Changes to airgun law from 20th Jan. BASC press release.

[Simon Clarke]

New airgun laws come into force on 20th January

8th January 2004………………………….…………… …………….immediate release.



New laws which will affect airgun ownership and use by young people will come into force as part of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act on the 20th January.

Christopher Graffius, BASC Director of Communications said “These changes will not stop live-quarry shooting with airguns. Despite considerable campaigning opposition, BASC, with the support of MPs from all parties, was able to persuade the Government that bringing in a full ban or licensing system for airguns was unnecessary and unworkable.�

“Young people will continue to be able to shoot unsupervised on private land, where they have permission. The vast majority of young airgunners are responsible, safe and law-abiding.�

“An amendment to allow young people to continue to carry airguns to and from the places where they shoot was supported by BASC. It received all-party backing but was defeated by just three votes. This was a disappointment, and we do not believe this measure will contribute anything to efforts to reduce airgun crime.�

The main changes to the law regarding airguns will:

ï‚· Make it an offence for people aged 14-17 to carry an airgun or airgun ammunition in a public place, even if it is in a secure cover.
ï‚· Make it an offence to possess an airgun in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
ï‚· Make it an offence for an unsupervised person aged between 14 and 17 to fire airgun pellets beyond the boundaries of private land on which they have permission to shoot.
ï‚· Make it an offence to be in possession of an imitation firearm in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
 Owners of pistols or rifles, powered by a self-contained gas cartridge system, will have three months to apply for a firearm certificate if they wish to keep their guns. They will not have to demonstrate “good reason� for ownership, as is the case with other firearm certificate applications. The new law does not ban airguns which use capsules of compressed carbon dioxide.


BASC members who require detailed advice about any of these issues should contact the BASC firearms department on 01244 573010.

ENDS.

[svenhass]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Simon Clarke:

New laws which will affect airgun ownership and use by young people...

ï‚· Make it an offence for an unsupervised person aged between 14 and 17 to fire airgun pellets beyond the boundaries of private land on which they have permission to shoot.

[/quote]

I thought this was already the law for everyone, did 14-17 year olds used to be exempt? <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_confused.gif" alt="Confused" width="15" height="22"><!--graemlin:--> <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_confused.gif" alt="Confused" width="15" height="22"><!--graemlin:--> <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_confused.gif" alt="Confused" width="15" height="22"><!--graemlin:-->

[andy_scouser]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Simon Clarke:
Owners of pistols or rifles, powered by a self-contained gas cartridge system, will have three months to apply for a firearm certificate if they wish to keep their guns. They will not have to demonstrate “good reason� for ownership, as is the case with other firearm certificate applications. _The new law does not ban airguns which use capsules of compressed carbon dioxide._
[/quote]

What does this mean, gas-rams and PCP's now need a license, sub 12ft/lb ???

[Baldie]

Keyword is "supervised"......

Something nasty I've only just realised, is the bit that affects all of us:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> ï‚· Make it an offence to possess an airgun in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. [/quote]

This COULD effectively mean you may only have an air rifle in the boot of your car, travelling to/from your 'land' (if you have some) or to/from your club shoot. ANY OTHER TIME, you might be considered to be creating an offence!!

<img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_frown.gif" alt="Frown" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

[svenhass]

Supervised or unsupervised, 14 or 74 doesn't matter. If a pellet crosses the boundary of the land you have permission to shoot on it is an offence.

Sounds like a "concession" the BASC have made to make the anti's feel a bit better. THEY get to chalk one up for themselves and it doesn't cost us anything new <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:--> <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

[Simon Clarke]

Prior to the Anti-social Behaviour Bill the criminal law only covered under 14 year olds supervised by an over 21 year old and both parties were liable. In every other case firing beyond where you have permission to shoot is constructive trespass and comes under civil law. Under the new Bill, as the press release says, a 14-17 year old will now be liable under criminal law. Over 17 it is still a matter for the civil law.

Only guns using the self-contained air cartridge system become illegal without an FAC(ie Brocock).

The public place provision brings airguns into line with other firearms law covering shotguns, fac etc. Lawful authority is very literal - a police officer must tell you to carry that gun over there sir. Reasonable excuse is the main factor for everyone.

The airgun in the boot is a useful analogy - you would need to be transporting it somewhere for a purpose (shooting, going to the gunshop, taking it to show your friend to make him/her laugh/weep etc). Leaving it in the boot permanently would be a bad idea for many reasons.

[Road Runner]

Simon - Many thanks for your input on this forum - very helpful. Keith

[Chris (South Ronaldsay)]

The current HO guidance gives a slightly wider definition of 'lawful authority' - i.e. it does not always originate from police officers. For instance

7.19 When a parent or other adult wishes to
purchase a firearm to which section 1 of the
1968 Act applies for presentation to a young
person between the ages of fourteen and
seventeen, both the adult and the young
person must be in possession of certificates,
or other lawful authority (for example, as
would be given to a member of a cadet
corps). The former will need the authority
to enable them to purchase, and the latter
to enable them to acquire and possess the
firearms and ammunition. (snip)

[woody2906]

Simon thanks for posting this - very informative and clears up some points which were previously unclear.

[Simon Clarke]

Any BASC member needing more detailed info, including how to make FAC applications, how the "good reason" clause should work, and how to deal with any problems which might occur, can call the firearms hotline on 01244 573010.

Due to the high demand on this service, it is not available to non-members.

[mr magreggor]

Does this mean I will have to be supervised the 15 yards from the bottom of my drive to the fields where I shoot ?? <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_confused.gif" alt="Confused" width="15" height="22"><!--graemlin:--> <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_redface.gif" alt="Red Face" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:--> <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt="Roll Eyes" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

[Simon Clarke]

If you are aged 14-17, then according to the letter of the law, yes.

[Doobin]

Just a question- say I was to take apart my take-down rifle, carry the barrel and cylinder to a farm first, and then make another trip carrying the action? I don't see that I would be actually carrying an air rifle, merely bits of it.

[Chris (South Ronaldsay)]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mr magreggor:
Does this mean I will have to be supervised the 15 yards from the bottom of my drive to the fields where I shoot ?? <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_confused.gif" alt="Confused" width="15" height="22"><!--graemlin:--> <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_redface.gif" alt="Red Face" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:--> <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt="Roll Eyes" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->[/quote]

No, you won't even be able to carry it yourself if it's in a case AND you're supervised. An 18+ year old will have to carry your air rifle to and from your shoot. But he won't HAVE to case it. <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_frown.gif" alt="Frown" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

On the other hand, if you're fifteen, you could still carry a shotgun to your shoot unsupervised. <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

[This message was edited by Chris (South Ronaldsay) on 09 January, 2004 at 19:18.]

[robinghewitt]

Ammunition to, so check your pockets <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt="Roll Eyes" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->