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The Violent Crime Reduction
Bill was enacted on 1st October 2007 and has added serious implications to the sale and use of Air
Rifles and Pistols.
As from 1st October 2007 all non-private purchases of Air Rifles and
Pistols may only be purchased on a face to face basis from a RFD (Registered
Firearms Dealer).
Other items included in this include Silencers/Moderators and any
pressure parts such as; Main Springs, Pistons, Air Tubes, Barrels etc.
When purchasing any of the above, you will be required to produce some
form of Identification i.e.. Driving License or Passport, details of which
will be reordered in the RFD's register. Unlike with Firearms or Shotguns,
details of the purchase are NOT forwarded to the Police Firearms Licensing
Dept or any other party.
The Law - A Quick reference
There is no such thing as an Air Rifle offence. Any
offence committed with an Air Rifle or Pistol is a
Firearms Offence.
So if you think you are OK shooting with your air rifle or
pistol on that wasteland, farmland or woodland without specific permission
to do so from the owner or the land, think again. You will be committing a
Firearms offence.
Going on to private land, or water where you do not have
permission, is trespassing, and if you are carrying an air rifle it becomes
armed trespass. Whether the gun is loaded or not, or whether you are
carrying pellets, is irrelevant – armed trespass is a serious criminal
offence carrying heavy penalties.
18-year olds and over
If you are 18 years or older there are no restrictions
on buying an air rifle and ammunition, and you can use it where you have
permission to shoot. 14 - 17 year olds
If you are aged between 14 and 17 years you may borrow and
air rifle/pistol and ammunition and you may use it on private land, without
supervision, as long as you have permission to do so from the landowner.
You may NOT buy or hire an air rifle/pistol or ammunition and you may NOT
receive any of these as a gift. Your air rifle/pistol must be bought and
looked after by someone over 18 years i.e. parent, guardian or other
responsible adult.
You mat NOT have an air rifle/pistol in a public place unless you are
supervised by somebody aged 21 or over, and you have a reasonable excuse to
do so (for example, while on the way to a shooting ground).
Under 14 years
Under 14 years olds
You may use an Air Rifle/Pistol on private land where you
have permission to shoot, if you are supervised by someone over 21 years
old. You may NOT buy or hire an air rifle/pistol
or ammunition and you may NOT receive any of these as a gift.
Parents or guardians who buy an air rifle
for use by someone under 14 must exercise control over it at all times, even
in the home or garden. It is also an Offence if you allow your
pellet/projectile to go/fall beyond the boundary of the land for which you
have permission to shoot.
For more information, including information about what you may shoot with
an Air Rifle please see the
Code of
Practice section. |
