Crime and Punishment Bill

[Andy-Martin]

Crime and Security Bill in Queens Speech yesterday . . .

Includes: new storage requirements for air guns

Not sure if that relates to us . . . thought it was worth a mention.

Cheers

Andy

[Fizzy]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

Actually, don't the high powered single action guns people use class as air weapons?

[Fingers]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

600fps rings a bell?

[Fizzy]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

Hmm, I was of the understanding anything over the Home Office 1.35j guidline (and single action) is classed as a low power air gun. Of course, whethere I'm right, and this new storage requirement includes 'low power' air guns is another matter

[dent]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

from reading a mates airrifle mags its anything over 12ft lb (think thats the correct units) or roughly 1250-1500fps that is classed as a full blown fire arm (think there called something like FAC) and requires a license and same treatment as a rifle
being single shot is irrelevant i believe

[Fizzy]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

We're talking about air weapons though, not firearms

[DaveB2]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

I think you'll find that air weapons are already classed as firearms, although pistols under 6ftlbs and rifles under 12 can be owned without a FAC as long as you meet the age requirements. Over those limits and you need a FAC (which for a pistol you'll not be getting) and I'd imagine for a rifle you already pretty much have to keep them in an approved cabinet.

There was a question I was asked when I applied for mine that iirc went along the lines of if it's just one gun you can have it "on display" if you have it locked to a wall anchor, I guess they could tighten that up.

[Caveira]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

Over 1.35 ft/lb is an air gun, regardless of pistol/rifle/auto.

If it's a pistol it can be up to 6 ft/lb and a rifle up to 12 ft/lb.

If it is over these limits, it requires a FAC which, as said above, you won't get for a pistol as they're illegal in the UK without a section 5 exemption (rocking horse sh*t territory).

If it's over 1.35 ft/lb and capable of automatic or burst fire, it's a section 5 firearm and you're looking at a good few years inside, trying out your new best mate's sexual idiosyncrasies!

EDIT: As said by dave, air guns are firearms in the eyes of the law (and covered by the firearms act), it's just that below the above limits they're classed as low powered and don't need an FAC. If a gun is over the 1.35 ft/lb limit, it stops being a RIF/IF under the VCRA and comes under the restrictions of the firearms act.

[Fizzy]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

So this could very well affect us then

[DaveB2]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

I guess the implication is that anything that falls into the bracket "air gun" would be affected - yes.
From what little detail I've read it's about keeping them secure from children so (assumption time - but at this stage that's as good as you'll get and at least I'm honest in saying I'm speculating rather than telling you what the, as yet unwritten or debated legislation will be) hopefully we won't need to put all our hotter bolt action sniper rifles in cabinets just out of reach. Maybe a high shelf or a lock on your rifle bag will be enough. It might affect some of the younger snipers if our perception of them as airsoft changes and we see the guns as airguns. I can't remember all the age restrictions on them as I'm well past the point I need to but iirc it includes use as well as ownership.

[Silicon]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

Remember in Scotland that there possibly putting a ban in for airsoft which there was a patent against, but dont think itl change it.

So .... im not sure

[bravotwozero]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

There are no current regulations for storing "air rifles", only shotguns & rifles.

So long as your airsoft gun doesn't go above 1.35J, there's no need to worry.

[screwdriver]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

this is the problem with shops selling china guns or upgraded ones that are over 377fps on a .20 bb if there single shot there an air weapon , if there full auto there section five and illegal to sell and own (but do the shops care, or not fully understand)

[Havocide]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

There was talk from the Home Office meeting back in September that they may consider having anything over 1 joule sold through a registered firearms dealer. That was prior to this though..

[screwdriver]

Re: Crime and Punishment Bill

this would not surprise me as alot of airsoft retailers also sell cheapy airguns for which they have rfd status, but cant sell firearms