Legal issues in airsoft

This document has been created to draw our clients attention to the problem of legality of the airsoftguns. Information about legal issues in airsoft have been collected from freely available sources. For this reason we do not bear responsibility for their correctness.

Austria

Airsoft guns are legal, but maximal power is restricted to 0.08 joule for players under 18.
All airsoft players that are above 14 do not need their parent's permission to make a purchase of an airsoft replica.
Airsoft guns which have more than 0.08 joule in power can be purchased by adults in specialized weapon’s shops only.

Belgium

Airsoft guns can only be bought at officially licensed dealers, who carry a government permit along with a certified weapon of defense (W.O.D.) to import and sell firearms.

Bulgaria

There are no restrictions about carrying or possessing Airsoft guns in Bulgaria but it is better to keep the airsoft guns in a public area hidden.
Players do not need any permissions to posses their airsoft guns.
Players between 14 and 18 years old need their parents' permission to make a purchase of the airsoft gun. People who are at least 18 years old are no restricted in this area.
Using airsoft guns in public areas in particular in schools or administrative buildings is forbidden;
There are no restrictions about the power of the Airguns/Airsoft guns.

Coratia

The law does not recognize airsoft handguns as weapons. We could say that in the article 4. of the same bill, airsoft handguns are recognized as "the other device which uses compressed air or another gas to propel some kind of projectile".
Airsoft handguns can be used freely, can be bought freely, can be transported freely with all the necessary common sense.
If you are crossing the border you should have some kind of certificate or necessary documents

Czech Republic

Airsoft guns have the same status as real firearms, but they fit into a category where no gun license is needed.
Airsoft guns are allowed for adults only
Maximum of allowed energy for airsoft guns amount to 16 joules.
The use of laser sights and flashlights is forbidden.
Using and open carrying of airsoft guns in public places is forbidden.

Denmark

Using or possessing an airsoft gun is allowed for adults only
Any special permission as the firearms certificate is no required for adult players.

Finland

Transporting of airsoft guns without special cases/bags in public areas is forbidden.
Land owner's permission is required to play airsoft in any area.
Players under 18 are able to purchase airsoft guns only with written permission from their legal guardians.

France

Transporting of airsoft guns without special cases/bags in public areas is forbidden.
Land owner's permission is needed to play airsoft in any area.
Players under 18 have permission to buy or use airsoft guns which are under 0.07 joules in power only.
Maximum of allowed energy for airsoft guns amount to 2 joules. All replicas with power of shot above this limitation are considered to be a weapon and must be registered.

Germany

Airsoft guns under 0.5 joule are considered as toy guns and can be freely sold to all players above 3 years old. Distributors agreed to raise the limit to least 14.
All airsoft guns between 0.5 joule and 7.5 joule must be bolt-action or semiautomatic only and can only be sold to 18 years old people or older. These are considered "free" firearms, as a result:

o Sales of guns of more than 0.5 joule are allowed only in weapon shops.

o Guns must be marked with the trader's weapon abbreviation and a F-in-a-pentagon mark as well as the airsoft gun caliber (such as 6 mm BB).

Target illuminating devices and lasers may NOT be attached to guns but are legal otherwise. For example: possession of a flashlight is allowed, even shooting with the flashlight in one hand and the gun in the other; but attaching it via mount ring to the rail system of a gun is not. Devices made specifically for the purpose of being attached to a gun (like certain flashlights with integrated foregrip for mil-spec rail) are prohibited.

Greece

According to law the airsoft guns are not included in the real firearms category and they can be freely sold to all players above 18.
It is forbidden to have any gun’s replica in public sight otherwise possession of an airsoft gun is treated as illegal possession of a real firearm.
The use of lasers, scopes and flashlights on a replica weapon is prohibited by the law.

Hungary

There is limitation of maximum power - 7.5 Joules.
Fully automatic fire mode is legal.
There is no age limit for buing, but players between 16 and 18 can only use the airsoft guns under the supervision of an adult.
Airsoft guns may only be sold in licensed gun shops and guns must be marked with the proofmark of the "Hungarian Firearm Proofing Authority" (www.mkh.hu). An inspection of the gun is required for private import.
Shooting of airguns: must be confined to a railed off private property or a shooting range. No pellet/BB should leave the range or property.
Modification: modification of an airgun for higher muzzle energy is prohibited, but under 7.5 Joules there is no legal penalty for such act (above 7.5 Joules airguns classified as firearms which require license).
Transportation: unloaded, in a closed case/bag.
Storage: unloaded, gun separated from pellets/BBs, closed container, unauthorized persons should not have access to the gun
Above the restrictions of law there are additional rules named "Hungarin Airsoft Regulation" or MASZ for short. All well-organized games (99 percent) are played by these rules.
MASZ specifies the gun to use 6mm BB-s with the ballistic energy up to 1,7 Joules with any shooting type, 3,3 Joules with one-shot spring or half-auto weapon that can used only over 20 meters and only by adults. In CQB (Close Quarters Battle) up to 1,5 Joules semi-auto or spring or up to 1,1 Joules with automatic. It contains expectations for the right protection (mainly for the eyes) and other useful rules and instructions for ingame and other situation like: surrendering, pyrotechnic, injuries, civilians, and orders for correct operating of guns.

