Yes it is a RIF
RIF does not mean ‘looks like a real firearm’, but ‘anybody could think it’s a firearm’
Its not in the specified colours to meet IF status
In paintball a UK retailer of realistic paintball guns was visited by the Association of Chief Constables as part of a fact finding study. They stated the obvious that the realistic guns would in their opinion be RIFs, and that the retailer ought to consider the implications of the VCRA in case they returned in a formal manner. The retailer introduced a voluntary UKARA style scheme.
However, less obvious to many was that they also considered every other ‘non realistic’ paintball gun in stock to be potential RIFs unless they were in the specified IF colours. The company included these in their scheme and offered non scheme alternatives.
They received much criticism until they gave the above reasons, other retailers had a sharp intake of breath and twitching backsides.
This has been forgotten over the years and the scheme has been lost to history.
The UKPSF (recognised representarive body) have since reraised the question to the Home Office and a document sits on the internet stating that paintball either has get out clauses in that paintball guns are ‘low powered air weapons’ and skipped the more recent joules problem due to being designed for ‘frangible projectiles’ (in which case they are legally unlicenced firearms so are neither IFs nor RIFs) or aren’t firearms and fall into the VCRA. It adds that UKPSF membership ‘might’ qualify as a scheme for the VCRA defence.
Lots of ‘might be’ which are untested in court.
I don’t plan on my potential RIFs and highly likely RIFs to be tested in court
The Atom being a speedsofter design has paintball looks and is verging to ‘ergonomic’ design rather than copying the designs based around real gun physics.
Its up to a retailer whether they think the VCRA applies to their sales, and as long as people don’t act as dickheads there won’t be a court case to find out for sure
I don't have an issue with it other than:
Try making a rational argument to a politician/political group that we need RIFs to play airsoft when these are/become available.
A platform specifically designed for airsoft use is always going to be superior to something based on a real firearm which has certain design compromises because it is a firearm.
Imo community would split over the suspension of disbelief element as some would shoot themselves in the foot and decide it's fine as they don't need a RIF to play speedsoft or a walk on skirmish.
I think the government will have another crack at airsoft sooner or later.
You don’t need a RIF to play airsoft.
But the industry arguement while the VCRA was being drafted was that players like to dress up and immerse in the game, part of which included having a degree of ‘realism’
As long as their are people dressing up, and particularly that there are sites and events catering to them, it doesn’t matter that there are others playing who don’t
