It's pretty simple.
If it could be mistaken for a genuine firearm by a reasonable member of the public, then it's illegal to sell it to someone who is not over 18 and a member of a legitimate, insured, Airsoft skirmish site, re-enactment society or theatre/production company.
It's also illegal to import, or manufacture such an item by either assembling parts, or spraying a 2-tone/clear I.F. in realistic colours.
You can't buy either without a defence. PropStore have it wrong if they say you can buy the P11 without it.Thanks for that. My confusion can be highlighted by these items below. I can buy this:
Lara Crofts (Angelina Jolie) Stunt P11 Gadget Gun
but not this:
Blade (Wesley Snipes) Stunt Pistol
Does one look any more/less realistic than the other?
The VCRA had wider-reaching implications that just replica guns. The prop and airsoft market just got caught up in it.I love how laws have stupid names that sometimes have no relation to what they actually do. I mean, how "violent" can the crime be if you use a plastic or rubber firearm reproduction?
Absolutely.The law is absurd.
You can still be charged and taken to court as it's still illegal to manufacture even if you're a skirmisher/re-enactor etc etc. The 'defence' gives you just that; a defence which you can use in a court of law if charged. In reality, the Police or CPS should realise you'd get off with the charge and so wouldn't waste time sending you to court.TECHNICALLY, you may mot manufacture a RIF, but if you can prove that you're a legitimate skirmisher/re-enactor then you won't be charged either.
So if I'm a firearm manufacturer, instead of scrapping defects I should deactivate it and sell it regular or higher price for display purposes?
After reading all the comments on this topic, i cant understand how i was able to import from the US, a fully painted solid resin colt 1911. Which i checed with customs house and the fire arms licenseing, both told me the same thing. I was able to import because it was made off solid resin and didn't have any moving parts.
Time we had an RPF costume group so we can all buy any guns we want
Sounds like a law here in Florida: You get a minimum sentence of ten years if you have a firearm while you are committing a crime. Twenty if you shoot it.I'm pretty sure the act is there purely for the numpties that hold up banks with plastic toy guns and the collectors will be left alone.
It's actually a poorly thought out law as far as guns are concerned - a lot of airsoft replicas these days cost twice / three times the price of an under the counter real shooter or even a deac so why would Mr Crim even bother?Sounds like a law here in Florida: You get a minimum sentence of ten years if you have a firearm while you are committing a crime. Twenty if you shoot it.
@ Scapey:
So if, after reading ALL of this (I have to say) fascinating thread, if I go out into my shed and make a screen accurate E11 Stormtrooper Blaster and spray it all up black etc. or a bang on copy of Ripley's flame thrower machine gun from Aliens, purely for display in my home in a locked cabinet, I am liable to be prosecuted? Have I fully understood what the ridiculous state of the law is in the U.K. at present, or am I a thicky that has totally missed the point here? :lol