A Can of Worms

Airsoft legislation changes from country to country, but a can of worms is being opened in the UK.

In 2006, the UK government published The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (Realistic Imitation Firearms). I suspect its main function was to curb crime, especially "armed" robberies where replica firearms were being used to intimidate victims. Unfortunately, these controls inadvertently affected a lot of people in the UK who use realistic imitation firearms (RIF) as an intrinsic part of their sport or pastime.

In a subsequent compromise, various amendments were made to try to accommodate law abiding citizens who like playing with toy guns as part of a legitimate hobby, such as war re-enactment fans and Airsofters.

The new Act effectively made it illegal to sell, manufacture or import RIF's in the UK. To avoid destroying peoples recreation and probably more likely, thriving tax-paying industries, it was agreed that there could be exceptions, exemptions or defences which would, in some circumstances allow RIFs to be sold to adults in the UK. One of these defences related to those involved in Airsofting and this was covered under the heading of "Permitted Activities". Manufacturers, importers and vendors of Airsoft RIF had to demonstrate that they were only supplying people aged 18 or more, who were genuinely engaged in Airsoft skirmishing.

The United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association (now more commonly known as UKARA) was formed to meet this need.

As they say on their website:

"UKARA is an association of UK Airsoft Retailers brought together to protect themselves from prosecution and enable a safe method of selling Realistic Imitation Firearms ( RiF's ) to the largest of the permitted purchaser groups in the UK, Airsoft Players.

The onus is on the seller of a RiF to make sure they only sell to a legitimate purchaser, prosecution could result as a failure to do this.

The Governments desire was to have a third party system in place which would track sales to legitimate purchasers of RiF's, checking their eligibility".

This system has now been in place for nearly 8 years. UKARA constructed their own scheme where a set of rules were created by them to illustrate to the government that they were only supplying people genuinely engaged in Airsoft skirmishing.  Most UK airsofters are familiar with these rules although there is a lot of confusion and urban myths amongst players and people often talk about UKARA licences, memberships and so on. In reality, if players meet the desired criteria, they are entered on to a UKARA database. Retailers wishing to supply these individuals can check the database to confirm the buyer meets the criteria and this furnishes the retailer with a defence against prosecution from the VCRA. The hoops that players have to go through are largely defined by UKARA.


As UKARA is effectively maintained by the trade to protect the trade, there has been some criticism of the scheme, particularly by smaller retailers who felt that their interests weren't best served by the current arrangement.

Now the British Airsoft Club (BAC), a registered non-profit making company has been registered in the UK and they are creating an alternative system which will directly compete with the existing UKARA scheme.

There are some key differences in the two schemes. UKARA charge the retailer and player registration is free. My understanding is that the cost to the retailer has prevented some smaller retailers being able to afford to join. Although player registration is free, some skirmish sites charge the player to administer their application for UKARA registration on the basis that it takes them time and effort to complete their part of the paperwork. Also, it usually means that new players have to play at least three games at that site to reach registration status.

BAC provide their defence scheme free to the retailer, but make a charge of £6.99 per annum to the player. Logically, this would encourage more retailers to join (potentially opening up competition). It also allows players to use different sites in order to qualify for the three game status. This reduces the three game hold that sites have over new players wishing to get to a position where they can purchase their own RIF.

At the the time of writing, BAC have just launched their scheme at the British Airsoft Show and are busy signing up retailers and sites.

With this scheme, the player has to record where and when they have just played, on their own private page using the online BAC database. Their attendance stored in this game log is then confirmed by the site who receive an automatic e-mailed link requesting their confirmation that the player was there. Once the resultant record shows at least three games played in no less than 2 months, it forms a time proven defence for any retailer looking at the database.

Another scheme is also being discussed, currently called Project Luther. This is a scheme set up by a group of Airsofters who are attempting to create yet another alternative which would be controlled by the players rather than a retailer interest. The details of the scheme are still crystallising although it would appear to be modelled on a more techical solution than the others and which might offer some form of digital sign-in/recognition for players at sites, speeding up registration for player and site alike.
Again it is intended that the player would bear the cost and a yearly fee of £5.00 has been talked about.

