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Airsoft International Volume 3 Issue 5 Now Out

OptimusPrime

Head now to your retailers, Airsoft International Magazine Volume 3 Issue 5 is now available for you to purchase..."***Its time to get registered*** As the VRC Bill turns into the VRC Act on the 1st October it is vital here in the UK for Airsoft Skirmishers (you) to register at your Skirmish Site.

 

Skirmish Sites are at the heart of the scheme, as only through membership of a legitimate Airsoft site can an individual demonstrate their entitlement to the specific defence granted to Airsoft Skirmishers.

 

The Government has determined that a 'legitimate' site is one that holds third-party insurance.  This is important, because only members of a site or club with valid third party insurance can claim to be "Airsoft skirmishers" for the purposes of the defence.

 

It is therefore vital that sites ensure that they have up-to-date third-party liability insurance before the 1st of October if they wish to register their members.

 

It is expected that in order to differentiate the casually interested from the committed Airsoft skirmisher, that sites will maintain a minimum standard with regards to new players.  UKARA will require that any site applying to register under the scheme should ensure that a new entrant into Airsoft should play a minimum of three times in a period of not less that two months before being offered membership of a site.  This is important, as the main objective of the VCRA is to reduce the supply of imitation firearms within the UK, and the defence granted is aimed at assisting only legitimate skirmishers. We must there be, and be seen to be, serious about our pastime and not willing to grant membership on a whim.

 

UKARA suggests that sites when granting membership in relation to the VCRA follow a standard form. They should record and obtain the following information.

 

  • Name
  • Address
  • Date of Birth
  • A Passport photo
  • A copy of the players Passport/ Driving Licence
  • A copy of a utility bill.

 

Site membership cards should ideally contain a Passport sized photo.

 

Membership Cards

 

A universal form of membership card was discussed with the Home Office and there is much to recommend it. Given the timescales we now find ourselves working to, it has proved impractical to implement such a system in time for the Act coming fully into force. This does not prevent continuing work being done to achieve this, and the Government will no doubt be sympathetic to the difficulties involved in introducing large-scale ID card schemes… Some sites are considering or implementing commercially available card schemes and these may well become more widespread over time. Ultimately it is a decision for individual sites to decide whether or not they wish to pursue this at present.

 

To read the full announcement turn to pages 42,43.

 

I cant stress how important this is site operators should be thing about this right now, its simple if you don’t have Third-Party Insurance and you members are not registered your site wont be recognised by the government and your players wont be able to register, which quite simply means that your exciting members wont be able to buy any new Airsoft hardware after the 1st October and I would suggest that after a short time your players will be forced to migrate to a site that will be able to offer them a registration and bank goes your business.

 

If your in doubt and need some help and advise here’s a few useful contacts:

 

UKARAwww.ukara.org.uk
UKASGBwww.ukasgb.org.uk
ABAwww.associationofbritishairsoft.org

 

Paul"

 


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