The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Much better copy to state "A firearm and ammunition was seized" in a house raid than a pop-out Gat and a few pellets.

The way the law is written may seem abit odd but has some good arguments in its favour, So long as the statistics recorded officially give a full breakdown of the types of firearm recorded and that its these figures that are used to modify and shape any future legislation.

As mentioned above an air rifle is a firearm is a crime is committed. I believe there is case law where a banana was a firearm as it was used in a crime (the perpetrator said it was a pistol in his pocket so it became a firearm offence).
Unfortunately I cannot find a link this morning.

Chapuis wrote:

Rockhopper wrote:An air rifle is legally a firearm, it's just of a category that doesn't require a licence (apart from in Scotland)

and I believe Northern Ireland? Or at least they did at one time, not sure of the current situation.

Correct. Both Scotland and N Ireland require licences for air rifles.

Mattnall wrote:As mentioned above an air rifle is a firearm is a crime is committed. I believe there is case law where a banana was a firearm as it was used in a crime (the perpetrator said it was a pistol in his pocket so it became a firearm offence).
Unfortunately I cannot find a link this morning.

Here it is ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqISLI2UQMY

Putting a helicopter in the air seems a tad gratuitous. It used to cost about £600 / hour and that was quite some time ago that nugget of info lodged in my noggin. Must be nigh on a grand by now.

We use cap guns at our murder mystery weekends which are quite often far off the beaten track so very unlikely to be seen. However we always phone the police to get it recorded that we will be in that area at that time in case seen by Joe public as any gun looking thing gets armed response out, if we have the incident number already just normal police come and have a chat. Its happend once and the police officers were great about it as they already knew we were around they also said if we hadnt had the number its possible they may have seen it as an offence even though it was a cap gun which is seen as a 'realistic imitation firearm' .

The police cant afford to take chances and must respond.

Cheerho

Dunc wrote:

Chapuis wrote:

Rockhopper wrote:An air rifle is legally a firearm, it's just of a category that doesn't require a licence (apart from in Scotland)

and I believe Northern Ireland? Or at least they did at one time, not sure of the current situation.

Correct. Both Scotland and N Ireland require licences for air rifles.

Yes i think in Scotland you can get a air gun licence, in N/I there is just one Firearms arms certificate that covers all firearms shot guns air rifles etc. You can not get a air pistol unless you are in a gun club, its classed the same as any handgun and requires the same conditions to get one as a .44 magnum for example.

The term ‘Firearm’ is defined as a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged.