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"New" Airgun laws to take effect very soon


Mike2
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The "New" Airgun law is to take effect very soon.

 

THE CRIME & SECURITY ACT 2010 section which relates to the storage of airguns to prevent unauthorised access by people under 18 will (probably) come into effect on 10th February 2011.

 

There are a couple of points which need making -

 

  • This does NOT mean that airgun owners will have to install gun cabinets etc.
     
     
    People under 18 but over 14 can continue to use airguns "unsupervised" on private property with the owners permission etc.

 

See http://psa.bizhosting.com/Interesting.html for more details and guidance.

 

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The "New" Airgun law is to take effect very soon.

 

THE CRIME & SECURITY ACT 2010 section which relates to the storage of airguns to prevent unauthorised access by people under 18 will (probably) come into effect on 10th February 2011.

 

There are a couple of points which need making -

 

  • This does NOT mean that airgun owners will have to install gun cabinets etc.
     
     
    People under 18 but over 14 can continue to use airguns "unsupervised" on private property with the owners permission etc.

 

See http://psa.bizhosting.com/Interesting.html for more details and guidance.

 

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You sure the people under 18 and over 14 is right?Im pretty sure they got to be supervised.Dont hold me to that as im no expert,I just dont want a 14-18 year old to get in to any trouble as it is very serious stuff regardless of it a BB gun or a machine gun,they treat both the same in court.

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You sure the people under 18 and over 14 is right?Im pretty sure they got to be supervised.Dont hold me to that as im no expert,I just dont want a 14-18 year old to get in to any trouble as it is very serious stuff regardless of it a BB gun or a machine gun,they treat both the same in court.

 

 

:blink:

thats new to me

i thought there would be a substantial difference between a plastic gun firing little plastic balls and a metal gun firing numerous rounds a minute with enough energy to kill at a good range

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:blink:

thats new to me

i thought there would be a substantial difference between a plastic gun firing little plastic balls and a metal gun firing numerous rounds a minute with enough energy to kill at a good range

 

You are right. Of course there would be a difference. Too many barrack room lawyers on here :rolleyes:

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Airsoft (BB) weapons got hit with the last gun control act. You have to be a member of an airsoft club to buy one. Most are NOT plastic, but full size metal replicas of genuine military weapons. Hence the knee jerk attempt to ban them completely. However, unless you are really unlucky a BB does not kill or even maim. Youngest has been a keen airsofter in his time and we have a shed load of some expensive kit at home. Half decent guns start at £150+.

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Airsoft (BB) weapons got hit with the last gun control act. You have to be a member of an airsoft club to buy one. Most are NOT plastic, but full size metal replicas of genuine military weapons. Hence the knee jerk attempt to ban them completely. However, unless you are really unlucky a BB does not kill or even maim. Youngest has been a keen airsofter in his time and we have a shed load of some expensive kit at home. Half decent guns start at £150+.

 

wether the gun is plastic or not wouldnt really come into it though (i know i put about plastic guns in first place but that was just to make the point clear) when stood infront of a judge

he will take into account what damage the gun could do

 

yes a BB gun, airsoft or whatever fancy name it has is metal and cost alot but my point was that it would be looked at totally different in a court room

 

correct me if i am wrong :unsure:

Edited by TJ91
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Airsoft guns, by definition, must not be capable of puncturing skin. Their lethality was never an issue, but rather their accurate imitation of real firearms.

 

Airsoft is not was this thread was started for though.

 

Making it a legal requirement to lock up air rifles seems like a sensible piece of legislation.

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Seems a shame i remember my grandfather keeping a loaded airgun behind the back door and the same on the spare bedroom chest (for grey squirrels) everyone knew never to touch them (or suffer a fate unimaginable), there was also one in his greenhouse but it was so rusty i doubt the pellet would have left the barrel.... seems a shame we need a law to get people to sensibly store airguns. I wonder if in a cupboard with a trigger lock would suffice?

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At the risk of diverting from the subject - a BB weapon at point blank will I have no doubt penetrate the eye. BBs will travel at a fair old lick for a good 100 yards. Hitting on skin they will not penetrate, but airsoft clubs insist on eye/face protection so this article is far from unbelievable.

