Questions & Answers.

I have noticed I am constantly answering the same questions from members of the public regarding Airsoft, the VCR Bill and various other questions. I will try to publish the most common questions here, If you have a specific question please do not hesitate to contact me..

Save Airsoft Questions.

What is Save Airsoft?

SaveAirsoft is a website setup and maintained by James Smith, a concerned and dedicated Airsofter. James has been playing Airsoft for over 15 years and has been working in the Airsoft industry for about 7 years. James is not paid for his time working with SaveAirsoft.org. The goal of SaveAirsoft is simply to ensure the future of Airsoft within the UK.

SaveAirsoft only cares for the sport of Airsoft and its future. Other shooting activities using airguns, real guns, co2 guns, spud guns, nail guns, water pistols and anything else hold no interest, but Airsoft is a safe, active and fun sport that can be enjoyed by everyone. It must not be banned. Other activities have their own campagn groups.

We Believe that by working with the Government, Home Office and the Airsoft industry organisations we can stem the flow of replica guns onto the UK streets while keeping the sport of Airsoft for the law abiding people who want to enjoy it!

VCR Bill Questions.

What is the VCR Bill?

The Violent Crime Reduction Bill, or VCR Bill is a proposal produced by the Home Office that is supposed to deal with violent crime in the UK. The the vast majority the VCR Bill is a very good idea, dealing with alcohol related violence and the problems caused by the binge drinking culture of British youth.

We at Save Airsoft have a serious problem with section 30 of the bill that deals with what the Home Office class as "Realistic Imitation Firearms" This is anything that looks like a gun to the member of the public. The Home Office plan to ban the Import, Sale and Manufacture of all "Realistic Imitation Firearms" Airsoft falls into this category and the VCR Bill will strangle the sport of Airsoft of new players and new equipment, thus slowly killing us off.

What will be banned?

Nothing. The Ban is on the SALE IMPORT and MANUFACTURE of anything that looks like a real gun, you will not be forced to take the guns you already own to the local police station to have them destroyed. The problem comes when you want to purchase a new Airsoft gun to enjoy your hobby, you will not be able to.

Why Target Airsoft?

The high quality Airsoft products we use in Airsoft games are not the intended target. The problem is the massive influx of cheap poor quality spring powered guns from china, usually being supplied by your local market trader or fish & chip shop to children to make a "fast buck" These guns still look realistic and are falling into the hands of people who want to cause trouble and know nothing of the sport of Airsoft.

Airsoft Questions.

What is Airsoft?

I have written a whole page dedicated to what Airsoft is, click here to find out more about Airsoft.

People say criminals will convert Airsoft guns to fire real bullets, what do you say?

This is a biggest pile of uneducated rubbish I have ever heard! The Home Office & Police have taken Airsoft guns and tested them to see if they can be converted. The findings are always the same. It is impossible to convert an Airsoft gun to fire anything other than the ammunition it was intended for. The plastic construction means it would be easier to manufacture a real gun from scratch than to convert an Airsoft gun.

We do not deny that SOME replica guns such as Co2 and other guns used for pellet shooting can be converted, however the government seem more interested in placing restrictions on harmless Airsoft products, leaving guns that are at least 16 times more powerful available for public use.

Wont the lack of Airsoft guns on the street make policing easier?

Yes it would and the objective of SaveAirsoft is to reduce the number of Airsoft guns on the street while keeping them available to people who use them in a sensible, controlled environment. I would like to point out that the laws are already in place to reduce the number of guns on the street, the only problem is they are never enforced. I am yet to hear of anyone being prosecuted for possession of an Airsoft gun in a public place.

Think of the people who have been killed by guns in the UK, don't you care about them.

Firstly, I deeply sympathize with victims of real gun crime, and my thoughts are with them.. However, how many times do I have to say it? Airsoft guns HAVE NEVER, COULD NEVER and WILL NEVER kill a human being, Maybe if the government actually policed the ban of REAL firearms these unfortunate deaths may have never happened.

Can Airsoft Guns Kill?

No! they fire plastic balls at much low velocities that it would be impossible to kill anything. Again the Home Office has confirmed this. The lowest velocity at which a projectile can kill someone is 1.36 joules, or 383 feet-per-second with an 0.2g projectile, at this power is is possible, however very unlikely that the bruise caused by the projectile could cause a blood clot that might travel to the brain and kill someone. The chances of that happening are very very remote but is could happen :/

The average electrically powered Airsoft gun fires at roughly 290 feet-per-second, well below the limit of lethality.

Why do you want to play with guns?

This is a stupid quest ion.. Why do people feel the need to jump out of airplanes? surely they should be prosecuted because if their parachute fails then they have technically committed suicide which is a crime. Why do people play with a sack of air in a field? (football) Why do people feel the need to drive cars at break-neck speeds around a race track?

Why? Because we enjoy doing it, and that is the only reason anyone ever needs, we don't hurt anyone, we don't threaten anyone, in fact I will bet money that more people are injured every year with tennis rackets than with Airsoft guns. But because Airsoft guns look like a real firearms people and the media go crazy whenever they are misused. DONT persecute the innocent just because of a few idiots.

They look dangerous. Shouldn't we ban them?

I'm sure there is a person in your town that when you see him you say "damn I better not go anywhere near that person, he/she looks dangerous" Maybe you should campaign to ban them from the UK? That's stupid I hear you cry. Well so is banning something because it looks like something else!

In the USA and Italy they use orange painted barrels for Airsoft guns, is this an option?

It certainly is an option, however this is potentially more dangerous than leaving them as they are. Various incidents in America has resulted in a police officers death because criminals painted the end of their real gun orange to fool the police.

In our opinion ALL guns should be treated as real when the police are called. Including when it comes to prosecution. Make an example of the criminals and people will think twice before committing crimes with guns.

Interested Organisations.

What is UKARA?

UKARA stands for the United Kingdom Airsoft Retailer Association, this organisation was setup by a group of dedicated Airsoft retailers who's sole interest is the supply of equipment to the Airsoft sporting industry. They are responsible retailers, they operate a self imposed rule, not supplying guns to under 18s and have the future of Airsoft at heart. They will fight section 30 of the VCR Bill to the bitter End.

Who are the ABA?

The ABA stands for the Association of British Airsofters, this group represents the majority of Airsoft Players and enthusiasts within the UK. giving the Airsofters a single voice to represent them.

What is UKASGB?

The UKASGB stands for the United Kingdom Airsoft Sites Governing Body. This is a collection of professional Airsoft Games sites throughout the UK, they ensure the safe and smooth running of all Games Sites that are members of UKASGB, they help with insurance, safety, policies and advice to both the games sites and the public.

Who are MAG?

MAG stands for Mothers Against Guns, this is a group of people who have been victims of REAL guns crime and are now campaigning for the total ban of anything gun-shaped within the UK

Who Are GCN?

The CGN or Gun Control Network are an organisation that has been setup to campaign for the complete ban of all guns including imitation firearms within the UK.

Who are the VCR Bill Committee?

The VCR Bill committee are a group of MP's who have been chosen to go through the VCR Bill section by section to make sure all entries are in the best interest of the UK's people. The majority of the VCR Bill contains great ideas and I agree with most of them. Section 30 however proposes to persecute innocent hobbyists to grab a headline without reducing crime one bit.