New restrictions on airgun sales
Plans to restrict the sale of airguns to registered dealers have been announced by the Home Office.
A new registration scheme is to be introduced, with dealers required to pay a £150 fee.
The measures have been inserted into the Violent Crime Reduction Bill at Westminster, but critics in Scotland said they do not go far enough.
A campaign for a tightening of the law followed the death of Glasgow toddler Andrew Morton in March.
Mark Bonini, 27, was jailed for murdering Andrew in Easterhouse in March. Bonini had been taking potshots at firefighters and then fired a pellet at Andrew, who was being carried by his older brother. It hit the toddler on the head, killing him.
Under the proposals, dealers will have to prove to police that they are fit to be a Registered Firearms Dealer.
Internet or mail order sales will also be outlawed as all sales will have to be "face-to-face" over the counter.
This Home Office proposal, subject to proper parliamentary scrutiny, offers the prospect of significant changes being delivered quickly and consistently across the UK
Cathy Jamieson
Scottish Justice Minister
Anti-airgun campaigners have been critical of the proposals, with some calling for an outright ban.
However, they were welcomed by Scottish Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson who said they will see an end to the sale of airguns at car boot sales, in corner shops and any outlet which has not had police approval.
Ms Jamieson said it was a fitting response following Andrew's death.
The minister said: "This Home Office proposal, subject to proper parliamentary scrutiny, offers the prospect of significant changes being delivered quickly and consistently across the UK.
"Changes which will help us improve public protection by limiting those who have access to the sale, purchase and use of airguns.
"And which together with existing measures in the bill, will reduce the likelihood of further tragedies occurring and give the UK some of the toughest airgun laws in the world."
UK -- New restrictions on airgun sales.
UK -- New restrictions on airgun sales.
I saw this news item on a couple of forums....thought you guys might be interested in what's coming for us soon enough....
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razpizdiay
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:56 am
- Location: Toronto ON
ok... who is with me to arrange an assasination mission to uk and get rid of the "pest" who makes these rules !!!!???
they are about to ban airsoft in UK and now airguns?? what in the world is wrong with them???
the reason why i care, is that canada once was under british control, anybody remember? and i dont think they are complete "strangers" here now, so some bad influence might be spreaded from there towards our gun laws...
its outrageous !!!
razpizdiay
they are about to ban airsoft in UK and now airguns?? what in the world is wrong with them???
the reason why i care, is that canada once was under british control, anybody remember? and i dont think they are complete "strangers" here now, so some bad influence might be spreaded from there towards our gun laws...
its outrageous !!!
razpizdiay
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Time-Bandit
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:54 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec
- Contact:
A 2 or 3 year old girl apparently was killed by someone using an airgun, so people are freaking out there...razpizdiay wrote:ok... who is with me to arrange an assasination mission to uk and get rid of the "pest" who makes these rules !!!!???
they are about to ban airsoft in UK and now airguns?? what in the world is wrong with them???
the reason why i care, is that canada once was under british control, anybody remember? and i dont think they are complete "strangers" here now, so some bad influence might be spreaded from there towards our gun laws...
its outrageous !!!
razpizdiay
From allowing airguns with silencers in the UK to totally banning airguns. Wow. Big change.
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I_HATE_PAL
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Time-Bandit
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:54 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec
- Contact:
Those reports may a bit over the top (and somewhat out of date) given the number of airguns sold annually in UK. However, yes, there has been some total misuse that has led to tragedy and my sympathies go out to the families that have lost loved ones 
.
But, looking at it from a different point of view …….. if a scum bag steals a car and kills innocent people in an accident do we call for the banning of all cars
?
I don’t have a problem with our government changing the airgun laws to make them tighter in terms of point of sale ……… but at the same time they should give something in return to the airgun community …….like making all airguns FAC and bringing in a less stringent FAC for airguns.
If we are first on tougher laws …… you can bet your arse that your governments will follow
…. Just give it time.
As a point of interest I believe that there is something like 7 million airguns in the UK.
Bob
.But, looking at it from a different point of view …….. if a scum bag steals a car and kills innocent people in an accident do we call for the banning of all cars
?I don’t have a problem with our government changing the airgun laws to make them tighter in terms of point of sale ……… but at the same time they should give something in return to the airgun community …….like making all airguns FAC and bringing in a less stringent FAC for airguns.
If we are first on tougher laws …… you can bet your arse that your governments will follow
…. Just give it time.As a point of interest I believe that there is something like 7 million airguns in the UK.
Bob
We have had 2 major incidents over the years.
The first was a man called Michael Ryan who went nuts in a place called Hungerford. A nice village - well small town really about an hours drive from me.
He killed a number of innocent people with automatic rifles and when they ran out of ammo, he switched to handguns before killing himself in a school.
The 2nd was a chap called Hamilton and he also went nuts in Dunblane in Scotland killing children in a school. As I understand it, the FLO (fire arms officer for the police) refused to renew his licence as he had concerns. He was overridden by a superior officer and wallop.
These were major incidents by british standards and it caused a big stir. Hamilton/Dunblane was the reason why legally held hand guns were banned in the UK.
Perversley, gun crime has gone up as almost all handguns used for criminal purposes are illegal imports brought in from other countries to supply drug gangs who have a "respect" culture. The basic rule is you have to be a complet litter who doesnt give a stuff about pumping some sort of drug into you so long as you show him respect.
The incidents involving legally held guns are few and far between.
Another smaller issued attacked by Her Majestys Govenment was Brockcock TAC airguns. These used a small cylinder that was filled with compressed air. A nose cap that contained an ordinary pellet was then screwed on the front and a valve in the rear was knocked open to release the air and send pellet on the way. Low power stuff really.
