The Truth: Gun Ownership IS Allowed in Engand & UK.

British Government Consular Web Site ^

[Cpt Sir Richard Burton]

If an individual imports a firearm and/or ammunition after becoming a resident of the UK, he will need to apply for a firearms or shotgun certificate. Application must be made to the Chief Officer of the Police for the area in which he is resident. The Metropolitan Police Service Firearms Enquiry Team provides specific information on firearms certificates and shotgun certificates.

[Cpt Sir Richard Burton]

If you go to the British embassy web site here: http://www.britainusa.com/faq2/showfaq.asp?SID=313

you will see that the gun laws are similar to laws in most US states. There's a lot of nonsense spoken by the NRA and others about gun laws in the UK. It's Assault Weapons that are difficult (but not impossible)to own legally in the UK.

In fact, in some ways, the gun laws in the UK are less stringent because they allow foreign residents to own firearms, whereas many US states don't, e.g MA.

If you need to carry a concealed weapon you can get a permit from the Home Office.

[Puppage]

You do NOT have gun control in England..you haveGUN PROHIBITION. Big difference. And, I would wager to say that other than calling an assault rifle "military like", you have absolutely no idea what defines an assault weapon.

[vbmoneyspender]

Have you read the restrictions on owning guns on the site you linked to? For example did you read the part about having to be licensed before you can own shotguns?

[Dan4175]

Cpt Sir Richard Burton signed up 2002-10-26.

Figures. Be gone, troll.

[Tijeras_Slim]

You're a disgrace to your screename.

[xsrdx]

Interesting. I've often wondered how many Brits are hiding surplus L1A1's and SLR's in basements and backrooms.

Now they can all head to the range for some target practice, since apparently the Home Office has NO PROBLEM with civilian ownership of firearms, contrary to popular opinion.

Any other citizens of the UK care to comment?

By the way, what, exactly, is an "assault weapon"?

[coloradan]

If an individual imports a firearm and/or ammunition ...

People get one (1) firearm certificate, and it must be kept locked at a club or police station, unless there is special permission to keep it locked at home. Telling a non-certificated person where the key to the safe (or what its combination is) is a criminal offense and results in the loss of the certificate and seizure of the firearm. There was a case in which a man told his mother where the key was, and authorities found this out.

[colderwater]

From the British website:

"Please note that personal security is not a valid reason for possessing, importing or transhipment of firearms in the UK."

And from a link on that page:

"Common sense dictates that there are many types of firearms, especially those designed for military use, that have no place in the sporting field or hobby of shooting. There are others, for instance some hand guns, which have been brought into the prohibited category by Acts of Parliament. All of the following weapons and ammunition are prohibited:"

The philosophy from which those statements are derived, is in complete oppostion to the 2'd ammendement of the U.S. Constitution, and the Constitutions and laws of most of the states.

Although you may legally bring some weapons to the U.K., it is possible only at the whim of the government; where such exercise by the individual is treated as a revokable privilage. Although vermin of various stripes are trying to make the situtation the same in the U.S., they have a long way to go yet.

cw

[Cpt Sir Richard Burton]

Getting a license to own a shotgun in the UK isn't hard, if you are an honest law abiding resident. The restriction is on sawn-off shot guns, the type of thing that bank robbers like to use.

If, you want to make it easy for some Saudi A-rab Islamofacist to walk into a store to buy a shot gun and blow away school kids - then I guess the UK laws are bad.

[coloradan]

Ooops, dangling participle. The gun, not the certificate, shall be locked... ("He walked into the basement, full of indecision. Not knowing what to do, the clock struck noon.")

[xsrdx]

From the link:

Please note that personal security is not a valid reason for possessing, importing or transhipment of firearms in the UK.

Certain weapons are prohibited from import. A complete list of the prohibited weapons and ammunition is available from the Metropolitan Police Service Firearms Enquiry Team.

I'll give you three guesses what constitutes a "prohibited" firearm, and the first two don't count.

[coloradan]

Getting a license to own a shotgun in the UK isn't hard,

There it is again!

And what about rifles and handguns? And ammunition? Where do you get that?

[Tijeras_Slim]

You may be able to get a shotgun, but don't dare use it. Just ask Tony Martin.

[Cpt Sir Richard Burton]

Guns are not prohibited in th UK. The law, to make it clearer for you, doesn't allow fully automatic weapons, semi automatic weaposn are allowed.

Certain types of ammo are disallowed (such as dum-dum rounds) but you get get waivers.

You can own an AK47, for example, if it has been modified to fire only in semi-automatic mode.

In fact, you can get a license from the Hme Office to own fully automatic weapons - granted the process is involved.

[PA Engineer]

" Gun Ownership IS Allowed in Engand & UK.

Says it all.

You gun grabbers just don't get it.

2nd Amendment bump!

[coloradan]

Please note that personal security is not a valid reason for possessing, importing or transhipment of firearms in the UK.

We should see to it that those criminals associated with the "send a gun to save a British home" program are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. After all, they were explicitly asking for firearms for personal security, and it was a big importation and transhipment scam. Completely criminal.

Well, at least I now know that I could face criminal charges if I ever try to send rifles to Britain ... so I certainly won't! Probably some sort of sting set up by the Home Office to catch gun-running Americans.

[Cpt Sir Richard Burton]

This is where I used to buy my guns in London:

http://www.raywardgunsmith.co.uk/contents/

up to 6 months ago.

Now I live in Massachusetts I CAN'T own any of them here in the US. I had to leave them in the UK .... no more hunting for me.

[backhoe]

I'm communicating from my "backup browser"-- a 66 mhtz. 486 with a sticking keyboard & gritty trackball- so excuse the weird typos, they are hard to go back to & correct.

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When I get back to the "better" 486 & my files, I'll give this joker some links...