weapons - guidance please?

[dazlia]

Hi There,

I was just curious to know we stand here in England on Weapons? I.E what can you own? What the laws are about storage etc etc.

I did look for a thread but couldn't really find anything on here unless I've missed it.

Thanks

[preppingsu]

We don't have any weapons as I'm sure I'm not allowed to.

However, we have an air rifle, used for target practise and vermin control.

I also have a lovely hand crafted hammer, made on my OH pole lathe, and its a solid piece of wood. Very heavy. I'm so proud of it I keep it on my bedside cabinet.

We have had many interesting discussion on this topic, just probably not titles 'weapons.'

[SilentPartner]

I dont have weapons i have tools, My tools include knifes, air rifle, axe, darts, scyth.

[Vespa]

I don't carry (or own) any weapons, not even when walking the dog around the country lanes in the dark at night. In fact the only items I carry are a chain link dog lead (to control my dog) and a 3 D cell Maglight (a tool used to see in the dark).

I was once a martial arts enthusiast and learn a set of weapon kata for the Bo staff and Jo staff, I of course had to buy one of each to practice the art. They are beautifully made out of rose oak, very sturdy and heavy, not sure but I think I've still got them next to the wardrobe.

[skinhead]

my mind is the only weapon i need , theres plenty of things around the house that with a bit of imagination will help you out if need be, so dont take the risk of being caught with anything prohibited

[unsure]

like most i have a few handy tools and toys hanging around , 2x axe for cutting the trimmings from my tree`s , air rifle`s and a pistol for sport and a crossbow for fun shooting practice . a machette for the longer weeds and a catapult i take fishing , also a 4d maglight for when the lights go out .all these have their own place in the house . usually were you`d expect to find them .

[Lucky Jim]

Hi There,I was just curious to know we stand here in England on Weapons? I.E what can you own? What the laws are about storage etc etc.

My reading of Brit gun laws-
1- If you're not in a gun club don't waste your time asking the police for a firearms licence or they'll laugh you out of the station or possibly even detain you for a while to interrogate you about why exactly you want a gun.
2- Even if you're in a gun club there's still lots of form-filling and background checks by the police and there's no guarantee they'll grant you a licence at the end of it.
3- However if you're a farmer, shotguns are much easier to get a police licence for.

I haven't got any firearms, (just a camping knife) but at least gangs probably won't have firearms anyway in a SHTF world..

PS- Food for thought- in a Brit reality TV show about the police recently, they pulled over a young chap for a minor traffic offence and noticed a baseball bat on the back seat.
They got chatting to him and he seemed friendly enough, they kept gently trying to find out why he'd got the bat, and at first he gave answers like "It just happens to be there"...I don't really know why Ive got it...It's there for no particular reason" etc, and apparently they couldn't arrest him for simply having it.
But then he put his foot in it by saying "I might need it for self-defence", so they nicked him for admitting carrying a weapon!
They told him "The instant you admitted you intended using it for defence, it no longer became a baseball bat in the eyes of the law, it became a weapon!" Obviously he should have kept his trap shut!
The moral is that whatever you're carrying (even a chair leg 'club'or whatever), NEVER admit you might have to use it as a weapon!

This is my camping knife, it can cut stuff, make holes in cans, saw and chop wood, but perish the thought that i'd ever want to use it as a weapon..

[Lucky Jim]

Here's a reply I had from a Brit shooter earlier this month in response to a question I aked him about Brit gun laws, it's a bit long but I may as well post it for interest's sake-

BRITAIN'S GUN LAWS
"Contrary to what you may have been told, the general British public are NOT banned from possessing firearms. However, like so many other common law rights, the right to possess firearms is now heavily constrained and licensed.
To legally possess firearms in the UK a person requires a Shotgun Certificate (for shotguns) and a Firearms Certificate for all other types of firearm. These Certificates are granted by the local police and no-one can legally buy a firearm without one, either from a dealer or from a private individual. What the potential purchaser does for a living is irrelevant - a farmer or keeper who doesn't have a Certificate may not buy any firearm or ammunition. Joe Public who DOES have a Certificate may purchase firearms and ammunition.

