Blank firing guns

[bravotwozero]

Re: Blank firing guns

By definition though, a blank firer is not a firearm... so how can it be classified as a replica imitation one?

Airsoft guns are not firearms.


It means they are replicating firearms....


Because the blank firer is shaped as an M9 it's classed as a RIF. If it was a square box that shot 9mm blanks it wouldn't be classed as a RIF.

Function has nothing t do with it, but appearances.

[Panoptes]

Re: Blank firing guns

The Law
You must be 18 or over to order these blank firing replica guns. They look like, feel like and fire like the real thing. These are not toys and they are not the cap guns, these are precision made duplicates of the live fire originals. They are currently in use by the military training schools for safe firearms handling. All of our blank firing guns are UK legal and you do not need a fire arm licence. If you have any questions about our blank firing guns please do contact us via the form on the contact us page or click here.

Please note: Blowback Model Guns are replica guns. They cannot chamber or fire live ammunition or be converted to fire/chamber live ammunition. No licence is required to own these shell ejecting blowback replicas. Due to their nature and realistic appearance they should absolutely NOT be carried in a public place. These replicas are not toys and sold only to over 18's Lets keep Model Guns safe and for the enthusiast .

I guess they have it wrong.

[Sci Fi Steve]

Re: Blank firing guns

UKARA is United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association and had nothing to do with Blank firing guns what you would reqiuire is one of the VCRA defences.

[bravotwozero]

Re: Blank firing guns

UKARA is United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association and had nothing to do with Blank firing guns what you woud reqiuire is one of the VCRA defences

Ya, but a UKARA registration requires you to be a regular skirmisher - which is a defense. So ukara membership would be A ok.


UKARA justs re-enforces you're claim to be a regular skirmisher.

[Panoptes]

Re: Blank firing guns

Yeah, you're correct, kinda, but from what I see the only "defence" you need to meet in order to purchase realistic blank firing replicas is to be over 18.

[bravotwozero]

Re: Blank firing guns

Yeah, you're correct, kinda, but from what I see the only "defence" you need to meet in order to purchase realistic blank firing replicas is to be over 18.

Actually you can buy any RIF if you're over 18...
It's the selling which is controled.

So if you're over 18 - you can buy a RIF if you like

[Panoptes]

Re: Blank firing guns

Ok smartarse! :p :p :D

[Fluxeor]

Re: Blank firing guns

Actually you can buy any RIF if you're over 18...
It's the selling which is controled.

So if you're over 18 - you can buy a RIF if you like

To clarify, even though B2Z is right, his interpretation could cause confusion.
You can buy an RIF if you are 18+.
But there is a legal requirement on the seller to check that a VCRA defence is valid and would be the one breaking the law should they fail to do so, so by proxy, requires the buyer to have some form of defence in addition to being 18+.
*Edit* This of course doesn't apply to foreign retailers, BUT if your imported RIF is not identifiable as heading towards someone with a defence against the VCRA, then it may be destroyed or held until a defence can be checked. If a defence is not present or applicable, then the buyer is the one legally accountable, as importing is also illegal.


So, Yes you need to be 18 and have some form of defence to buy an RIF (which a blank firing M9 is), If it's 2-toned with one of the required bright colours then it's not a RIF but simply an IF and no defence or check is required (The age limitation still applies though).

[andysmith]

Re: Blank firing guns

plain and simple, the defence requires that the RIF be sold for the purposes of airsoft skirmishing; as a blank firing pistol cannot/will not be used in airsoft, it would not avail of that defence. UKARA as has been said deals with airsoft, and is not the only way to avail of the airsoft defence anyway, thus is irrelevant. In order to buy one you would need to be doing so for the purposes of the defence, which wouldn't fly since a BFG can't be used for airsoft skirmishing. If it were for re-enactment purposes, that would apply, as would the others if it would be used in such scenarios, but again, you would need to have proof of your ability to avail of the defence.

source :law student

[N_Scooby]

Re: Blank firing guns

This is just another thread highlighting the massive holes in the VCRA. Blank firing guns aren't classed as firearms because they don't fire projectiles. You just have to be over 18 to own one, no defence needed. Same as an air rifle or pistol IS classed as a firearm (low power firearm). You have to be over 18 to buy these, no defence needed. It is only 'Toy' guns that are covered by the VCRA and these include our RIF's. Until Airsofting becomes a recognised sport they will always be stuck in this catagory.

If I remember rightly there is a point where a Airsoft single shot spring sniper rifle stops being a RIF (I think it is approx 380 fps) and needing a defence, and by making it more powerful (above 380 fps) it then falls into the same catagory as an air rifle so no defence is needed. Holes you could drive a truck through!!