Another issue that is often ignored concerns the 1968 Firearms Act which states that it is an offence to be in a public place with a RIF without a valid excuse. All of the Airsofters that I've met are very responsible and only take their RIF outside their homes when they are going to a game. Even then, the RIFs are stored in their original boxes or special gun cases, so as not to alarm anybody.

However, it is always a concern for me when I am driving to or from a game with my RIF in their gun cases in the boot of the car. What if I get stopped by a police officer for a routine motoring matter or I break down on the motorway and a police car stops. Will I get the opportunity to fully explain before they look inside the case ? will they overreact or panic - will I end up at the police station for the RIFs to be examined by firearms officers before they are satisfied they are only toys ?

In February 2012, a member of a historic re-enactment society foolishly left a replica machine gun on the back seat of his parked car. When he returned to his vehicle, he was surrounded by armed police and arrested. A passer-by had seen the RIF and called the police thinking it was real.

Re-Enactment Enthusiast Arrested Over RIFs

As you can see, he ended up in court because he didn't want his valuable RIF destroyed.

I carry a membership card from my regular Airsoft site which is a laminated photo ID card with a holographic seal like a credit card. Although I imagine these could be easily faked if somebody could be bothered to go to such lengths, it at least adds credence to my verbal explanation that I am a member of an Airsoft club and that the realistic looking guns they are about to find in my car boot are only toys that fire 6mm plastic balls at about half the muzzle velocity of the average air rifle.

It occurs to me that apart from a defence being used as a historical game record to protect retailers, it also has a very valid use as a defence for the player, to prove that they have a valid excuse to transport their RIFs in public.

This point has been made to both BAC and Project Luther.

Another viewpoint, from the police directly this time:

The Thames Valley Police on Replica Guns


So, has UKARA had its day or is there room for three or more competing schemes providing a defence ?

Only time will tell....

Is It Time for an MP7 ?

UK MOD POLICE WITH MP7

I freely admit to being something of an H&K fan, having admired them from the inception of their MP5 with its now famous and iconic cocking lever "slap". I revel in being able to say Heckler & "Cock" which is how the Germans pronounce Koch, when my American colleagues always defer to a more polite "Coke".

The MP5 is an old sub-machine gun now - it entered service in the 1960's. The fact that it is still used all over the world, fifty years later, says a lot for its classic design.

I love Personal Defence Weapons or PDWs as they are called.

Small, light and deadly.

You can carry them on a sling while you run, climb or fast rope. Yet when you need them, they are easily deployed and can be fired pistol-like or from the shoulder like an assault rifle. They are ideal for close protection work and can be easily carried in motorcades.

The MP7 came into being around 2001 and immediately went head to head with the Belgian FN P90. The problem in 21st century conflicts is the widespread use of body armour -  the 9mm Parabellum round used by the MP5 and most nine-mil pistols, struggles against body armour.

The MP7 was introduced to use a 4.6mm supersonic round which will penetrate the specimen NATO CRISAT armour target consisting of 1.6mm Titanium plate supplemented by 20 layers of Kevlar. This target is intended to replicate the personal protection used by former Warsaw Pact countries. The competitor to this is the FN Herstal 5.7x28mm cartridge and there has been exhaustive tests to examine the comparative merits of these two unusually sized calibres. The German military who not unsurprisingly, are an avid user of the MP7, use the armour piercing DM11 Penetrator round. This has a 2g copper plated solid steel bullet which can penetrate CRISAT at 200m or 9mm thick mild steel plate at 50m.

Personally, I'm not a great fan of bullpup rifles, so the P90 doesn't curry favour with me, but I absolutely love the MP7 series.

The improved MP7A1 came in 2003. It can take an extended 40-round mag, is incredibly light (1.9Kg) and feels more like a large handgun - the 4.6mm ammo is said to also reduce recoil compared to larger calibres. The charging handle is at the rear, there is a two part split trigger safety not dissimilar to that used in the Glock pistol and there is plenty of rail space for furniture like the standard H&K Hensoldt RSA-S Reflex Sight, laser or a tactical torch. Unlike the 20th century MP5, the 21st century MP7A1 is mostly polymer and has a three position extendable buttstock and flip up sights which can be used either down or in the raised position.
The real steel weapon is not quiet in operation, especially when used with the supersonic ammunition, so it is often seen with the H&K suppressor.