In order to qualify for either Certificate a person requires a clean criminal record and a legally-recognised "good reason" to possess. "Good reason" includes written permission to shoot over a suitable area of land or membership of a recognised shooting club. If a gamekeeper, farmer or shooting club member has convictions they will not normally be granted a Certificate and thus are banned from owning firearms, irrespective of their livelihood or their hobby. Ordinary members of the public with clean criminal records and "good reason" on the other hand should be able to obtain a Certificate with no problem.

Once granted, a Shotgun Certificate authorises the possession of however many shotguns the holder can justify and has secure storage for. A Firearms Certificate specifies precisely what individual firearms and ammunition the holder may possess according to what their "good reason" is. For example if a person was a member of a smallbore rifle club which only had use of a 25 yard indoor range they would probably be granted a Certificate to possess a .22 rimfire rifle but would be refused authority to possess a .223 or .303. On the other hand a person who had permission to stalk deer on a couple of thousand acres should have no difficulty in obtaining a Certificate for a .270 or a .308.

Shotgun Certificates cover the possession of shotguns with barrels over 24 inches long which have a total shot capability of no more than three rounds. Large magazine shotguns and shotguns with shorter barrels fall under the Firearms Certificate provisions.
Firearms Certificates authorise the possession of sporting rifles, target rifles, non-standard shotguns, long-barrelled pistols and black powder firearms other than shotguns.

The following types of firearm are classed as "prohibited weapons" and may not be possessed by ANY individual in England, Wales and Scotland without the specific authority of the Secretary of State.
* full-auto firearms of any description
* self-loading/semi-automatic rifles in centrefire calibres
* modern fixed-ammunition pistols in any calibre, other than those with barrels over 12 inches long or an overall length of 24 inches or more.

UK firearms law is an extremely complex subject and the above is merely a very brief (and of necessity incomplete) summary, but I hope it adequately addresses the issues you have raised"
Regards,
legaleagle@marplerifleandpistolclub.org.uk

[Moony]

On the other hand a person who had permission to stalk deer on a couple of thousand acres should have no difficulty in obtaining a Certificate for a .270 or a .308.

* modern fixed-ammunition pistols in any calibre, other than those with barrels over 12 inches long or an overall length of 24 inches or more.

UK firearms law is an extremely complex subject and the above is merely a very brief (and of necessity incomplete) summary, but I hope it adequately addresses the issues you have raised"
Regards,
legaleagle@marplerifleandpistolclub.org.uk

Note 1) Deer stalking requires weapons with certain minimum requirements in terms of calibre, power and/or muzzle velocity to ensure a clean kill. Request a .22 rifle and say you want to use it for deer stalking and you'll probably be refused, it hasn't got enough power.

Note 2) Pistols are largely banned in the UK, though under certain circumstances (such as humane dispatch) pistols with restricted capacity are actually a safer option than trying to finish off prey with a rifle (due to potential for ricochet injury at point blank range). You can also legally hold certain types of pistol is you happen to live in Isle of Man.

To the original post: the only weapons you can own in the UK are those that collectors like, de-activated WW2 guns or african tribal spears or whatever. You can put them in glass cabinets and look at them. The items that people use in everyday life are hobby equipment or sporting goods, not weapons

[bigdan]

theres a big big wake up call coming to some of those posters who think that a mag light torch is going to save them !! having tools around the house that might be pressed into service if a lone assailant is in the house, is a lot different to a multiple attacker /shtf scenario. how many people have actually been assaulted by a desparate/drugged/ drunk or angry person?.. not many on here id guess.
a bat lying about the house will give you peace of mind but use it at your peril !!! im not coming from a legal standpoint as it would be legal ,but from a ,..you will have to incapacitate them with the first blow view.
its also a RIGHT to own a shotgun in England without having a NEED. if pressed by your local fire arms liason officer then you may have to just state you would like to shoot clay pigeon. you do not need to be a member of a shotgun club to own one..
Firearms are a bit different, but every prepper should have a shotgun, they are NOT WEAPONS they are just tools , just like a knife. i have been stasbbed 24 times in two different incidents, luckily i was wearing body armour but one hit me in the side and i have a four inch scar. knives create mayhem on the streets of britain every day but the cps is soft on people carrying them for nefarious purposes. You cannot defend yourself properly against a knife, and if you have one around the house for self defence then be prepered to have it turned against you.

Never take a mag light to a knife fight , never take a knife to a gun fight, dont rely on catapults or air rifles to provide for you post shtf.
join your local clay pigeon club, they are very friendly and helpful and moreover, cheaper than you think.