“Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation about BB weapons and if you want to know the facts then refer to the VCRA Act of 2006 along with the guidance notes and specifically the defenses applying to airsoft. However to try and explain the basics here goes: You need to have a valid defense to BUY a Realistic Imitation Firearm (RIF) which is a BB gun that looks realistic - one option is to be an active airsoft skirmisher and you will also need to be 18+. References to brightly coloured Imitation Firearms (IF) still require you to be 18 to BUY, but no defense is needed. Now, ive highlighted BUY as there are many situations that can lead you to OWN a RIF or IF without breaking the law even though you do not have a valid defense to BUY. Please understand that BB RIF/IF's are not illegal despite what many people may think. Now the vast majority of Airsoft Skirmishers are responsible and are interested in protecting their hobby/sport which is not too dissimilar to paintball. Therefore they make every effort to abide by the law despite the fact that there are some bizarre contradictions.
As for the article it did not state that the weapon was waved around or pointed at people so i can see the initial response from G Sussex as reasonbly valid. In further responses people linked to the event have noted that the weapon was waved around but also that the person has mental health issues - something also missing from the article - so i can see their point of view aswell. Basically, im of the opinion that if you threaten somebody with a weapon then expect to be dealt with by the police in a reasonable manner and im not so sure a 5hr standoff is reasonable especially when the suspect is known to them. So BB RIF/IF weapons are prefectly legal to own but using them in an irresponsible way is not acceptable and deserves a measured response. that ladies and gentleman is a fact.”

“Mr G, changed my mind, here's an extract from the Cleveland Police website....
Q. Is it illegal to own a BB gun ?
A. No, but only under certain, strict circumstances:

You must be 18 years old or over and be a member of a soft-air club to buy and possess a realistic BB gun.
If you are not a member of a soft-air club, but still over 18 years old, you can only purchase a non-realistic BB gun, which will be manufactured in an obscure colour (pink, yellow, etc.).
If you are under 18 years old, you can only possess a BB gun on private land.

BB guns (which fire ball bearings or plastic pellets) are often played with as toys but remember they are not toys and they can be very dangerous and, potentially, could seriously injure or kill someone.

You must remember that a BB gun is considered to be an imitation firearm, which is defined as:

"any thing which has the appearance of being a firearm whether or not it is capable of discharging any shot, bullet or missile¿.

It is illegal to carry an imitation firearm in public and the consequences could be very serious. If you carry a BB gun in a public place, you are potentially risking your life if someone sees it and calls the police.

When the police arrive, they will not know for sure that it is a BB gun. Even trained police officers have great difficulty distinguishing these guns from actual firearms and have to act as if they are real.

There is a real risk of you being shot by armed response officers who are unable to establish the exact nature of the weapon.
If you own a BB gun, the safest thing to do is to hand it in at your nearest police station.
.............
and when Mr Pollard invited the ambulance crew into his flat as a result of his 999 call his flat became a public place for the time that they remained on the premises until such time as they left or were asked to leave. The offence was committed therefore in a public place.”

“Mr G, I was going to give links to the laws relating to BB guns and any weapon that looks like the real thing but I really cannot be bothered to waste any more time on you. I suggest that you contact your local firearms officer at any police station who will put you right.”

“Sorry B and L but you are both wrong.You cannot have a BB gun "disguised" as a replica.If a gun is a non firing or blank firing replica then certain laws are applicable.Those laws do not apply to BB guns which are a form of air weapon which can fire BBs or pellets either singularly or multi shot using CO2/compressed air as a propellant.There is no law that states a air pistol /BB gun has to be painted orange.You are getting your laws mixed up.
BBguns are quite legal to own and even if they look like real firearms(which many do) they are not classified as a replica.Anyone can also own a deactivated weapon of any type without
a certificate or restriction and anyone can buy obsolete calibre weapons for
display purposes without any restriction.
Its interesting to note people giving details of the incident that wasnt part
of the original article that I commented on.Some of the comments (L Kent) contain confidential information about the patient and should not be used to justify what was a gross overeaction from everyone concerned.
Owning a BB gun is not a crime and neither is waiving around a BB gun.(its stupid but not illegal).Having any type of weapon pointed at you is disturbing but whether it is an offence or not if it happens in the privacy of someones home is debatable.If the person threatened to shoot someone even if the
gun is not real it could constitute an offence but even the most hysterical commentators on here have not suggested that was the case.”

