a spherical plastic pellet not exceeding 8mm in diameter and,
(2) When discharging such a pellet does not impart kinetic energy, measured at the muzzle, which exceeds 2.5 joules if firing single shots with each operation of the trigger or 1.3 joules if firing successive shots whilst the trigger is held.

2.46 We believe that this definition creates an exemption for airsoft guns without compromising public safety. Public safety is ensured in three ways. First, there is research to suggest that these are safe kinetic energy thresholds within which airsoft guns can operate;17 secondly, the definition limits airsoft guns to those guns that are only capable of firing small plastic pellets; thirdly, it defines airsoft guns by reference to the “permitted activities” listed in The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (Realistic Imitation Firearms) Regulations 2007, placing a constraint on the types of activity airsoft guns can be used for.

2.47 The other public safety benefits are that this definition places a legal limit upon the maximum muzzle kinetic energy at which an airsoft gun may operate.

Currently no such limit exists. It would also limit the exemption to those guns that use plastic, as opposed to metal pellets. Again, there is currently no legal

restriction on the type of ammunition an airsoft gun may fire.

2.48 Having consulted other stakeholders on the merits of this tentative definition, we are confident that it is sufficiently precise to avoid unintended consequences.

Recommendation 4

2.49 We recommend that if a deemed lethality threshold of 1 joule kinetic muzzle energy be created, a statutory exemption for airsoft guns should also be created. The exemption should be defined:

(1) by reference to safe kinetic energy thresholds for airsoft guns to operate within;
(2) so as to exempt those guns that are only capable of firing small plastic pellets; and
(3) having regard to the “permitted activities” listed in The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (Realistic Imitation Firearms) Regulations 2007. "

Matt Furey-King, Chairman UK Airsoft Players Union (UKAPU)