Javier Brito of the Airsoft SWAT Team of Venezuela reports to us of a  Law, called the Ley Para La Prohibicion de Videojuegos Belicos y Jueguetes Belicos (Law for the Prohibition of Warlike Games and Toys), at the Venezuelan National Assembly. The Venezuelan Airsoft Community may have a breather for now as there will be an upcoming elections of the National Assembly on 26 September, but they are not taking any chances and they are working hard on having the law amended.

The situation of airsoft right now in Venezuela is that airsoft has no legal standing or recognition in the country. Since there is now law banning airsoft guns and airsoft games, the authorities have turned a blind eye to its growth. The Venezuelan Airsoft Community thrived, even underground, and they have painstakingly built relationships with local authorities to ensure that they are aware of airsoft and that players are responsible members of the community. With this, there are over 100 airsoft clubs and teams all over the country with an estimated headcount of over 5,000 enthusiasts, making Venezuela one of the brightest airsoft spots in Latin America.

The issue is always the same, as the law under the good intentions of protecting children from the toys depicting violence, However, the law is a "nuke" approach, banning everything that looks like a gun (including air guns and water guns, and perhaps nerf guns) affecting enthusiasts who only want to play the game responsibly and safely.

The Venezuelan Airsoft Community understand that there is a need to protect children, and what they request is to have the law amended giving due recognition to airsoft as for use for mature players, especially for those of 18 years and above. They are right now trying to register an Airsoft Federation for recognition by the Sports Department. But the Sports Department have their hands tied due to this law and the only thing that players would like to do is to have it amended exempting Airsoft Guns from this prohibition and restricting the purchase and use of airsoft guns to adults.

Now, what can you do to help the Venezuelan Airsoft Community? Their request is simple. They are asking airsoft organisations from around the world to send letters explaining that airsoft is a safe and legal sport in their own country and that you support the Venezuelan Airsoft Community's efforts to be recognised in the country. We hope that national and regional airsoft organisations such as the European Airsoft Association, UKAPU, the Chilean Airsoft Community, etc. read this, and send their support to our friends in Venezuela.

You can get in touch with the Venezuelans by following these links:

• http://swat-margarita.venezuela-foro.com/
• http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/AirsoftVenezuelacom/135891273092872?ref=ts
• http://www.airsoftvzla.com/fva/
• http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=42847165988

You can send a copy of your letter to Javier Brito so he can compile all letters of support.

We do not have a translation of the law. If someone can translate the law from Spanish into English and other languages, you can download a copy of the law below (you need to login to download the PDF file).