This is good news for all of us who like to play airsoft in Europe. Hope you all had a nice Christmas and New Year. We are slowly starting and getting back to business. I sure looks like the EAA is also back in business for 2019! Read their press release and full blog below:

My name is Matt Furey-King, for those of you that don’t know me, I am an airsoft player from the UK. I founded UK Airsoft Players Union, and was President of European Airsoft Association 2011-2015. I would like to let you know that I have been elected President of the EAA for 2019.

My aims for the EAA in 2019 are modest. I would like the EAA to remain ready to defend our hobby from restrictions. I would like to add more member associations to EAA, so that we share more information and support each other better. I would also like to post more information on our website to help players who travel internationally to games.

Matt Furey-King here. I'd like to announcing that I'm stepping down as Chairman of UK Airsoft Players Union. When I returned to the role as Chairman in 2015 my intention was twofold; to get the association back on its feet, and to make sure we had player representation throughout the Policing and Crime Bill passage. My return was only ever supposed to be temporary, the committee knew my intention from the start was to stand aside on the commencement date of the new law. So here we are.

I'm pretty disappointed that the PCA is still an open subject, that we still need to push the government for clarifications in order to find out how to comply with the new law. There's some grey area which I think will one-day spell real trouble for some poor airsoft player. As much as I'm dying to help with this situation, I have to call it a day and move on. Unfortunately, other parts of my life have been suffering due to lack of attention, I've been so distracted by all this airsoft politics going on these last 2 years. My girlfriend Po Ling has been very accommodating but even her impressive patience with me is wearing thin! So it's time to get my priorities straight. The way I see it I've done my bit and to be honest other people now need to step up to the plate.

That's what nearly happened to our beloved Sport & Hobby. Read below statement about the heroes of the European Airsoft Association (EAA)!  Please share to all your Airsoft friends, colleagues, retailers and anyone who makes social media/YouTube Airsoft videos how close it came to game over... 

Continue reading to check the official statement by the EAA:

Crucial timing but a solid transition for the EAA: Matt is stepping down, and former NABV chairman Joachim Dekkers is now elected EAA President. The association will continue their fight against burdensome regulations that threaten the Airsoft game. Give them support to safe our sport on a European wide level. Joachim will lead the EAA to prevent measures that will stop the growth airsoft and help other associations in the region to grow and prosper.

Here's a short update on the firearms directive proposal. there's been allot of pressure put on MEPs by the firearms community. Of the replies which airsoft players have forwarded to me, a good number of MEPs have said they have been convinced to vote against the proposal, many others have just repeated the party line about 'preventing terrorism'. There were objections to the proposal on its first presentation to MEPs. There have been loud objections from Finland, Switzerland and Czech Republic where civilian owned firearms are part of defence policy.