jimmyb79 Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 I think I have an idea what the answer to this is, but I have a permission which to access I have to walk from my house, onto a road for about 50 metres and then onto the permission. Clearly the gun cannot be loaded whilst walking on the road, but I wouldn't load until I was onto the permission anyway. Is it a legal requirement to have the gun in a case on the road, or is it just a good idea? I live in the middle of nowhere so unlikely to have anyone see me, but I wanted to know the legal standpoint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Its a good plan to stick it in a slip/case, just in case you have a lost tourist or the like. It does happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewj Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 its the law Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Don't know too much about modern air rifles so had a shufti. If you're talking about the Daystate, am I right in thinking it's mag' fed? If so, there's two definitions of loaded. Ours is a round/pellet in the chamber/barrel: The legal one is also if there is ammo in the mag' whether or not it's attached to the rifle. If the rifle is not in a slip and the magazine is charged (and, say, in your pocket) then the legal definition of loaded, " the magazine or other device in a position of being fed into the weapon", is met. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishman-in-wales Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 There is nothing in law that says you have to use a slip, it's just the responsible thing to do, even in the middle of nowhere, if you are seen by anyone, they do not know your intentions and you could find yourself face down with a number of Glocks of H&K's aimed at you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewj Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 i fought if you had an air weapon on display in a public place without good reason you face the charge of brandishing an air weapon in a public place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zabala Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 In a public place the air weapon must be unloaded and in a gun case which is securely fastened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishman-in-wales Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 (edited) the law states "cannot carry an air gun in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse" i take this to mean either with or without slip...so according to that, if you have a good reason, such as on your way to the target club, you could just have it slung over your shoulder, and not in a slip Edited December 10, 2011 by englishman-in-wales Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 There is nothing in law that says you have to use a slip, it's just the responsible thing to do, even in the middle of nowhere, if you are seen by anyone, they do not know your intentions and you could find yourself face down with a number of Glocks of H&K's aimed at you. Whether that is still true I know not, it certainly used to be with the exception of anyone under the age of 17. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewj Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 (edited) *18 nowadays Edited December 10, 2011 by lewj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 In a public place the air weapon must be unloaded and in a gun case which is securely fastened. Again, unless it has been changed, this condition along with 2 others relating to a club or shooting gallery also related to anyone under the age of 17. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishman-in-wales Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 (edited) In a public place the air weapon must be unloaded and in a gun case which is securely fastened. Cant find anywhere that says that, that is law, just good practise! Edited December 10, 2011 by englishman-in-wales Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HW682 Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 (edited) the law states "cannot carry an air gun in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse" i take this to mean either with or without slip...so according to that, if you have a good reason, such as on your way to the target club, you could just have it slung over your shoulder, and not in a slip You can read the actual law here http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/27 the relvant part is pasted below: 19 Carrying firearm in a public place.E+W+S.A person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse (the proof whereof lies on him) he has with him in a public place [(a)a loaded shot gun, . (b )an air weapon (whether loaded or not), . (c )any other firearm (whether loaded or not) together with ammunition suitable for use in that firearm, or . (d)an imitation firearm.] I think the law probably used to refer to being covered because so many people still quote it as though it is a fact. At first sight, this might seem like a relaxation (because there is no longer a requirement to cover), but in reality it now means that the restrictions on carrying apply just as much to a covered unloaded air weapon as they do to an uncovered loaded one. Personally I would still cover it in most circumstances. Edit to add: The topic of loaded airgun magazines was covered well in this topic http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/163675-loaded-mags-in-public-places (in summary a misinterpretation) Edited December 10, 2011 by HW682 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Cant find anywhere that says that, that is law, just good practise! As said, unless changed, (and it's also worded slightly differently to what Zabala) said), Firearms Act 1968, Section 22 (5). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HW682 Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Section 22(5) appears to have been repealed on 20.1.04 by the anti-social behaviour act 2003. The Firearms law is a total mess because the basic legislation is the 1968 Firearms act. However, this isn't set in stone as it gets constantly revised by other acts. The online version is good because it is generally kept up to date with the modification noted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 I think the issue here would be reasonable excuse. It would likely to be considered reasonable to go 50 yards from one part of a shoot to another and back but to to go 50 yards from your house to the start of your shoot probably wouldn't. Ask your local plod for their view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Surely it's merely a matter of common sense irrespective of wether it's a legal requirement ? If you exercise some 'common sense' and put it in a gun slip, You're not going to alarm less knowledable members of the public at large, many of whom are not going to know an 'air rifle' from their butthole, If you don't cause alarm, they wont phone the plod reporting the madman with the machine gun wandering down the street. You're not going to have to try and explain youre 'good reason' for not using a gun slip. As the furry critter says..........."Simples" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted December 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Thanks for the replies, as with all firearms legislation - clear as mud! I'm fully aware of the lawful authority/excuse side of things, it was simply just the law side of actually putting it in a slip etc. Wasn't aware of the magazine issue though, I have in the past loaded the magazine and shoved it in my pocket whilst carrying the gun in its slip over my shoulder. Good to know. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HW682 Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Thanks for the replies, as with all firearms legislation - clear as mud! I'm fully aware of the lawful authority/excuse side of things, it was simply just the law side of actually putting it in a slip etc. Wasn't aware of the magazine issue though, I have in the past loaded the magazine and shoved it in my pocket whilst carrying the gun in its slip over my shoulder. Good to know. Thanks again I don't think there is one. Read the thread I linked to above and then make your own mind up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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