UKARA – What is UKARA?
UKARA stands for ‘United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association’ and is essentially a big database of all registered Airsoft Skirmishers in the UK, which allows Retailers to check an individual to see if they are eligible to purchase Replica Imitation Firearms (RIF). A UKARA Registration is recognised as a valid defence against purchasing an Airsoft Gun.
To obtain a UKARA registration an individual must visit an Airsoft Skirmish Site 3 times or more outside of 56 Days or 8 Weeks, at which point the site can stamp your paperwork which must be handed into a Retailer for entry onto the database. Please ensure you send the paperwork yourself, rather than the site, unfortunately, some sites batch process UKARA paperwork, taking the paperwork to the shop yourself will mean it is done there on the day.
If you do not wish to Skirmish or simply want to target shoot, then in order to obtain the weapon you must either have an alternate valid defence or have the weapon in Two-Tone colors. Any weapon we have can be Sprayed Two-Tone in order to meet these requirements.
What is an Airsoft defence?
In Airsoft terms, a buying Realistic Imitation Firearms (RIF) is essentially a way of proving that you have a valid reason for purchase. This is typically to stop Realistic Looking weapons from getting into the hands of people who want to use them for reasons other than their intended reason.
In 2006 new regulations can into effect put in place by the UK Government to restrict the sale of replica weapons to prevent them from falling into the hands of those who would use them for illegal purposes.
In the same year UKARA was formed in response to the ‘Violent Crime Reduction’ Act (VCRA), which specified that to purchase a realistic looking firearm the Individual must have a reason, or defence, for purchasing it. If you have a valid defence you can purchase a Realistic Airsoft Rifle, if not the weapon must be two toned.
Two tone means the weapon’s primary colour must be a non Military colour, such as Red, Green, Blue. The purchaser must also be over 18 years of age.
What are the Airsoft defences?
The following defences for purchasing an Airsoft Replica Gun are:
- The purchaser has a UKARA, or relevant defence.
- The purchaser is part of a Reenactment Society.
- The purchaser is a Museum Curator.
- The purchaser is a member of a TV / Film Production Team.
The Airsoft Law
All Airsoft guns that are sold which have been two-tone painted in a bright color are completely legal for sale to anyone over the age of 18. Two-tone guns must be painted to at least 50 percent (%) or more in a bright color to conform (Red, Green, Blue)
Anyone that wishes to buy any Black Airsoft gun or military coloured Airsoft gun known as a Real Imitation Firearm (RIF) must meet the following requirements:
- You must be registered with UKARA or have a valid defense, filmmaker, Re-enactor, or Valid defense details if you want to buy a black Airsoft gun or military colored Airsoft gun (RIF).
- You must be 18 years or older to purchase any Airsoft gun, Two-toned Airsoft gun, or any Black military colored Real Imitation Firearm (RIF)
You do not need a defense to buy a TWO-TONE airsoft gun. However, you must be over 18 years old you can choose any gun from our site and then select the Two-Tone option.
An adult must supervise any persons under 18 years of age. No gun should be carried in a public place unless in transit when it should be unloaded and placed in a bag. Guns must not be concealed on one’s person or pointed or fired at another human or animal. Safety glasses and other protective clothing should also be worn when operating the gun or viewing.
With the VCR bill introduced October 2007, the law as it stands in the UK: (7)A realistic imitation firearm brought into Great Britain shall be liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts. (1) A person is guilty of an offence if (d) he brings a realistic imitation firearm into Great Britain. (9)An offence under this section shall be punishable, on summary conviction (a) in England and Wales, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or with a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.
From 01/10/2007 the laws regarding airsoft guns have changed for the UK. Under the VCRA Bill 2006 it is illegal to buy or sell an airsoft gun to anyone under the age of 18 years. Under Section 36 of the V.C.R Act it is a criminal offence to alter the appearance or paint in a color of an imitation firearm to make it into a realistic firearm.
Other important information please note:
Your UKARA Membership number must be valid and will be checked against the UKARA membership database prior to order dispatch. If any member is not recognised upon checks any sale where an invalid defence is not recognised or expired the sale will be canceled and refunded.
It is to buyer’s responsibility to ensure that their UKARA Membership number and other information such as a registered address is kept up to date. We will not accept any invalid or expired UKARA Membership numbers. In addition, the details that are registered to the UKARA number holder must match the seller contact address provided at the point of order and we will not dispatch any order to a different address other than the UKARA
UKARA INFORMATION:
For further information please see: Legislation.gov.uk – Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, c.38, Part 2, Imitation Firearms, Section 37