It doesn't matter what the law is right now... What I'm saying is that if they can find a way to make it look like it doesn't work then we could be up shit creek without a paddle when they decide to "fix" it...
Don't give 'em a reason!
Its down to us to police ourselves... not try and get round the law....
Please don't discuss this further, even if you're being devil's advocate.
Please don't discuss this further, even if you're being devil's advocate.
Surely it's thanks to the brave men we portray that we can discuss these things in an open forum without fear of censure...
Ummm but Im not trying to get round the law at all tho. If I was I wouldnt have emailed the Home Office in the first place.
Im trying to find an equitable solution to a problem that not only I find myself in but others too. Asking what makes a viable defence is not trying to circumvent the law.
The current ARA system only works if you play at a single site regularly and wish to pay for membership at that site. I personally dont play at any one site making a membership of any one site a bit pointless. That is the purpose of this.
No longer involved in airsoft.
Also if this is true is there any other option for "wandering players"?
I was up at Airsoftworld Scotland recently talking about what to do about registration etc and was told it didn't matter where I played, so long as I was registered somewhere and skirmished regularily. For example: I'm registering with the association through Warren at the Hill and have skirmished there once so far, the chap at Airsoftworld said that if I then skirmished at other recognisd sites it wouldn't be a problem so long as I had registered at a "home" site and had skirmished more than the required 3 times. If this is correct doesn't it solve a problem for "wandering players" such as us?
Please don't discuss this further, even if you're being devil's advocate.
Surely it's thanks to the brave men we portray that we can discuss these things in an open forum without fear of censure...
lol, you'd thinks so, wouldn't you...
Diggah... okay, can I just ask that it's not discussed in public on our forums at length?
If you have a problem please discuss it with the UKARA or something...
Cheers...
Sure although I have no problem with it. It was a theme discussed a while back and I've been contacting UKARA and the Home Office to see whats what and reporting back here. Im not trying to encourage law breakers or anything like that. The information and thoughts were part of a longer on going discussion.
I realise that CiA have no intention of getting involved with this and I respect that and I also recognise that there is a certain air of "dont rock the boat" in this which to a certain extent I agree with but its just discussing legal options and reporting back my findings thats all.
WhosWill... good point. My slight issue with this is that membership to any site is usually about £40 which includes various benefits such as free game, badge, cuddly toy or what ever. My slight contention with this is that as a "wandering player" those frills do not benefit me at all and £40 a year just for a card could be considered a slight waste of cash.
Its all a mute point I fear and site membership may be the only way forward for the likes of us... but you know, like to explore the options first.
No longer involved in airsoft.
Thing is the solution is very easy.
If you really want to buy a RIF then Airsofters have a defence and the simplest way (at the moment) is to get UKARA validation. There are several airsoft sites who won't charge you for the privilege - you will just need to play at the site three times. Not fair? Don't want to play at a site? Remember, airsofters have a defence - you are not an airsofter unless you play airsoft, otherwise you are a collector! Some sites are allowing grandfathering so previous visits will count towards your validation.
Bit of a pain - yes. Cost a bit - yes. But, you will be able to carry on as before, no problem. Once you have your UKARA number you will be on the database and as long as a retailer interrogates your record once during the year then the record holds good.
By the way, your visits must be at the same site, quote from UKARA:
Games sites should only be validating UKARA player forms belonging to their own site members.
If a game site has been validating forms from other sites this is incorrect,
any accidental errors will need rectifying, and any such forms should be forwarded to UKARA Admin.
Any site operative or retailer found to be deliberately abusing the registration system, will be penalised or ejected.
Fair Dos 
No longer involved in airsoft.
BTW, keen WW2 airsofters playing at the Hurtgen game at F&O in December will have reached their three games anyway - another incentive to make it a date!
We're still awaiting confirmation of that from Jimjogg via e-mail but I hope you're right CW because we'll be sorted if you are.
Let me know when you get hold of him. I've not been able to get in contact for a few weeks now. I need to work out with him what freebies I earned for the video and pic work I did for him a while back 
No longer involved in airsoft.
By the way, your visits must be at the same site, quote from UKARA:
Games sites should only be validating UKARA player forms belonging to their own site members.
If a game site has been validating forms from other sites this is incorrect,
any accidental errors will need rectifying, and any such forms should be forwarded to UKARA Admin.
Any site operative or retailer found to be deliberately abusing the registration system, will be penalised or ejected.
An interesting contribution CW. I was up at F+O on Saturday and in conversation with Jamie while he was registering some of the regular players, he said exactly what Will said - he suggested that validation could be attained from more than one site on the same form - I explained to him that I normally play at Fireball. BTW - how will the players who go to the December game have got their three games in? Sorry if that makes me look stupid - 
Indeed, I've heard the same from game sites but that isn't the UKARA position and it seems forms would be returned unvalidated... !
The three F&O visits were Battle of the Bulge, Training Day, and Hurtgen.
Just out of curiosity how would it work if I wanted to get validated at F&O at the Dec game as that would be the 3rd time skirmishing but the first one was at Phoenix Urban for Arnhem? Sorry if its already been said and Im just being thicker than a whale omlette.
No longer involved in airsoft.
Unfortunately F&O and Phoenix are different sites...
F&O won't have a record of you playing at Phoenix so can't validate you based on that game.
Right so even if you've played at different sites you still have to max out at one site. Ah well. No membership for me for a while then
No longer involved in airsoft.
Yup... probably a bit of an oversight on the UKARA's part that one...
But it will make their lives easier as regards paperwork...
Hmm... just had an idea... it may be worth checking to see if play on the 15th at F&O will count as separate from the 16th for these purposes... If it does then play on both days and then you'll be sorted
Thats true, but at the moment theres nothing I want to buy (nor have the money for) in terms of airsoft stuff so I gotta ask if its worth it of not
No longer involved in airsoft.
Cheers CW - that clears that little matter up. Unfortunately, I haven't done three stints at F+O at the mo but I will have done two in December. Interestingly enough, I may well get my form validated through them because, unless I've misunderstood the organisers at Fireball, my local site is insisting on 6 games before they consider you for membership, not just three. I'm sure Ewart will be able to clarify that if my understanding is at fault - 
