Airsoft NZ + International > Airsoft Overseas
I'd like to help
Alex:
Hello everyone. My name is Alex and I'm an Aussie expat living in Italy. I'm counting on coming back home in the near future, and I'd love to see airsoft accepted and practiced as a free sport. For this reason I'm writing to see if, maybe, together we can think of something to make this happen.
Airsofting in Italy is allowed but is also quite restricted. Weapons must be less than 1 joule (about 350 fps with 0.2 BBs), must have 3 cm of red tip, must be carried in their original boxes etc...
But that's not what I want to go into now.
As far as I've been able to gather airsoft is, at the moment, forbidden because of its resemblance to war, from the equipment it uses, to the uniforms, from the tactics to the overall spirit.
If I'm not wrong paintball is allowed and that is because it has "coloured" itself with a "sporty" image (motocross like jumpsuits, gas guns that are definitely not mistakable for real weapons, a court for games, etc...).
(Please understand, I've gotten into airsoft only very recently and I'm not sure where the situation stands at the moment in Australia, so please forgive me if I'm going into obvious issues).
My thought is that we should submit a complete, and fully self-regulated, set of rules according to which airsofting should be perfectly legal.
I'll tell you what we are trying to do here in Italy:
1) airsoft guns can be purchased only by adults (here at least 18). Minors can play airsoft but only under adult supervision and cannot purchase guns by themselves.
(We have a very big problem of small kids who don't realise what they've got in their hands and shoot themselves in the face or even at people walking down the street from their house window - this sounds stupid but it happens awfully often and this does not give airsoft a good reputation, as you may imagine).
2) airsoft can be practiced only in areas where the chances of intrusion by non-airsofting people are limited. Here we normally play in wooded areas or old factories around which we post signs warning about what is happening within the confines of that space and with instructions for passerbys on how to behave in case they meet someone in camo, helmet and a realistic looking gun!
3) the local police force must always be informed of all details concerning the game: where, when, how many people (so that any distressed phone calls arriving warning about military operations going on in the backyard can be immediately dispelled).
4) If the terrain on which we wish to play is privately owned, then the owner's permission must be obtained in written form and submitted, in copy, to the police force
5) we also thought of actually issuing a permit for holding and using airsoft guns; this is not yet required here in Italy, but it would allow to keep track of those who own airsoft guns (and not real fire-arms). This would of course be no where as near as difficult to obtain a real gun. Simply a matter of declaring that yes I bought an airsoft gun, yes I am part of a club, yes I intend to use mu gun responsibly and in compliane with the law, blah blah blah. This could be simply an online form that you fill in at the store you buy the gun from and which ends up immediately in a dedicated database.
6) same goes if the terrain is owned by the municipality
7) Full protection must be worn at all times (camo uniform, boots, gloves, knee and elbow pads, scarf - for the nasty neck shots - goggles and face mask). those without adequate protection cannot play
There are tons of other things to talk about.
For example, we could push the cultural aspect of the whole thing. War is hell, right? Well, I say that we should remember it. The answer we use over here is re-enactment. It allows to give the whole thing of airsofting a halo of nobility. Think about recreating events which involved the ANZAC troops with full re-enactment gear!
Or airsofting could be considered the ideal sport - as any martial arts sport - in which to develop discipline, teamwork, honesty in obeying rules (you gotta shout out HIT when you get hit!).
OK everyone sorry for the mild spell of writeosis. I just wanted to get this thing started so I'll be waiting for any comments (or insults!) and suggestions you might have on what I might do from over here.
If you like I can send over the detailed rules by which we play over here.
Mr. J:
Alex!
Wonderful to have you here!
Reading you post, it's definitely the kind of structuring we would want regarding regulation of Milsim Airsoft, however we experience a road block due to the physical appearance of the Assault Rifles.
So currently we're looking more on the structures of Airsoft for target shooting, alternate licensing structures that could be introduced as airsoft specific.
Have you checked out the video? If so what's your thoughts on it?
Alex:
Hello J,
glad to be onboard!
I saw the video and thought it was effective and compelling.
1 drawback to the "cause": when the video is over the next suggested videos are on how to illegally import guns from overseas, or how to try and fool the customs office and stuff like that. That might prove counterproductive.
I also appreciate the idea of taking the issue in steps: starting with target practice and getting permission to use airsoft guns at registered ranges and fields.
Personally I would not immediately dismiss the milsim issue. But I'm over here and you guys are over there, so you know things a lot better than I do!
Over here our main goal is to show that, apart from the looks of them, airsoft guns cannot be classified as fire arms. In fact, in current Italian legislation, they are termed as "instruments/tools" (up to 6 months ago they were classified as "toys").
I think that the airsoft community should work on a double track:
1) show that airsoft players are first and foremost sportsmen and women and not warmongers. That their main interest is to have fun in a safe and secure environment without being a hazard to anyone. That airsofters are responsible people who would never misuse their instruments (hence a great control on whoever joins a club).
2) scientifically show and document how an airsoft gun cannot be converted into a real fire-arm; produce statistics on what kind of real fire-arms are wielded unlawfully in illegal activities (they should see that military assault rifles are very very very very rarely used!). One could even propose to do that ungodly thing they do in some states of the US, to use clear plastic or glossy embarrassing colours for the body of the gun (even though who could avoid that some idiot would paint a real rifle in bright pink?!)
I'll read up on the other topics of the forum to get a better ideas on what precise issues the government is holding against our sport. I'll also try to get a bit of chat going over the Italian forums. There are a lot of Aussies living here in Turin, so I'll see what I can do. Again if there's anything specific you think I can do, just let me know and I'll do what I can.
Cheers mate!
orangebox:
I believe we can go by a certain method if the airsoft rifles resemble the real deal. Say; airsofters can only brandish their AEGs or GBBs only on the gaming site. They are not allowed to brandish it outside in public areas. Caught doing so, well it's up to the police's jurisdiction for causing public panic.
Perhaps a permit is a good idea as well. Say your neighbors saw you tinkering with a gun at home, the police comes and check up on you, only to find out that it's an airsoft. So if you have a permit and an active database within the police as mentioned by Alex, misunderstandings won't happen.
I believe discipline is key as well. Never ever brandish your AEG in public even if it's publicly known. It will cause only panic. Only bring it out in the game site or only within your house.
Not to mention, airsoft and real steel looks totally different on the inside. Believe me, I know. Was in Hong Kong and I bought an AK47 so I packed it in my travelling bag only to be visited by the HK SWAT team. (Cause I didn't know I had to declare it lol) They checked my AEG out and cleared it.
Arvardos:
I think brandishing an AEG or GBB in public should be punishable to the fullest extent of the law, as if it were a real firearm. It's understandable that police can't take that chance
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