 

Security of air weapons is another matter. Our rifles are used almost entirely for vermin control. They are kept slipped, out of general sight, uncocked and unloaded. Your average squirrel, magpie, jackdaw, rat does not hang around. Woodies are a bit better. To lock adds another process in getting a shot in. If cabinets are in future required then that wpould be a retorograde step IMO.

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More likely than making a requirement for airguns to be kept in safes is the posibility of needing to apply for a license for air weapon ownership. This would mean that all air weapons would be recorded on certs and people could be held responsible for their use. Would be paperwork for forces but if they want to control them that badly.

 

Dont think license is required for crossbow and they are more lethal than an air gun :unsure:

 

From reading through those details on the above link, doesnt seem to me that they are changing anything that is really going to affect any responsible shooter. Seems they are just adding a few points to make it possible to charge somebody/adult/over 18, over a minor using an airgun improperly

Edited by spiceychilli57
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  • 2 weeks later...

The new law has come about to protect the young. Up until now you could not be prosecuted for leaving a loaded air gun in a room full of five year olds.

The way I see it as long as the kids can't easily try and fire the gun you are covered. For instance a small padlock on the gun bag or box would stop the kids showing a schoolmate dads rifle etc.

 

It all came about when one numbnuts kept a supposedly broken rifle in his livingroom and a visitor had a play with it. It went off and killed a little girl.

 

All my air guns have trigger locks now and are kept out of site.

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if cabinets were to become law for airguns then people would be discouraged from getting into shooting and fewer people to support the sport

 

.... and if they were to ban airguns we would lose our sport, BUT that is NOT what is happening - in either case.

 

The requirement is for airguns to be kept away from under 18 year olds except in the circumstances where they can legally possess them - clubs, shooting galleries, supervised etc etc.

 

Far too many people seem to believe you will need a gun cabinet to comply with this - and this is probably because of a police suggestion last year which was NOT acted on.

Certainly if you HAVE a gun cabinet that's useful security to use, but if you haven't, then it's not required.

 

See -

 

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/home-office-circulars/circulars-2011/004-2011/

 

and "AIRGUN LAW TAKES EFFECT ON 10TH FEBRUARY" at http://psa.bizhosting.com/whats_new.html

 

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Making it a legal requirement to lock up air rifles seems like a sensible piece of legislation.

 

 

:lol:

on a serious note it is a tricky one because if cabinets were to become law for airguns then people would be discouraged from getting into shooting and fewer people to support the sport

 

Crumbs, i hope they don't make locking cabinets compulsory or i'll be in trouble :/

 

I don't think i'll get a cabinet big enough :no:

allrifles1.jpg

 

 

John...

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Can we get something clear? Trigger locks (those that do not secure the gun to something solid to prevent it being removed) are NOT sufficient for this law on their own.

 

The section states -

 

"It is an offence for a person in possession of an air weapon to fail to take reasonable precautions to prevent any person under the age of eighteen from having the weapon with him."

Note that it doesn't talk about firing the gun, it refers to preventing the young person from "having the gun with him" - or possessing it, in English. This means thay we must prevent that young person having - taking - possessing the gun. A trigger lock on it's own does not prevent this; remember that many trigger guards are simply screwed on, and a screwdriver is easier to obtain than the key or combination to a trigger lock. Witrhout proper security the young person could simply walk off with the gun and unscrew the lock.

Edited by Mike2
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I think you are reading a bit too much into this.

 

Reasonable precautions could mean anything.

 

If I tell my kids not to go on top of the wardrobe and leave my guns alone they will. So I have taken reasonable precautions. If they are scrotes and I think they will ignore my orders then I havnt taken reasonable precautions.

 

Just about any youth has the capacity to break on your house and take what ever they want. They can't prosecute you for being a victim.

 

This law came around because they can't pin anything on someone who keeps a rifle behind the livingroom door or a pistol on the coffee table and it hurts or kills someone. So let's face it, it isn't going to trouble any of us because we are responsible owners.

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If you have a collection of rifles then a cabinet is useless. A simple lock on your spare room is a reasonable precaution.

The only reason for a young family member or friend to take or move a rifle would be to use it. If it has a locking mechanism they won't bother coz dad'll find out. If it is taken or used by someone removing screws picking locks or forcing any restraints then they are a thief and bypassing your reasonable precaution.

We should be leaving the sensationalism to the papers not scaring an already responsible air gun community into fitting bars to the windows and locking up the kids.

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