Ireland

Airsoft guns under 1 joule are considered as toy guns and can be freely sold to all
Airsoft guns which have over one joule of power are legal to possess and use within the Republic of Ireland, so long as a firearms certificate is applied for and granted by the local Garda superintendent - but they are at this point classed legally as actual firearms.
Airsoft devices with a muzzle energy in excess of one joule must be licenced and as such must have a serial number marked indelibly on them
The airsoft device in question would then legally be a licenced firearm and shooting any person with it would constitute assault

Italy

Airsoft guns and pistols are allowed a muzzle velocity below 100 m/s (328 ft/s) i.e. equivalent to a muzzle energy equal or minor to 1 joule: under the law, airsoft guns are not classified as firearms but as toys. You can buy and sell it both from stores and from another private citizen, either domestically or from abroad: internet purchasing and mail shipping is legal and unrestricted. No license or registration is required.

Red tips must be present on the barrel ends of the airsoft gun when they are imported and sold by a store. Once you own the airsoft gun, you may remove the red tip; however, the similarity between genuine firearms and airsoft replicas is close enough to provoke interaction with law enforcement personnel if an airsoft gun is mistaken for its real counterpart. Airsoft used to commit a crime is treated as if you had the real gun, assault weapons carry an extra mandatory sentence in addition to the regular punishment for the crime committed.

As the law limits the muzzle energy that an airsoft replica can develop before being classified by law as an airgun, modifying an airsoft gun to deliver more power or to shoot anything other than 6mm BB plastic pellets is a felony.
There is no mandatory minimum age to purchase airsoft and/or use it during a regular match; the Italian Ministry of Interior only recommends to restrict their sales to people over the age of 18, or 14 if accompanied by a parent or legal tutor or if the replica is not particularly realistic or powerful (i.e. low-grade airsoft products).
Usage and open carrying of air soft guns in public places is forbidden. You can play in a private property away from public sight, or in a well-delimited private or state property after having asked the local authorities for a limited-time permit (usually from 6 to 48 hours), and having alerted the local police command, to avoid alarmed citizens calling for emergency.

Luxembourg

All airsoft guns are treated under the national weapon law and demand a personal user certificate.

Lithuania

Registration of any sort is not required for airsoft weapons, however, they are only available for purchase to people over 18 years. Airsoft players have established unofficial set of rules, which regulates the behavior of players, belonging to the community.

Netherlands

Airsoft is illegal.

Norway

The Arms control legislation (Vĺpenforskrift) requires:

One to be at least 18 years old to buy, hand over, possess and use airsoft guns.
A firearms certificate is not required.

Portugal

Any softair gun must be totally or partially painted in fluorescent red or yellow color;
Maximum energy level at muzzle exit must not exceed 1.3 Joules (or 374 fps);
Softair gun purchase is limited to:

Minimum age of 18;
Only for sport practice;
Buyer/gun owner must be registered in a softair federation;
Softair players/gun owners don't need to possess Public Liability insurance;
Other special limitations may apply to softair gunsmiths and players.

This information is an excerpt of the law, for further information refer to full document (DR - Lei n.°5/2006).

Romania

Law nr. 295 from 2004 (Regimul Armelor şi Muniţiilor) regulates all use of weapons and associated ammunition:

The law is quite unclear (in what concerns airsoft weapons) as to whether this kind of weapon classifies as "non-lethal weapon" or "toy".
The law regulates the use of air-powered weapons (e.g. sport/competition use, that use a metal projectile) under "non-lethal" category and solely requires that you (1) are at least 18 years old and (2) register your weapon at the police precinct nearest from your location.
The law specifies that usage of night vision (infrared) or laser aiming devices designed for military use is completely restricted to members of the army and associated entities even if the aiming device is used on a lower-restriction category weapon (e.g. such as on an airsoft gun). The law, however, does not restrict in any way the use of aiming devices not designed for military use.
The law specifies that, should you attempt to use a non-lethal or replica gun to perform (or attempt to perform) armed robbery, you shall be prosecuted as if a real gun was used.

** A new addition to the law 295/2004 was made at 17/02/2008 called OUG 28/2008 which restricts even more the forms and regulations.

Slovenia

One has to be at least 18 years to buy airsoft guns.
If the velocity of an airsoft gun is below 100 m/s (328 ft/s) i.e. equivalent to 1 joule, it is considered to be a toy.
If the velocity is higher than 100 m/s (328 ft/s), the airsoft gun is classified as a section D weapon in the Firearms control legislation of Slovenia. Additionally Air Soft Clubs and National Shooters Association in Slovenia recommend that airsoft gun velocities should not be above 100 m/s (1 J).

Spain

Airsoft guns are regarded as low power weapons and AEGs must have:

Semiautomatic rifles and pistols: less than 2.4 joules
Other automatic electric guns: less than 1.00 joules and local police validation.

Sweden

One must be at least 18 years old to buy airsoft guns.
One is allowed to use airsoft guns in Sweden even if one is under 18 years of age. However, if someone under 18 wants an airsoft gun, an adult will have to purchase it for them.
In order to possess a gas, air or spring operated firearm without a license the impact energy of a projectile fired at a distance of 3 meters must be less than 10 joules. If it is semi or fully automatic the impcet energy must be less than 3 joules.

Switzerland

Airsoft guns are not considered as subject to the weapon legislation and no permission is necessary.
All kinds of laser sights are forbidden.