“Didn't the original story state that the gun was seen "poking out from under a sofa"?

I see that has been changed now. Well, I am sorry for the confusion that has resulted and the bitterness that it has provoked on both sides but we can only ever go on what we're told.”

“Well at least we can all have a good laugh about it down the pub now its over....its a funny old world.”

“I have read through the above story and the below comments and when confronted by people knee-jerk reactions to such events (and any newspaper story in-fact) I instantly think about the follow song lyrics:

"Things in life are always quite what they seem, there¿s more than one given angle to any one given scene. So bear that in mind next time you try to intervene on any one given angle from any one given scene." - Scroobius Pip”

“Unfortunately the Courier have been led to believe certain so called "facts" which they then printed. Those "facts" are wildly incorrect, and not just the ones referring to the weapon used. I know so because I am a paramedic in Tunbridge Wells and more importantly am the husband of one of the crew that attended the incident. My wife had what she considered to be a live firearm pointed at her chest and her crewmate had the same weapon pointed at her forehead.
To Mr G of Sussex... You seem to have an underlying issue with the police which has clouded your judgement, if indeed you are capable of rational judgement ? Just a BB gun eh ? It was a black firearm replica that just happens to fire BB pellets, one of which could easily blind a person. That's not the point though. A BB gun manufactured to look exactly like a real weapon and the same colour as a real weapon (i.e. not at least 50% brightly coloured orange, red or yellow) is an illegally owned firearm. Using such a weapon, claiming it to be a live weapon, to threaten persons is a firearms offence carrying some quite heavy prison time. If you are going to comment on the situation get your facts right. The weapon was produced and pointed at the crew. The crew were not "poking around his flat" as you claim, they were doing their job and were in fear of their lives.
If you can't get the facts right then at least try to get a life. When you do, we and the police will be here 365 days a year to protect you from harm.”

“The ambulance technician who attended this call was my sister and I therefore feel the need to set G from Sussex straight on a couple of matters. Firstly, my sister is very familiar with the patient, Gerry, to whom she was answering a call, as he regularly calls an ambulance, complaining of varying symptoms, which are always checked and found to be symptoms of his mental health rather than physical illness. Whilst this is of course a severe waste of their time, they always check Gerry fully and file reports, and have actually become fond of him....... he tends to enjoy a chat rather than being found to be suffering once they attend. So, I can confirm that my sister checked her patient fully and found him to be well but distressed before he even brought the BB gun out. He then waived it in her face whilst telling her something which, in confidentiality, she cannot divulge. Now, I wonder G from Sussex, at which point did you obtain information in which gave you the right to state that MY SISTER was, and I quote, "poking around his flat"???? The BB gun in question was in fact disguised as a replica and not in a bright colour and therefore, it is deemed ILLEGAL.......not to mention the fact that as far as my sister was aware it was a GUN. She was under strict instruction to call the police and they followed procedures from there. My sister was not able to leave the scence for those full five hours, along with her colleague....... now who do you think is the real time waster? My sister was very shaken up by this experience and it riles me that some people feel the need to make assumptions and comment on matters that they know nothing about.”

“Well "G" of Sussex. . I suggest you get a life. . .my daughter was the paramedic involved in this incident. .and the gun WAS waved in her face. .she loves her job and does it for not a lot of money. . and takes risks on a daily basis. . dealing with the public. . so i suggest that next time you make a comment on an incident checks your facts first. . you sad person!!!”