IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

[MrMcG]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

That is correct he has requested the exemption be removed

So while I admire your post as it has great detail and relevant points Shrewsbury has put in for the airsoft exemption to be removed.

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And I wonder if the OP did get his promised response from Shrewsbury on this.

[Chewybacka]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

Hello Shizbazki, I thank you for your seemingly diligent view on this. If this is correct, now wait for it, why hasn't Lord Shrewsbury mentioned this to the OP in his reply emails.
Now it is very possible an amendment has been added to the amendment, (yes this could get silly) in between this thread starting to when you investigated the amendment, Note : (not getting into a debate on this bit).

Also I totally agree that UKPAU are using this to add members, I had the impression from their look that they are seeking to overlord Airsoft in the UK, but that aside, always be scepticle of law makers.

[colinjallen]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

Sorry Shizbazki, you have got it completely wrong. Lord Shrewsbury's amendment would remove that exemption for Airsoft, making anything over 1j illegal. The bill as it stands is great for Airsoft; if the amendment is upheld, it will be a huge problem.

Maybe YOU should check the facts before posting.

[roryrocker13]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

Also guys where shiz said "send an angry letter to the lords hit list" NOOOOOO dont do that send a nice letter we need them on our side so that they get the exemption back! Please nobody send angry letters we are trying to get the lords to side with airsoft they are not the one who proposed this!

[Westie]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

The bill as it stands is great for Airsoft

Great for AEGs, not so great for HPA users or gas users.

[roryrocker13]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

I think he means its fine where it is at the minute. Not where shrewsburry wants is to go.

[roryrocker13]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

Congrats guys, shrewsburry withdrew his bill! no more worry!

[colinjallen]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

I have just had this confirmed by two members of the House of Lords.

[roryrocker13]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

So indescribably happy, the shear determination and teamwork of the airsoft community re assures me that if anything like this was to ever happen again we could pull through. Amazing outcome, and not a moment too soon, though it might be my last skirmish with my sniper tomorrow but lets hope the laws keep this was for years to come!

[Fizzy]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

Congrats guys, shrewsburry withdrew his bill! no more worry!

It's amazing what a polite and elequently worded email (and a couple of follow up phone calls) can do!

[W0lf]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

It's also frightening how someone who is so ill informed can put forward changes that effect a lot of people. Either way, job done. Nice one guys

[Ells]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

It's also frightening how someone who is so ill informed can put forward changes that effect a lot of people. Either way, job done. Nice one guys

Well that's why everyone voted leave right, to get rid of the unelected peers

[sparrowhawk]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

Forwarded

I think that this has been resolved.... Please read below

We have some great news for UK airsoft this morning. Lord Shrewsbury of the GTA has voluntarily decided to withdraw his amendment in regards to the airsoft exception from the Policing and Crime Bill 2015/16. This is the best possible outcome for UK airsoft. Lord Shrewsbury tells us he better understands airsoft now that he is properly informed, and that he is extremely keen to work with us and move forwards as a part of a unified firearms community. Please get word out and apply the brakes on this campaign, there’s nothing we need to counteract right now, the airsoft exception is not being questioned, and we certainly don’t want at this stage to create fruitless hassle for our valuable new ally. So to clarify, tweets emails and letters to Lords and Lord Shrewsbury should stop now.

When asked to contribute to this campaign the response from the UK airsoft was phenomenal. You should feel proud of the good work you’ve put in. There was a tiny element that was abusive and even threatening towards Lord Shrewsbury and needless to say, this is totally unacceptable behaviour and counterproductive, we condemn this behaviour unreservedly. Those individuals have been reported to the Police and we hope that such individuals are subject to the full weight of the law. But on the whole we saw an overwhelming positive response. I even saw some Mums writing to representatives to say tell them that airsoft had been a huge force for good in their children’s lives. I’d also like to make you aware that the 3 UK airsoft associations have done a colossal amount (most of it behind the scenes) to get us this far, and will continue to work for you over the coming months, so please keep supporting them in turn. Another group which gave us huge support was real firearms shooters, and grass roots shooting organisations such as Firearms UK. There wasn’t anything at stake for real firearms people and yet they leapt to the defence of airsofters. Bear that in mind should you see the firearms community facing hardship in the future.

Things are not finished with the PCB by any means. We still have concerns that, even with the exception in place, if you unwittingly import a slightly hot fully auto AEG, or have your HPA or GBB replicas are tested at maxed out pressure and heavy ammo you could face section 5 firearms charges (5 years mandatory sentence), which would be wildly disproportionate and unacceptable, even if it only ever happens to one of us.

So we ask everyone to keep up to date with this Bill for the next few months and keep discussing it.

If you are still receiving replies from MPs and Lords, please continue to post them on the group so we can ‘map the ground’. This group is very well informed and a useful asset in itself. https://www.facebook.com/groups/UKairsoftlobby/

Be sure to Like UK Airsoft Players Union to keep up to date https://www.facebook.com/UKAPU/ but more importantly players should join UKAPU, so we can keep doing what we do http://www.ukapu.org.uk/join/

Airsoft Trade Body will have its website online soon so get involved if you run an airsoft business and want to safeguard it http://www.atb.org.uk/

Retailer membership of old stalwart UKARA is of course available from their website http://www.ukara.org.uk/index.php

Please like, comment and share.

Kind Regards,
Matt Furey-King, Frank Bothamley & Tim Wyborn
On behalf of UKAPU, UKARA & ATB

[SRB]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

I never got the reply explaining his position however I will email him and thank him for his decision to withdraw the ammendment. As I feel it may be worth trying to keep him on side and maintain some form of communication in the long term hopefully if we can all foster relationships and better educate those about our hobby/sport we might stand a chance of being able to positively influence any further threats to airsoft which I have no doubt we will face again in future as we always seem to do, well done to all who have made a positive contribution in this matter.

I especially like the idea of contacting police/crime commissioners as they are actually elected which may make them more open to working with us rather than against us.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Shizbazki]

Re: IMPORTANT correspondence with MP'S and Lord's

I stand corrected! I looked at the main document but missed the amendments page (i blame that for being awake at 5am).

However i think the UKAPUs poster and webpage should have had links and references to the relevant documents and pages, even if they are difficult to read at least i would have had everything to make an informed decision.

Nonetheless we have managed to sway his Lordships opinion and that can only be a good thing for all of us.