Airsoft survey for India - Your input is highly valuable

[Sobo]

Hello everyone,

I have noticed that airsoft/replica guns are gaining momentum and customers are tired of getting ripped off by customs babus and exorbitantly priced products at local businesses. I wanted to hear your voice in this matter to do some groundwork. Airsoft as a sport is growing leaps and bounds around the world, even in countries with tougher gun laws than India(Australians are fighting for the right). Please fill out the survey below to answer a few questions and help set in momentum something exciting. I apologize, this survey will be biased.

Thank you
Sobo

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TYNKK92

[Sobo]

Also, while you fill up this short survey, please comment on any other questions you think may be related to this. I will include those questions in the survey and keep updating it to reach a larger audience.

Thank you

[estousandy]

Aussies are indeed putting up a good fight. Happened to see this video long ago, pretty much sums up the case & their will to sweat it.

[Sobo]

Estousandy, here's the thing. Australia banned it because their police and military actually have weapons like the M4 and G36 in service. On the other hand only the most elite factions of the Indian army has a Tavor in current service. There is no way airsoft replicas will be used for untoward purposes because even the bad guys don't have access to such guns. And here I'm talking about Masadas, Ar160, sr15's, guns which the average Indian has no idea about.

[estousandy]

Same reason was cited by Bombay customs to send just the stark arms glocks from a detained lot for lab test. The rest including M9s were released with huge penalty but glocks took another month to release after, you know. Naturally, price went up from 100usd to 400usd.

Another victim to this modus operandi will be the AK. The real ones are all over the country, and Indians love them too. Punishments will be even harsher for importing its replica. But i doubt any milder treatment for other gun shapes since anything that looks like a gun, be it a pistol or minigun, is a gun here. Instant reaction to such will be panic & state of emergency. I've seen it first hand at customs. There's a perceptible fear/doubt in their eyes, which i'm sure is common to all gun-challenged folks who sadly is a majority. I don't know how we can fix this without changing this behavior of getting threatened at the sight of anything gun.

Best solution, clone it & make them here! Easier said than done though.

Sobo, consider adding questions regarding preferred gun type like say, AR or AK, electric/gas action etc. It might be a bit deep, but would be interesting to hear.

sandip

[Sobo]

Thank you for the info Sandip. When you say Bombay customs, do you mean airport customs or ship cargo customs, I'm assuming the first. Also the glocks and M9's that you tried to import, were they co2 or electic powered?
I agree that the AK replica will be near impossible to import. Do you think that a proactive approach will work better than a reactive approach to the customs? What I mean is meeting with the customs officer and discussing the product with them before we even try to import it, instead of trying to convince them about it being a "toy" once it lands in their hands, when they have more power.

There is not a large enough demand for airsoft guns in India to justify manufacturing them. And my guess is exporting them is also not feasible due to a dearth of china based manufacturers. But the most recent news that I heard was the China was clamping down on airsoft manufacturers, its own gun laws being more stringent than India.

New questions updated, thank you Sandy

Husein

[estousandy]

Yep Air customs. Both Glock & M9s were GBB. Btw, importer was my friend having an import license.

About proactive approach, i can talk only about Cochin customs. Each & every object that looks like a gun will be sent for lab test was their response, inform in advance or not. It might be different for other offices. Police NOC was another option, but that too is a lot of work.

Check this thread for a better picture. http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php ... 90#p231227

As long as Taiwan & HK stays independent, there's hope.