Laws in the UK

[mortimer77]

As a young inebriated boy of 22, I had a pretty bad exprerience somewhere in the area of Soho, London. My fault entirely. Long story short, I had a locking blade Gerber razor sharp knife that probably saved my life. When I went to get back on the plane at the airport, I placed the knife on the security belt, two gentlemen looked at it and told me this was illegal in their country. I had to have it shipped back to me. Now, if lockblades are considered illegal, I am going to presume handguns would be as well, at least to carry. But what a better place to find out than asking those that know. So that is my first question. Also, are you guys allowed to have firearms such as AR models. I build them and so does every other redneck in my part of the US. Just wondering if their is a legal shortage of those. Really, I'm just wondering what style of firearms are legal for the average person in the UK. I have my own two-lane range, one for a distance model .308 and one for my various handguns. I also have an area for skeet (not sure what you call it) Do you have licensing to go through in order to obtain handguns? Just some thoughts and would appreciate any responses. Once I get a few tall boys in the gullet I will happily tell the above story if anyone wants to hear. Anyways, lay it on me fellas.

[channel12]

The UK Home Town Forum on ar15.com produced a guide to UK firearms law, this should explain what we can possess.

http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=235

As to knives you can own any type (except swicthblades and butterfly knives) but carrying in a public place is different matter. As general rule a folding pocket knife with a non locking blade less the 3 inches long can be carried without having to give good reason. For anything else you need to have good reason, ie legitimate tools of your trade. Self defence is not good reason because otherwise every criminal intent on violent crime will claim his big knife is only for "self defence" .

[Browning_grrl]

I'm also from "over there" & I've been lucky enough to have these fellas on here answer a number of my 'colonial' questions.

Loads of info on UK handgun laws here:


http://www.full-bore.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=93&t=22658


and the Legislation more generally here:

http://www.full-bore.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22884



I'm an ex-pat Texan, living in Canada now. Where are you??

[mortimer77]

In the heart of North Carolina. Loving it. Born here and will most likely die here. Our beaches have been named top 5 in the world and we have the highest peak on the East Coast. Generally, a progressive mindset even in the republican party. We want what's best for the country as a whole, not just what's best for Kentucky (kinda random but kinda not). Yeah I figured there were some pretty hefty laws. Our gun laws are starting to become more liberal by the day. WV just passed a concealed carry without a permit. Here you still have to take the class but that's it. Although I understand almost every point of view argued pro and con against gun rights, I wholly support our 2nd amendment, which in a way makes me a hypocrite. When I was in the airport many years ago in Heathrow, something happened and a flood or police officers came through. They were all carrying ARs. I can remember wondering if they were single shot or autos. Anyways, it's hard to imagine not being able to own a handgun although I know my friends in NY can't own them either unless they go through a spinal tap and give a stool sample.
I saw a question about someone asking you if you can get ARs into Canada. You can get anything into Canada just like the US just like the UK. Whether it is legal is a different matter. So you are restricted to 5 mag clips? That sux. Sux about as much as a 12" barrel. I mean look at all they are missing: Sig, Colt, S&W etc.
To you UK'ers. Do you shoot skeet or birds? I have an awesome gun I'm looking to get rid of. Its a Browning Citori Lightning 26" barrel with unopened package of Invector chokes. Anyone interested I'm sure we can find a way to ship to your nearest gun broker. It's an O/U so it would comply to your rules.
How about in Canada. Can you own a Winchester M97 (the best shotgun ever produced) and for Cowboy Action they are right on with the Winchester m92s. Those are amazing lever action rifles.

[Browning_grrl]

Of course those Winchesters are perfectly legal here (although, given their age, not that common). I guess we'll have to disagree as to their merits, though. The Ithaca 37 gets my vote for best shotgun, and naturally, the BLR is the best lever gun, imo. Different strokes for different folks. :)

How did Ky get into a discussion of N.C.??

[mortimer77]

Well, if you don't get the KY allusion, it's okay. You live in Canada.
Cowboy action shooters swear by the M97 and M92s. In fact, that's about all they use here. But again, opinions are like other things, we all have them.

[bradaz11]

i do cowboy shooting over here, I have a 1897, rather than the m97 which i'm assuming would be more trench gun spec?
and have a rossi 92, although the uberti 94's look REAL nice at the moment. so you might be right

grrrrl, what is a BLR?

EDIT - googled it, asked without thinking.... wouldn't be suitiable for cowboy, plus it doesn't hold enough rounds.

So you are restricted to 5 mag clips?

I thought Americans were supposed to be better informed about the whole mag / clip thing?

[snayperskaya]

Mag vs clip

download.jpg (7.39 KiB) Viewed 1647 times

No mag capacity restriction, and I don't think the Police at Heathrow would have ARs'........

[TattooedGun]

Mag vs clip

download.jpg

No mag capacity restriction, and I don't think the Police at Heathrow would have ARs'........

I always thought airport police carried MP5s as that'#s what I remember when i was little. However recently I've seen them using HK G36's and a few years ago, I saw staff at birmingham airport carrying what looked like an AR15. When i quizzed them on it they replied it was a SIG 556... but they didn't look like I've seen pictures of SIG 556's...

But yeah, probably wouldn't have AR's...

[Browning_grrl]

I'm thinkin' mall ninja, guys. I'm puttin' this dude on my Ignore list.