It is in use with the US SOCOM, the UK MOD police who protect military assets (MP7-SF Semi Auto version), Norwegian Special Forces, the German GSG9, French Special Forces and the police and SWAT teams of about 6 or 7 other countries.

In Airsoft, the two market leaders are Tokyo Marui and KWA with their gas blowback replicas. At this years SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas, VFC Vega Force launched their own GBB entrant and this is already appearing in the UK retailers.

Cost £265 - £350 in the UK depending on maker

Going Out With a BANG - Part 2

In Part 1 we discussed Airsoft Pyrotechnics. To add realism to Airsoft games, these provide a weaker version of the "real steel" smoke grenades and flash-bangs, that are used in real life situations by law enforcement agencies and the military.  Like fireworks, these are activated by an igniter of some description and emit smoke, light or bangs until the chemical mix is used up and they burn themselves out.

In this post, we are going to cover the subject of Reusable Grenades.

These are grenades which go bang (rather than the smoke or flash type) and as the name suggests, they can be used again and again. Their main advantage is a lower "through-life-cost", although some initial investment is required to buy the hardware.

There are many types and variations but they all commonly use some form of explosive cartridge or propellant, loaded in the grenade, to create the bang.

Some players feel that reusables are also more realistic-looking than their cheaper pyro counterparts.
The main disadvantage is that once your grenade has gone bang and you have achieved your desired "kill", you have to go and retrieve the unit. Sometimes this isn't easy in the heat of battle and occasionally they do go missing or get lost in the undergrowth. If you are careless, the high replacement costs do not necessarily make them a cheaper option.

For the purpose of this comparison, we are going to focus on grenades requiring an initial outlay of less than £100.

Reusable grenades can be powered by gas (usually Carbon Dioxide or Propane) or primer cartridges.

In terms of detonation, some work on impact (by striking a hard surface such as a wall or floor inside a building) and some work on a timer basis. It should be noted that the impact type often need a hard surface, so they aren't always a good choice if you intend to play on grass, the forest floor or soft indoor flooring such as carpet tiles or crash mats.

This blog post will also concern itself primarily with grenades that you throw. There are also grenade launchers and mines which although related, are a slightly different subject and probably best left for another day.


PART 2

OHSHIBOOM - IMPACT BFG

The OSB Shock is a relatively new Blank Firing Grenade or BFG, designed by a couple of British Airsofters.
This is an impact grenade and so has to strike a solid surface. It can work with either shotgun blanks or 9mm blanks and is available in a wide range of colours.

The head is designed to wobble on its mounting and it can be a bit fiddly to get the safety pin in. The makers suggest using a coin or expended blank to help.

Cost: £65 - £78

TRMR - IMPACT BFG

The TRMR or Tactical Reloadable Maritime Ready is a real steel device designed for use by maritime boarding crews countering piracy and other bad guys at sea. It can withstand being submersed in salt water and can carry a range of munitions from the real stuff down to Airsoft blanks. The UK supplier, JD Airsoft offers shotgun primers for airsofting use.

Although still an impact grenade, intended to be thrown on to a ships deck,  one of the advantages of this design is its simplicity. There are no pins to lose or spoons to worry about. The unit opens into two parts, allowing the blank to be inserted. It is then armed by just twisting the two halves. Reloading is therefore easy and rapid re-deployment can be achieved.

Some users have stated that it's easy to get the material of your gloves or skin caught between the two halves if you are a bit enthusiastic with the twisting, so care is needed. However, on the plus side, they say the mil-spec quality provides a solid, well engineered product.

