Quote Originally Posted by Powderfinger View Post
I think that conclusively proves that the CPS would not win a prosecution.
No, it proves that the CPS don't intend to prosecute, it doesn't prove the outcome of a court case - only one thing would prove that.
As far as I know, nothing has changed in 19 years apart from there being a rumour that something might change.

The situation (which hasn't changed since 1997) is this :

Semi-Auto airguns according to the letter of the Firearms Act are a Section 5 prohibited weapon.

However... the Home Office and CPS have both said that their inclusion in Section 5 was an oversight and wasn't intentional. As a result the HO and CPS do not intend to prosecute anyone for possession of an SA airgun.

This following part is hypothetical, because as it stands at the moment, it won't happen... but...

IF it was brought to court at this time, in all likelihood you would lose the case, because the Judge in most cases would defer to the letter of the law and have no option. There are cases where judges take into account the spirit and intention of the law, but in most cases they go by the letter of the law.
But the CPS have said and continue to say that they won't take it to court, which is why that bit above is hypothetical.