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FAC rated airweapons, no different to owning an unlicensed .308 as far as the law is concerned and rightly so...

I am about to be really contentious I am sure...

If you take the time to read through many of the comments then it is clear what the rest of the world makes of the U.K... including several who openly state that they have themselves emigrated from these shores (with little obvious remorse).

One comment sums up that "he is an infringer, not a criminal".

Whilst all of the facts of this case are clearly not laid bare, I cannot help but question the proportionality of such an outcome (when the entire collection is obviously of significant value).

And his intent was???

Mr. Blennerhassett has probably been out of prison for four years now. I wonder if, having been artificially turned into a criminal and served time, if he's returned to being the regular citizen he was or whether he now has a less than healthy respect for the law.

surely he knew the law .

The airgun power thing has always struck me as a minefield which I've intentionally steered clear of. Without a chronograph how can you possibly be expected to know whether you putting that new '12ft/lb' spring in IS actually delivering 12ft/lbs and not 12.1? Or if its a PCP what happens if there's a problem with the regulator etc etc.

Considering the person in the case has previous for not complying with FAC conditions its unsurprising he didn't just get his wrist slapped.

It does seem harsh but its likely there is far more to the story than is being reported. Having said that the judges hands are fairly tied in what he can or cannot do in terms of sentencing. But as said above, an FAC air rifle is no different in law to a .308 and ignorance of the law is no defence (which is why I had a chrono when I owned air rifles).

This is unfortunately a slippery minefield with Air weapons, specifically those with regulators.

One day at one temperature and barometric pressure, they will give one reading, the next a different reading.

What si sub 12ft/lb one day might on a really temperature different day be over 12 ft/lbs.

I've heard of people running them at 11.25 ft/lb to be safe - but I'm not sure how much investigation has gone in to knowing exactly how much atmospheric influence has on them.

If this was a first offence, I would see it as being completely unjust, however this same person has (from what someone above said) not complied with FAC conditions, so it's not like he was unclear on the law, or oblivious to the consequences of non-compliance with the law.

Some of the comments were spot on though, I wouldn't say this is more of a case of infringement as opposed to criminality.

Not fun, either way.

OK, here's a concept then: just WHY should firearms be licenced (like they are in the UK), all this "need" nonsense". That the act of buying some items has now been retrospectively criminalised in a nonsense in itself.

Buying a gun should not (in itself) be a criminal offence - misusing it for ANY criminal purposes however should be dealt with very severely. Let's face it we all know that laws don't affect criminals. Why create a crime to fight crime?? How does that work from a seasoned criminals point of view? Law abiding people don't break the law.

What difference does it make if you have 1 round of .22LR too many? What possible repercussions does that have on society - or you as an individual? What differenc does it make if you have 1 gun or 100? provided you present no threat or commit no criminal act what's the big deal?

Your FAC air gun poses no threat to anyone at 400 yards - a .308 certainly could - so why the worries over that. Again, buying in itself shold not be a criminal act - and we have tons of laws to deal with criminal acts as it is. Yeah, yeah "but criminals could buy guns" - hmm they already do that without a ticket so that's not an argument is it?

Over here buying a 35ft/lb air rifle is an over the counter thing, as is buying solid slug.

FAC Air rfile: http://www.hatsan.com.tr/en_new_supernova.html 46ft/lbs in .25 or 39.5 in .22!

I am sure someone can do the ft/lbs maths on these little toys (I forgot how to go it ):

http://www.hatsan.com.tr/en_carnivore_135.html

http://www.hatsan.com.tr/en_mod_25_super-tact.html

http://www.hatsan.com.tr/en_new_bullmaster.html

Anyway, this is a "just for fun debate" so no need for anyone to get all stoppy and have it locked.

Chuck wrote:OK, here's a concept then: just WHY should firearms be licenced (like they are in the UK), all this "need" nonsense". That the act of buying some items has now been retrospectively criminalised in a nonsense in itself.

Buying a gun should not (in itself) be a criminal offence - misusing it for ANY criminal purposes however should be dealt with very severely. Let's face it we all know that laws don't affect criminals. Why create a crime to fight crime?? How does that work from a seasoned criminals point of view? Law abiding people don't break the law.

What difference does it make if you have 1 round of .22LR too many? What possible repercussions does that have on society - or you as an individual? What differenc does it make if you have 1 gun or 100? provided you present no threat or commit no criminal act what's the big deal?

Your FAC air gun poses no threat to anyone at 400 yards - a .308 certainly could - so why the worries over that. Again, buying in itself shold not be a criminal act - and we have tons of laws to deal with criminal acts as it is. Yeah, yeah "but criminals could buy guns" - hmm they already do that without a ticket so that's not an argument is it?

Over here buying a 35ft/lb air rifle is an over the counter thing, as is buying solid slug.

FAC Air rfile: http://www.hatsan.com.tr/en_new_supernova.html 46ft/lbs in .25 or 39.5 in .22!

I am sure someone can do the ft/lbs maths on these little toys (I forgot how to go it ):

http://www.hatsan.com.tr/en_carnivore_135.html

http://www.hatsan.com.tr/en_mod_25_super-tact.html

http://www.hatsan.com.tr/en_new_bullmaster.html

Anyway, this is a "just for fun debate" so no need for anyone to get all stoppy and have it locked.

I'm with you 100%. However we just don't have the lobbying power, nor the public behind us.

The sheeple are generally anti-gun, because that's what they've had forced down their throat as their view since many of them were born. So it's an uphill battle to revoke laws that we as shooters know are antiquated and ineffective in being used for actual criminal convictions, when they believe they are keeping them safe.