Cost: £80

THUNDER-B TIMED GRENADE

These grenades use CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) 12g cylinders and they work on a timed basis once the pin is pulled. These are more cost effective than the BFGs and they operate like a real grenade in that you have to pull the safety pin, release the spoon and throw them. They usually detonate about 3-5 seconds after release.
As shown in the photograph above, you can buy them as a kit comprising of one mechanism (one striker head, cylinder cover and pin) with 12 disposable plastic outer shells. The mechanism is reusable but you will destroy the plastic shell  with each detonation and have to replace the CO2 cylinder each time.

The Thunder-B grenades are very loud (130dB) and you will need to be very careful of damaging peoples hearing if you plan to do CQB in confined spaces with them - they are possibly better for open air games. I have also heard comments about them being a little temperamental.

Cost: £40 for 12 plus approx £7 for the 12 x CO2 cylinders

TORNADO IMPACT GRENADE

These are powered by the same type of gas as you would use for a GBB Airsoft weapon and scatter around 200 BB's at your enemies with each detonation. They are reusable and you just have to charge them with gas each time and load the BB's.
These aren't very loud when compared to the previous type of reviewed grenades but the BB's disperse typically around 5m from the detonation point. If you believe the reviews you see on You Tube,  they should also explode on softer surfaces like grass . The trigger mechanism takes a little time to reset and the process is a bit finicky so this is probably best done in the safe zone rather than the field. You need to ensure you don't lose the pin and keep them scrupulously clean for reliability.

Cost: £80

Note: There is also a timed version at the same cost.

SWAT BFGX IMPACT GRENADE

This is another BFG. Its very simple to load - you simply unscrew the top, insert the blank (9mm), replace the cap, take the pin out and throw !!

This SWAT model is made in the UK and needs a drop of 1-3 feet on to a hard surface. Once discharged, the pin is easy to get back into the cannister. The BFGX needs to be struck on the nose end and I've heard reports of these not going off if they land on their side. It's also worth attaching the removable pin to a lanyard connected to your body (not supplied with the unit) - this will avoid you losing the pin.
An ejection tool is usually included with each BFGX to help you get the spent cartridge out.
Don't let these get wet or lubricate them as this will affect reliability.

Cost: £80



NOTES:

1. Unless it expressly says so, the costs shown above excludes the gas or blanks required for detonations.

2. Costs are taken from various UK retailers at time of writing and are designed to provide a comparative guide. You may pay more; you may pay less.

3. Reusable grenades are quite expensive compared to primary devices. Its worth sticking reflective tape on the outside to make them easier to recover in low light and dark corners (if you use a torch, the light should reflect off the tape !!).

4. Timed grenades aren't much use if the enemy can see you about to throw it - they will try to run - use an impact grenade instead !!
It's better to use the timed type if they do not see you. As the timed type don't need to be dropped on to a hard surface, you can stealthily roll them into a room and catch everybody unprepared.

5. Do check with your Airsoft site to see if you will be allowed to use specific grenade products. It can vary.

6. Give some thought as to how you will use your grenade - will you always have two hands available ?
If your Airsoft rifle or SMG is not attached to you on a sling, will you be able to activate your chosen grenade type, one handed ??

After reading this brief description of the different types, its worth drawing up a short list of the models that appeal most and then watch all the You Tube reviews online in order to hone your opinion, before placing orders.

Happy Hunting..

Going Out With a BANG - Part 1

Pyrotechnics (or Pyro's as they are affectionately known by "softers" everywhere) is an interesting facet of the hobby. Although not directly connected to the Airsoft weapons themselves, they are used to enhance game-play and the Airsofting experience.

In the real military world, explosives generally take the form of a measured explosive charge. Many explosives are pretty inert until they are matched with something like another chemical substance or a form of detonator.

In Airsoft we have a more basic range of non-lethal things that fizzle or go bang. Prior to Airsoft, I thought of the word pyrotechnics as being primarily related to fireworks, distress flares or the things that special effects guys use on movies or on stage.

The Airsoft industry has developed and adapted a range of pyro's to meet the growing need for realism.

These range from smoke grenades, through to thunderflashes that go bang and on to fragment grenades that spray BB's or dried peas around them when they explode.

The main conundrum with these is juggling the need for realism and effect with the requirement to be safe. Airsoft is about fun - there is no point having pyro's that are so powerful, they pepper you with BB wounds like buckshot or make your ears bleed with the percussion.

Here is a guide that I made for my own education which sifts and sorts the various types of Airsoft pyrotechnics available in the UK where I live and play Airsoft.

Part 1 covers pyrotechnic devices which are designed to be used only once.
Part 2 which will come at a later date, will cover devices which can be reloaded and reused.

PART 1

DISTRACTION

Flash Pyro's make a bang and sometimes a little light. Many sites count these as having the same effect as a grenade and will impose an imaginary kill radius. For example, you might consider yourself hit if one of these goes off 5m or less from you.

Examples:
Mk5 Thunderflash - loud bang (typical 120dB at 10m range) using a friction igniter
Flash Grenade - white flash and  loud bang (typical 120dB at 5m range) using a friction igniter

Typical cost £2-3 each

FRAG GRENADES

Sometimes also called a Ball Grenade, these explode and shower clay BB's or dried peas all around.
Some products are bio-degradable.  Grenades tend to use either a friction igniter where you have to strike the inside of the cap (striker plate) across the fuse on the top of the main body or a ring pull igniter.
Typical range of 4-5m. Most sites will impose a kill radius of 5m, irrespective of whether you get "fragged".

Typical cost £3-4 each

THERMOBARIC

By definition, "real steel" Thermobaric devices typically use the surrounding Oxygen to "stoke" the chemical reaction. Thermo = Heat; Baric = Pressure. In Airsoft these low power versions are typically used indoors in a CQB environment as they produce more of a thud, but they have the benefit of a bright flash.
Apparently, they're ideal for room clearing. The igniter is also of the friction type.
Some manufacturers also produce a multi-bang version which provides the initial thud and flash followed by some thunderflash bangs which are similar to a Mk5 response.

Typical cost £3.50 each or £5.50 for the multi-bang.

MULTI-BURST

These are more expensive than the Thermobaric devices mentioned above, but they have a realistic spoon pull, just like the real thing and provide smoke, flash and multiple bangs. Again these are primarily designed for room clearing in CQB. They are about £12 each, so more for the hard-core or wealthy Airsofter.
Just to confuse the issue, it is also possible to buy the standard Thermobaric in this cannister type (i.e. with the spoon) but the cost is still over £10 each.

Don't confuse multi-burst and multi-bang.

SMOKE GRENADE

Smoke Grenades are designed to provide cover and effectively smoke screen you from the other team. Some sites also use the coloured ones as poison gas and if you come into contact with the smoke as it drifts downwind, it can be regarded as a hit. Alternatively and to save confusion, some sites just use a kill radius to define a poison gas hit.

There are different colours, intensities and ignition types available on the market.

It is often crucial to make smoke quickly, especially in the heat of battle when an assault or escape is needed and different models have variable make smoke delays and different burn duration times.

Be aware that smokes can be single or twin sided. The single side ones vent smoke from just one end while the twin side devices vent smoke from both ends. Normally the twins start smoking quicker and are more intense in their smoke generation.

You can also buy burst smokes which erupt smoke very quickly and some high output ones which are designed to bridge the gap between a standard smoke and the real military ones (e.g Enola Gaye EG18).

As well as the standard friction cap igniters, It's also possible to get wire or ring pull igniters.

Typical cost £2-5



On July 4th 2013, CE marking came into force and now any new pyrotechnic product has to be CE marked before it can be sold in Europe

CE marking means that samples of the product have to be physically tested by an independent body who declare that it:

* Conforms with the declared design
* Contains only chemicals that have been declared in the design
* Is safe
* Functions correctly and safely even after being submitted to thermal and mechanical stresses.

Some manufacturers and importers have been obliged to modify their products to get them CE approved.

From a safety point of view, it could be a good idea to check for a CE mark before you buy, especially if the price seems cheaper than expected. Also, different skirmish sites have different rules for pyro's, so always check they will allow you to use your chosen device before you waste your money.

COMING UP in Part 2 - Reusable Grenades

Lone Survivor Movie Review - Potential Spoiler Alert

No guessing how this movie turns out - it's all in the title. It's the getting there that is the interesting part.

