LP5/50 now section 5.

[grahamrob]

What do you target shooters know of this,it's been talked about on the Rimfire section here ?.

[Rich]

The article says that the CPS has told Harry Preston not to import any more, however they are not interested - apparently - in those pistols that are currently here. As they are under 6fpe the owners will have been able to buy them over the counter.

So, how can they be Section 5? It is illogical to say that any more would be Section 5 but the CPS are happy for all those - apparently now prohibited - pistols to continue in private ownership. That would mean the ones that are here aren't Section 5.

That wasn't what happened with the air cartridge saga. Those in circulation had to be licensed or surrendered.

[Powderfinger]

I agree with Rich. If sem-auto airguns are now Section 5, why aren't they planning to round up all the hundreds of SA airguns that have been circulating in the UK for decades? SA airguns that have been widely advertised and used in ISSF competitions in the UK. I don't think the CPS are really confident that these SA guns fall into the Section 5 definition and they might well lose the case if they tried posecuting someone for owning an SA airgun.

[Rich]

... especially as we have the HO circular and the CPS statement from 1998 or so, saying that nobody will be prosecuted just for ownership. Any defence brief worth his or her salt ought to be able to use that to good effect.

[wonky donky]

I agree with Rich. If sem-auto airguns are now Section 5, why aren't they planning to round up all the hundreds of SA airguns that have been circulating in the UK for decades? SA airguns that have been widely advertised and used in ISSF competitions in the UK. I don't think the CPS are really confident that these SA guns fall into the Section 5 definition and they might well lose the case if they tried posecuting someone for owning an SA airgun.

This isn't correct, it's only rifled barrel rifles/pistols that could be caught....maybe.......perhaps not....well they could....perhaps not & so on. not something a bold statement can quantify.

Your correct the CPS aren't sure/confident as there are too many letters........ get out of jail free cards, about in the form of letters saying the law was never intended to catch these pistols.

... especially as we have the HO circular and the CPS statement from 1998 or so, saying that nobody will be prosecuted just for ownership. Any defence brief worth his or her salt ought to be able to use that to good effect.

If Harry cant import & sell them because they may be section 5, Harry can't repair them either if he's not a section 5 dealer.

[RobinC]

This was a wrong interpretation of the law by a jobsworth, (not sure if its police or a polititian) which first came up early last year, and much of what is being quoted now comes from then, the fact is under 6 ft lb multi shot air pistols were legal in 1997 and still are now. This rumour came up early last year, and was debunked then, nothing has changed since.

The quoted statement from a Lords debate refers to high powered OVER 6ft lb air pistols, which of course are illegal now any way!

And the Sportsman Association claim that Harry was told to stop importing by the police, not the CPS. I have not spoken to Harry on this so not sure, but I have on hearsay that that issue was over a sporting rifle that used a similar action and was borderline legal, not the LP50

There is a statement today on the Stirton forum by an informed and respected NSRA council member with vast pistol and legal knowlege where he states he provided indisputable evidence to the NSRA and the Sportsman Association (which is the source of this scare) that these under 6 ft lbs five shot air pistols were legal in 1997 and that nothing has changed since to change that!

The Sportsman Association have used Steyr as an example, but Steyr have stopped production of the LP50, purely due to the ISSF dropping events Internationaly for five shot air, and there is not enough market for them, and possibly some problems in production. But if true ,the same would apply to any under 6ft lb multishot air pistol of any make, including the replica type ones ( another debate!), and those are still being imported by the shed load and are even stocked and sold by the NSRA.

As I own an LP50e, and also last year when this arose mine was on loan to a GB National squad member to do qualifying for a section 5 permit, I, as also did the National Squad looked seriously into this, it was debunked then and to my knowledge nothing has changed.

[gingernut]

That's the most sensible thing I have read on here about this topic Robin.
And correctly reflects the Law.

[coburn]

This was a wrong interpretation of the law by a jobsworth, (not sure if its police or a polititian) which first came up early last year, and much of what is being quoted now comes from then, the fact is under 6 ft lb multi shot air pistols were legal in 1997 and still are now. This rumour came up early last year, and was debunked then, nothing has changed since.

The quoted statement from a Lords debate refers to high powered OVER 6ft lb air pistols, which of course are illegal now any way!

And the Sportsman Association claim that Harry was told to stop importing by the police, not the CPS. I have not spoken to Harry on this so not sure, but I have on hearsay that that issue was over a sporting rifle that used a similar action and was borderline legal, not the LP50

There is a statement today on the Stirton forum by an informed and respected NSRA council member with vast pistol and legal knowlege where he states he provided indisputable evidence to the NSRA and the Sportsman Association (which is the source of this scare) that these under 6 ft lbs five shot air pistols were legal in 1997 and that nothing has changed since to change that!

The Sportsman Association have used Steyr as an example, but Steyr have stopped production of the LP50, purely due to the ISSF dropping events Internationaly for five shot air, and there is not enough market for them, and possibly some problems in production. But if true ,the same would apply to any under 6ft lb multishot air pistol of any make, including the replica type ones ( another debate!), and those are still being imported by the shed load and are even stocked and sold by the NSRA.

As I own an LP50e, and also last year when this arose mine was on loan to a GB National squad member to do qualifying for a section 5 permit, I, as also did the National Squad looked seriously into this, it was debunked then and to my knowledge nothing has changed.

Good write up, might be worth a few more on this forum reading this, and gaining a better understanding of the law.

[RobinC]

Thanks, but don't blame me if some a****ole changes the law tomorrow!!

I'm not into the replica's, can any one tell me if they are semi auto, or do they have to be manually recocked after ever shot?


Have Fun
Robin