However, the problem was that Brocock used 1 or possibly 2 hand guns that were milled down from firearms grade handguns. They were machined to make them unuseable for live ammo. However, the police said that they were being converted back to live ammo and yes you guessed it - they were ending up in drugs dealers hands to reinforce there code of respect.
The police never said how many converted guns they actually recovered and the chance of blowing your hand off were high (which I consider to be natural justice anyway).
The result was that a ban on TAC powered guns came into being, no compensation was given nor was it advertised properly. As a result 99% of the british public are complety unaware that the gun they bought for young joe as a 14th birthday present (quite legally) will now land them in nick for a 5 year stretch minimum - even if wasnt one of the handguns that were allegedly being converted. You had to apply for an FAC if you already had one, but now you cannot apply - you will be prosocuted.
We have a phrase ovehere called GobSmacked for when you are completely speechless. It seems appropraite here dont you think.
The case of Andrew Moreton is a little different. The area of the town in Scotland where this happened is prone to YOUTHS causing trouble. The fire brigades are regularly called out to fires started by bored charmless nurks who have nothing to occupy their sad lives. When the fire men arrive on site, they are pellted with stones and fired at by arseholes with air rifles.
The only argument I can find to justify there actions is that a lot of them are very young, stupid and come from deprived communities where it is considered the right hting to do to carry a blade for fights between rival gangs after getting bevvied up (drunk) on a friday and saturday night. That is when they are not saving up to buy real guns so that they can buy drugs to sell and gain "respect".
The killer of Andrew Morten was 24 - an adult - not a stupid kid. He was shooting at the firemen attending a fire and the lad was either shot at deliberately or was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
99.99% of air rifle and live ammo and shotgun holders are sensible and reliable. Yet we get caned when some numbnut does something stupid.
I would suggest that the british shooting scene has to many organisations trying to do something about it, but it is a collection of small voices rather than one decent one and all have thier own agendas and goals.
Do not make the same mistake and get organised and get vocal and get your arses off the sofa and march on your seat of government and make some noise.
Really sorry to introduce myself in this fashion but I hope this gives a little more definition to the story and some inspiration not to be shat on.
Steyr (Simon)
The first was a man called Michael Ryan who went nuts in a place called Hungerford. A nice village - well small town really about an hours drive from me.
He killed a number of innocent people with automatic rifles and when they ran out of ammo, he switched to handguns before killing himself in a school.
The 2nd was a chap called Hamilton and he also went nuts in Dunblane in Scotland killing children in a school. As I understand it, the FLO (fire arms officer for the police) refused to renew his licence as he had concerns. He was overridden by a superior officer and wallop.
These were major incidents by british standards and it caused a big stir. Hamilton/Dunblane was the reason why legally held hand guns were banned in the UK.
Perversley, gun crime has gone up as almost all handguns used for criminal purposes are illegal imports brought in from other countries to supply drug gangs who have a "respect" culture. The basic rule is you have to be a complet litter who doesnt give a stuff about pumping some sort of drug into you so long as you show him respect.
The incidents involving legally held guns are few and far between.
Another smaller issued attacked by Her Majestys Govenment was Brockcock TAC airguns. These used a small cylinder that was filled with compressed air. A nose cap that contained an ordinary pellet was then screwed on the front and a valve in the rear was knocked open to release the air and send pellet on the way. Low power stuff really.
However, the problem was that Brocock used 1 or possibly 2 hand guns that were milled down from firearms grade handguns. They were machined to make them unuseable for live ammo. However, the police said that they were being converted back to live ammo and yes you guessed it - they were ending up in drugs dealers hands to reinforce there code of respect.
The police never said how many converted guns they actually recovered and the chance of blowing your hand off were high (which I consider to be natural justice anyway).
The result was that a ban on TAC powered guns came into being, no compensation was given nor was it advertised properly. As a result 99% of the british public are complety unaware that the gun they bought for young joe as a 14th birthday present (quite legally) will now land them in nick for a 5 year stretch minimum - even if wasnt one of the handguns that were allegedly being converted. You had to apply for an FAC if you already had one, but now you cannot apply - you will be prosocuted.
We have a phrase ovehere called GobSmacked for when you are completely speechless. It seems appropraite here dont you think.
The case of Andrew Moreton is a little different. The area of the town in Scotland where this happened is prone to YOUTHS causing trouble. The fire brigades are regularly called out to fires started by bored charmless nurks who have nothing to occupy their sad lives. When the fire men arrive on site, they are pellted with stones and fired at by arseholes with air rifles.
The only argument I can find to justify there actions is that a lot of them are very young, stupid and come from deprived communities where it is considered the right hting to do to carry a blade for fights between rival gangs after getting bevvied up (drunk) on a friday and saturday night. That is when they are not saving up to buy real guns so that they can buy drugs to sell and gain "respect".
The killer of Andrew Morten was 24 - an adult - not a stupid kid. He was shooting at the firemen attending a fire and the lad was either shot at deliberately or was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
99.99% of air rifle and live ammo and shotgun holders are sensible and reliable. Yet we get caned when some numbnut does something stupid.
I would suggest that the british shooting scene has to many organisations trying to do something about it, but it is a collection of small voices rather than one decent one and all have thier own agendas and goals.
Do not make the same mistake and get organised and get vocal and get your arses off the sofa and march on your seat of government and make some noise.
Really sorry to introduce myself in this fashion but I hope this gives a little more definition to the story and some inspiration not to be shat on.
Steyr (Simon)
You will only ever shoot one shot in your life - and thats the one up the barrel now....All that have gone before you can do nothing about. It's a here and now deal