This film is based on a real mission which occurred in Afghanistan in June 2005.

The lone survivor, Marcus Luttrell wrote a book about his experiences in 2007 and this has now been made the subject of the film, released in UK cinemas on 31st January 2014.

The essence of the story is that a team of four US Navy SEALs were fast-roped into Afghanistan from an MH-47 to form an OP and provide intelligence on the strength, location and movements of a group of Anti-Coalition Militia led by their leader Ahmad Shah.

Compromised by a goat herder stumbling over their LUP, they were forced to make the decision to terminate the compromise for their own safety or abort the mission and try to make it out to the exfil position, knowing they would most likely be pursued by the people they were there to watch.

The film Lone Survivor is basically the story of the insertion, compromise, the fire-fight that ensued and how Luttrell became the only survivor, being rescued by US forces some five days later.

On the surface, its a good film for military buffs and lovers of war films, but there is also a secondary human story there too. With a lot of controversy about the accuracy of the film compared to the real mission, it's important to remember that the movie is only based on reality - its not a documentary.
It seems that Hollywood has added and embellished slightly, as it is often prone to do in the interests of entertainment.

Mark Wahlberg plays Luttrell and does a sterling job, although I don't think they look much alike. Comparing the photos of the other guys in the team and the actors portraying them, I think casting otherwise did a pretty good job.

The real story of Operation Red Wings is a much longer and more complex story and I feel that the movie makers have focussed on just a part of the whole story and simplified the tactical nature of the mission to make it more graspable in the 2-hour run time. I understand that the four-man insertion formed only the first phase of what was intended to be a five-phase mission.

Filmed in New Mexico, the photography in Lone Survivor is superb. The mountains and coniferous woodland representing Sawtalo Sar in the "Stan" are beautiful and the camera work is excellent.

I know of people watching this film in advance of the official release date, but in my opinion, it was worth waiting for it to come to the big screen. I don't believe you would get the same full effect watching it on a computer.

As I say, there are some disputed discrepancies. One of these relates to the number of enemy killed by the SEALs. Depending on what you read, the number of the enemy facing them fluctuates from about 35 up to 200. In the film, its certainly clear that an AK47 with iron sights is no match for the US M4 SOPMOD weapons with their zeroed optics and grenade launchers.
I understand that the director, Peter Berg even studied autopsy reports, such was his desire for accuracy.
However, watching the SEAL team being hit by repeated enemy fire, it's hard to accept that the human body could take this kind of punishment from 7.62mm AK rounds before succumbing - I never saw any evidence of body armour. The fire-fight sequence has to be the longest I've ever seen in a movie. The sequence where they slide down the rock face, thudding into things, had me squirming on my seat. The contact engagements had me wanting to be there, helping them to return fire, such was the quality of the action.

The top lying message in the film is that there are bad people in this world and good people often have to put their lives on the line so that the masses like you and I can live in peace and safely do everyday things like write movie reviews for our blogs.

It's a story about people making humanistic decisions even though it would be easier and safer to take the path of least resistance.

Were the members of the SEAL team brave ? - yes I think so.

All four SEALs were decorated for their actions by the US Navy. The leader Lt Mike Murphy who it is believed made the mission changing decision and who it is said, sacrificed himself to get a much needed satellite mayday call out, posthumously received the Medal of Honor. Watching the film, I wonder if I would have done the same as them - would I have taken the easier way out when coming face to face with a goat herder who would give my position away to a large group of armed people wishing to kill me ?

You could argue that special forces know the risk of these missions, but what is tragic, is the loss of life involved in trying to rescue them. Sixteen more servicemen were killed when their rescue helicopter crashed trying to get to them.

Although the reality and the film plot seem to diverge quite a lot in the way that Luttrell came to be rescued, what is binding is that he was undoubtedly saved by Afghan villagers who lived by the Pashtunwali code.
Invoking Nanawatai, the villagers protected him from the group that had killed the other SEALs until he could be rescued by US Forces. Mohammed Gulab, the Afghan who helped Luttrell has arguably paid the greatest price of all, with a family member killed, threats of violence and having to be relocated in Afghanistan for his own safety. Will he, his wife and their ten children ever be able to stop looking over their shoulder for doing what they felt was the right thing ?
Luttrell has brought Gulab to the states to visit his home and he has repeatedly tried to get him a green card.

