Handguns: most illegal since 1997 on the British mainland, but legal in Northern Ireland, as is some form of concealed carry. Very limited handgun licence is available on the mainland for personal protection where there is a ‘verifiable specific risk to the life of an individual and that the possession of a firearm is a reasonable, proportionate and necessary measure to protect their life’.
Rifles: legal. Licence required.
Shotguns: legal. Licence required.
Air weapons: legal. No licence.
Replicas: legal. No licence.
Thank you! I am curious as to what kind of people are able to “carry” due to “verifiable specific risk”? I am assuming that these individuals are private and not law-enforcement personnel. If your life is threatened by an unidentified person perhaps? Thank you again in advance.
One slight correction on airguns. If the energy of the fired pellet is below 12 ft/lb there is no license needed. If the energy is greater than or equal to 12 ft/lb a firearms acquisition certificate (FAC) is required, which is the same license needed for a rimfire or centerfire rifle. Suppressors should be bought at the same time and added to the FAC. It is considered poor form to shoot unsuppressed guns thus disturbing the quality of the idyllic countryside, or the poor scotsman trying to enjoy his dram.