Rifs in public

[Jonny357]

right got a question regarding RIF's in public

a few friends and i are starting an Airsoft club and my university. Now, at the begining of term there is a big society mart, where all the soc's come have stalls to recruit new members with small attractions etc. now we thought it would be a a really good tactile way to get a few people interested by having a few rifs down on display on our stand.

obviously they would be unloaded, out of gas, no batteries in etc etc and we are all UKARA registered.

I have spoken to the university and they have given us full permission to display them on their premesis

I have also spoken to the local constabulary and have recieved a 'provisional' ok, but I am still waiting for the firearms department to call me as was promised.

now where do i stand on the legality of this? Is there anything i should be aware of?

and please, no preachers.

[MajorLandmark]

Re: Rifs in public

Legally speaking it is illegal to carry a rif in public, but on the grounds that you are on university premesis (private property), and you have their permission, there should be no problem. As long as your local constabulary have been informed, there should be no problem if they get any calls about the event.

[Caveira]

Re: Rifs in public

If it's within the Uni, then it's not on public property. The public are given limited licence to access the property, but that does not make it public land as defined in the various acts.

You've covered yourself with the Uni and the police, so you should be OK.

^ It is not illegal to carry a RIF in public, only to have it on display. How else could we get to games?

[MajorLandmark]

Re: Rifs in public

@ Robin - I was going to inlude all the stuff about "concealed" when carried in public, or "en route to a liscenced skirmish premesis" etc .. but that wasnt really the point I was making. Carrying one in plain sight in a public place = bad. Concealed or private property is fine, unless the police have reason to belive you have intent to break the law (which generally not the case, but it is something true of a number of items).

[Chandler]

Re: Rifs in public

sounds like a good idea mate! good luck! what uni?

Chandler

Oh and maybe get a TV Screen or a laptop playing through videos of airsoft!

just a thought!

Chandler

[Gaffa]

Re: Rifs in public

Well I phoned up the Armed Police about the law's concerning rifles in public...

There actually isn't a law about it (from what I was told, but can't trust the police here in Liverpool; no bias here though!). As long as the weapon is fully concealed, with no power source or ammunition drive connected to the weapon, then it should be fine. All firearms should be carried in cases or bags, bags which don't have the outlined shape of a rifle are preferred.

Seeing as I went on a bit too much there, in your situation you shouldn't have a problem, as long as you are able to PROVE the right's to demonstrate the weapons from both parties (university and the armed police) just in case things do go bottoms - up!

[MagicMayhem]

Re: Rifs in public

You may find you will be provided with a police escort, normally uniformed unarmed, incase anyone tries to steal one (as they could potentially be used in armed robberies.) The call you're waiting for is one of the ARU members to say they've arranged for a suitably trained escort. Hope this helps

[Fizzy]

Re: Rifs in public

You may find you will be provided with a police escort, normally uniformed unarmed, incase anyone tries to steal one (as they could potentially be used in armed robberies.) The call you're waiting for is one of the ARU members to say they've arranged for a suitably trained escort. Hope this helps

Guess I'll need a Police escort the next time I go to GZ then

[spetsnazdave87]

Re: Rifs in public

Um, we displayed RiFs at our uni fair last year and never had a problem. Police saw us there, didnt mind, and only problems were our communist union officials... Ive never heard of an ARU providing escorts to airsofters at any point though- personally Id rather they spent their time doing better things than babysitting us (and why ARU? they going to shoot the guy trying to steal the fake gun? real police would work just as well, but I suspect they care equally little).

[Fizzy]

Re: Rifs in public

I think someone's imagination got the better of him

Although, he didn't say ARU, he said unarmed

[sparrowhawk]

Re: Rifs in public

make sure you have written agreement from the uni to cover your back

[Caveira]

Re: Rifs in public

I'd suggest some form of chain or lock from the trigger guard to the table you're using, just to be on the safe side.

[jordan245]

Re: Rifs in public

yea

have to say i was at a airshow today with marines there, they had a lot of deactivated guns around all wired to the dsplay so you couldnt run off with one. it was marines though and i dnot know the case for normal folk
just remember that potentially a lot of people could be playing around with your pride and joy so make sure you take good care of them

[Jonny357]

Re: Rifs in public

thanks alot gents, its the UEA in norwich, i cant remember who asked but there you go.

no that is a good idea, il tie all of them to the display, just enough to be picked up etc

going to give the fuzz a call again tomorow just to chase them up

[doudsy]

Re: Rifs in public

Thats a cool as hell idea mate, and I agee with the above try and get some vids of airsoft up, like scoutthedoggies vids on youtube are good!

And obv make sure no one can twock out, someone pinched my gas mac 11 once, police treated it as a serious incident, and were at my house at about ten at night, not good..

but you should be ok, let us know how you get on?

Cheers