Ahmed Shah was killed 3 years later in a shoot-out with Pakistani police.

Lone Survivor is worth watching. It's a good film on a number of levels and is thought provoking. Just don't expect a gung-ho feel-good movie. I came out of the cinema admiring the bravery of those concerned but nevertheless feeling sad about the waste of human life that war involves.

I don't like War - I Love it

Courtesy Fox35

I seem to keep hearing from young aspiring Airsoft players who say their parents don't like guns and don't want them to play Airsoft.

Far be it for me to interfere with how people bring up their children, but it seems a shame.

It's a shame that some parents see no problem in spending hundreds of Pounds on buying their offspring gaming consoles together with games that are designed for adults (rated 18+) and then let them play those games for hours on end, until they emerge from their bedroom looking pale and withdrawn, like vampires in search of a snack.

When you consider that there is a growing child obesity problem in many countries, it seems a shame that parents won't allow their children to play a healthy, harmless sport.

In European countries where real firearms are generally speaking, carefully controlled, is playing Airsoft really liable to turn your child into a blood crazed killer ?

Having played some battle simulation games like Battlefield and Call of Duty, it occurs to me that Airsoft, with its 6mm plastic BB projectiles and gentlemanly rules is far more civilised than many sports. The only blood I see on an Airsoft field is the occasional clipping from a BB when a player fails to cover their exposed skin sufficiently. Actually, I've seen more blood on a Rugby field after a match.

So, what do parents really object to ?

I suspect that they see the Realistic Imitation Firearms (R.I.F) that are used and the detailed cosmetic appearance worries them. Perhaps they fail to understand that these are electric toys which have a muzzle velocity only about half as powerful as an air rifle and that the hobby is strictly controlled by safety rules ?
Perhaps they don't realise that running around chasing your fellow players and shouting all afternoon, powered by Adrenaline, is actually quite good for you. Certainly better than slouching in an armchair all day gripping a game controller and exercising just your finger and thumb in a virtual on-line death match with another child doing the same thing in another country.
Perhaps they don't realise that talking face to face with a wide range of other players of all ages and learning to be socially adept whilst being taught sportsmanship and strategy is also quite beneficial for a developing young person ?

Apparently, some parents object to having to run their children to these events as they have busy lives. Some cannot afford the £20-30 that it costs for a days entertainment. Certainly in the UK where I live (and where my Airsoft experience is limited to), there is usually an Airsoft site within 10 miles or so. It rarely involves a long drive to get to the local site. £20-30 is a lot of money if you don't have it, but it's not bad for an entertainment medium that keeps little Johnny or Jane occupied for eight hours and ensures they will probably sleep soundly when they get home. You can buy them their own two tone Airsoft weapon for less than half of a PS4 console and the cost difference will probably allow them to finance quite a few skirmishes at an Airsoft site.

Of course, in the real world, many Airsoft playing children want to play Airsoft on Sunday and war simulation computer games for the rest of the week to hone their reflexive skills.

I wonder what these children who complain about their parents not playing ball, would say if they got this ultimatum from their elders:
Airsoft or a Gaming Console - you can't have both ?

Perhaps the Airsoft industry in the UK should make more of a concerted effort to highlight the benefits to young people of playing outdoor games like Airsoft. Perhaps we need some role models playing - sports personalities or a pop star or two ?

When I was a child, we played "war" regularly in the local park. We ran around holding imaginary tommy guns and making noises like sheep on artificial stimulants to mimic the sound of staccato gunfire. Our friends would fall and roll around, dying dramatically, aping the old black and white war films we saw on the TV.  Passers-by ignored us for what we were - innocent children playing a simplified and sanitised game of goodies and baddies. War without politics. Mind you, playing outside without adult supervision to protect us against the nasties of the world, was the norm at that time.

These days, perhaps Airsoft is one of the few opportunities that allows modern children to enjoy that kind of freedom in play ??