In public?

[AlecMac]

The story so far;

I have no air gun.
I want an air gun,
I’m buying a new AA s400 and all the bits tomorrow.


While not planning to take my gun shopping or to the cinema, there’ll be times when I’ll be out in public with it. I understand it needs to be in a secure case. What’s meant by a secure container? Does it need to be hard and locked, or does a zipped gunslip / backpack count?

[Sniper 296]

not too sure myself...

but i think it needs to be a lockable case...


If in doubt try and get a hard case... always better in the long run!

[Farmerpalmer]

zipped gunslip.

It's just so you can't threaten anybody in public, or appear threatening.

[SteveH]

You have to have reasonable or lawful excuse to have it in a public place - loaded or not.

You should therefore not take it into "Tescos" whilst going to the club etc.

I dont think there is any legal requiremnent to have it covered or the type of covering - its just common sense and good practice.

Quickest way of getting stopped - have an uncovered rifle in a public place!!

SteveH

[Farmerpalmer]

I think it does have to be covered, I think the exception for uncovered in a public place is for public pest control, e.g. to cover town centre pigeon problems etc.

[airgun nut]

I think it does have to be covered, I think the exception for uncovered in a public place is for public pest control, e.g. to cover town centre pigeon problems etc.

"A secure cover, so that it can not be fired" was applied to younger shooters, over 14 but under 17 IIRC. There never has been a requirement for the gun to be covered otherwise, I think.

Obviously, these days, you wouldn't stroll down the road with an uncovered gun.

[CarpeDiem]

You have to have reasonable or lawful excuse to have it in a public place - loaded or not.

You should therefore not take it into "Tescos" whilst going to the club etc.

I dont think there is any legal requiremnent to have it covered or the type of covering - its just common sense and good practice.

Quickest way of getting stopped - have an uncovered rifle in a public place!!

SteveH

Sensible advice but in addition, the current legal position is that your car is also a "public place" therefore you also have to have a good reason to have an air rifle in the boot. This is obviously ok if you're travelling to and from the range or land you have permission to hunt on but there have been several court cases of late where an unsuspecting motorist has been convicted of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place on the basis of having a lockable blade knife in their car without good reason. I read one report (can't find the link now) where a chippy was convicted on this charge for having two lockable blade knives in his van. The knives were actually Stanley type craft knives in his toolbag and as it was a Sunday and he wasn't at work it was judged that he didn't have good reason for them being in the vehicle.

If you take the air rifle out shooting one evening then forget it's in the boot you are risking prosecution if, for example, you have a minor prang on the way to work the following morning and there's police involvement. Same goes for that nice little lock knife you use for skinning rabbits, which usually lives in the glove box. I've also been advised by a local solicitor that anyone who carries a Leatherman type tool on their belt is taking a risk as they can be viewed as butterfly knives because the handle splits to reveal the blade, which is then effectively locked into place when the handles are closed.

Here's a link which shows the courts views on cars being public places - even locked cars. http://www.endangereddogs.com/EDDROtisCaseOutcome.htm

Charming country we live in!

G

[Pod]

I've read the 'car is a public place' thing a few times and never really thought about it until just now. How the hell can it be??!!!
How is stealing from a car against the law then? Surely its just finding something in a public place?

[Baldie]

This is obviously ok if you're travelling to and from the range or land you have permission to hunt on but there have been several court cases of late where an unsuspecting motorist has been convicted of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place on the basis of having a lockable blade knife in their car without good reason. I read one report (can't find the link now) where a chippy was convicted on this charge for having two lockable blade knives in his van. The knives were actually Stanley type craft knives in his toolbag and as it was a Sunday and he wasn't at work it was judged that he didn't have good reason for them being in the vehicle.

I'd like to see some links to this, as I think it's a crock of ****.

Not very long ago (2 years) I flew out to Dublin with a craft knife in the briefcase I carried onto the plane. It wasn't until I flew back, and security wanted to know what all the wires were in the brief case that I realised the knife was there. It went in the bin. No drama, no arrest, no investigation. [I went scarlet when I realised what I'd done during the first trip].

There is a case reported on the internet where some reporter who worked (or works) for a national newspaper, got pulled in London and successfully prosecuted for 'possession' of a weapon in a public place. It was a locking knife stored in his briefcase, and that in his car.

Listen......

Air rifles are a weapon. [As is a hammer BTW]. In the eyes of the law air rifles when in public places are defined as firearms. So think about this, how sensible is carrying something Police regard as a firearm, in a public place?

If you have to travel from point A to point B and HAVE to walk there, best try to disguise the fact you are carrying a rifle. An oblong shaped semi-hard (plastic one) would be best. You won't be advertising what you're doing.

ONLY have it with you during these journeys. Don't stop off at a mates, or walk into a shop for a newspaper.

Keep the magazine EMPTY. [This is a must]. Try to keep the magazine and the pellets in separate areas in the case. If they have to go in with the rifle, use small padlocks to lock the case. You might be expected to show in court, that neither you or anyone else had ready access to (loaded or loadable) firearms in a public place.

People who take the rather 'gung ho' view they have rights to 'do this or do that' ought to take the view of the Police......

When they see, or respond to a report of someone carrying a rifle in public, how are they to know whether the rifle carrying individual is on legitimate 'business' or not. They have to assume 'not' for the safety of the public. And rightly so.


Carry a rifle in public, and the Police can confiscate it. They can send it away for testing. Even if its 100% legal, it may not come back in the same condition if left. Even if the rifle is actually legal, in the right circumstances, it can be illegal. [I've seen this, and so have others. With the right weather conditions the fps figure has risen some 30-40 fps.] Even if the rifle and you are 100% legal, the Police may well consider the situation was 'risky' and may feel inclined to investigation whether there's a prosecution to be made. So you get to visit the nick.

I'd always recommend you don't expose yourself to attention from the Police by carrying a rifle in public. If you have to, then at least show you've made some effort to keep it secure while its being transported by yourself.

The whole idea of the exercise is to get you where you want to be without problems.

[Pod]

Don't think it has to be lockable - a gun slip will suffice as long as it is zipped up.

You do have to have a good reason for having it in a public place, and I'm assuming you are 18 or over.
When in the case it must not be loaded - which is plain old common sense anyway.

Years ago I saw a gentleman taking his shotgun from a gunshop wrapped in brown paper!

Edit - just checked yur profile - you're old

[AlecMac]

Thanks Roger,
I was going to start looking for local clubs next. thanks for the info and advice.

[Lucifer]

and loaded means a pellet in the barrel. Even if the gun is not cocked. however you could in theory have the rifle cocked but with out a pellet

safest I'd say is neither!!