Petition Against The Ban Of Replica Guns In The UK

We are avid players of a sport called Airsoft. Airsoft is a sport enjoyed by many thousands of people, not only in the UK, but also in many countries around the world, including Japan and the USA. We play the sport using replica guns called 'Airsoft guns', more commonly known as 'BB guns' (this is perhaps unfair, as BB guns are generally of a much lower quality and are much more easily obtained for young people wishing to use them in an improper way). Far from the 'reality' portrayed in the short film on your site, called 'Toys That Kill', we are a group closely knit group of law-abiding people who play simply for fun. Unlike the 10/11-year-old children in the film, we are all of ages about 14 or over, and many airsoft players are even as old as 40 or 50! So as you can see, it is a sport enjoyed by all ages. Also, being an active sport, it promotes health and activity in young people, and helps to keep the younger players fit and healthy.

In our games, which are generally very similar to paintball, we wear protective kit such as face masks to prevent injury, although the guns are so low powered (under 1 joule as per the UK law on airsoft guns) that injury is extremely unlikely. Generally, injury is kept to an absolute minimum, and if an injury does occur it is usually due to carelessness on behalf of the 'victim' player, such as not wearing correct safety gear, or removing safety gear mid-skirmish (trained marshals at most sites help to keep such carelessness to a minimum by imposing strict safety rules, and they are also generally trained in basic first-aid skills).

We only play in designated areas at designated times, often called 'skirmish days' or 'skirmish meets'. We NEVER play in clear view of the public, or in public-owned places. If a member of our community were to use an airsoft gun in an unlawful way, he would certainly be disowned by the community. We have absolutely no place for dishonest and unlawful people in our sport, and as such will not tolerate anyone who uses their gun(s) in such a manner.

By promoting a ban of the sale and ownership of 'replica guns', you are slowly destroying our sport. It is a safe and relatively painless sport, enjoyed by thousands of people around the world. You have no right to destroy a sport such as this, and remove other people's right to play it. This is unfair and should not happen. As you can see below, I have amassed a petition of airsoft players in favour of airsoft, who are against your fruitless, and frankly unfair quest to prevent us from enjoying our honest and harmless sport