[Panoptes]

Re: Blank firing guns

Blank firing guns aren't classed as firearms because they don't fire projectiles. You just have to be over 18 to own one, no defence needed. Same as an air rifle or pistol IS classed as a firearm (low power firearm). You have to be over 18 to buy these, no defence needed.

Thank you.

[ZX12R A1]

Re: Blank firing guns

Before the confusion carries on, he means VCRA and not UKARA

Indeed correct but he specifically asked about UKARA which it is not covered under.

They are also not specifically covered under VCRA either as far as I have seen not that I have looked that carefully so again I refer back to my original summary the only people who can give anything close to a proper answer would be a gunsmiths who sell them.

Either way he needs to seek proper advice and get it from a source that can if required be quoted.

To which I am sure you all agree

[ZX12R A1]

Re: Blank firing guns

Before the confusion carries on, he means VCRA and not UKARA

Indeed correct but he specifically asked about UKARA which it is not covered under.

They are also not specifically covered under VCRA either as far as I have seen not that I have looked that carefully so again I refer back to my original summary the only people who can give anything close to a proper answer would be a gunsmiths who sell them.

Either way he needs to seek proper advice and get it from a source that can if required be quoted.

To which I am sure you all agree

Below relevant part of the VCR.

31 Specification for imitation firearms
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision requiring imitation
firearms to conform to specifications which are—
(a) set out in the regulations; or
(b) approved by such persons and in such manner as may be so set out.
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if—
(a) he manufactures an imitation firearm which does not conform to the
specifications required of it by regulations under this section;
(b) he modifies an imitation firearm so that it ceases to conform to the
specifications so required of it;
(c) he modifies a firearm to create an imitation firearm that does not
conform to the specifications so required of it; or
(d) he brings an imitation firearm which does not conform to the
specifications so required of it into Great Britain or causes such an
imitation firearm to be brought into Great Britain.
(3) An offence under this section shall be punishable, on summary conviction—
(a) in England and Wales, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51
weeks or with a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or with
both; and
(b) in Scotland, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or
with a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or with both.
(4) In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 281(5)
of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), the reference in subsection (3)(a) of this
section to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to 6 months.
(5) Regulations under this section may provide that, in proceedings for an offence
under this section, it is to be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that an
imitation firearm conforms to the required specification if it, or the description
of imitation firearms to which it belongs, has been certified as so conforming
by a person who is—
(a) specified in the regulations; or
(b) determined for the purpose in accordance with provisions contained in
the regulations.
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45
Violent Crime Reduction Bill
Part 2 — Weapons etc.
34
(6) The power of the Secretary of State to make regulations under this section shall
be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a
resolution of either House of Parliament.
(7) That power includes power—
(a) to make different provision for different cases;
(b) to make provision subject to such exemptions and exceptions as the
Secretary of State thinks fit; and
(c) to make such incidental, supplemental, consequential and transitional
provision as he thinks fit.
32 Supplying imitation firearms to minors
(1) After section 24 of the 1968 Act insert—
“24A Supplying imitation firearms to minors
(1) It is an offence for a person under the age of eighteen to purchase an
imitation firearm.
(2) It is a offence to sell an imitation firearm to a person under the age of
eighteen.
(3) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (2) it is a defence to
show that the person charged with the offence—
(a) believed the other person to be aged eighteen or over; and
(b) had reasonable ground for that belief.
(4) For the purposes of this section a person shall be taken to have shown
the matters specified in subsection (3) if—
(a) sufficient evidence of those matters is adduced to raise an issue
with respect to them; and
(b) the contrary is not proved beyond a reasonable doubt.”

[migwar]

Re: Blank firing guns

As i said previously, 2 tone BFG can be bought by over 18s, Non 2 tones require defence under VCRA

[MajorLandmark]

Re: Blank firing guns

There seems to be a lot of confusion over this topic. The main, if not only point that is necesary, is that the VCRA does not affect anything that is already covered under the firearms acts.

Since blank firing guns ARE covered in the firarms acts, the VCRA is not applicable, and thus the only thing that applies to their sale is that the buyer must be over 18.

This of course does assume that both the buyer and seller are in the UK.

Two-tone blank firers are completely unnecesary
Having membership to a skirmish site is also completely unnecesary in order to buy a blank firing weapon.
Blank firers in the UK MUST be top venting and unable to chamber live rounds, but this is nothing new.

It is also worth pointing out once again that UKARA really has nothing to do with the VCRA or the law. UKARA is just a volentery system to try and make the sale of airsoft replicas seem more responsible. You do not need to be UKARA registered to buy a RIF, you do however need a way to prove you have the specific defence. UKARA is the easiest way to do this, and often the only way many airsoft sellers will accept.