As the result of the latest VCR ACT air rifles/pistols cannot be delivered to your door in UK (only) by mail or couriers! they can only be delivered to another gun shop nearer to you . or sold in shop face to face.
Safety and the Law in the U.K.
Safety is the most important factor involved in any shooting sport and airgun shooting is no exception. An airgun is not a toy and rules apply to the ownership and use of them. Time spent learning to shoot safely and responsibly will allow you to use your airgun enjoyably for years to come.
The first lesson to learn is to BE SAFE - NOT SORRY.
A moments stupidity or carelessness could cause injury either to yourself or another person. To avoid this follow the rules below:
• Always treat an airgun as if it is loaded.
• Always store your airgun securely in a safe place. Make sure it is unloaded and not cocked.
• It is often best to store ammunition separately.
• Never load an airgun until it is safe to fire it.
• Never point an airgun at anyone, even when unloaded !
• Never carry a loaded airgun in public. Remember an airgun is loaded when it has a pellet in the breach, it does not have to be cocked to be loaded.This includes multi shot magazines.
• Never touch somebody else's airgun without their permission.
• Always check that an airgun is unloaded when you first pick it up.
• Never let young children use an airgun unsupervised.
There may seem a lot of rules, however they are easy to keep to and will save you trouble in the long run. Learning them and teaching them to others will ensure that you enjoy many years of safe shooting.
The Law:
Changes to be implemented in 2004 entered in blue.
There are some legal requirements to owning and using an airgun in the UK. They are there to ensure safety and most of them are fairly obvious.
For details of the legislation in countries other than the UK please contact your local shooting association or police force.
Airguns do not require a licence unless they are over the UK legal limit of 12ft.lbs muzzle energy for rifles and 6 ft.lbs muzzle energy for pistols. Providing you are within the age requirements for ownership listed below almost anybody can own one.
Owning and using an airgun:
Young people under 14.
If you are under 14 years old you cannot buy, hire, be given or own an airgun or airgun ammunition. You can however use an airgun if: you are supervised by someone over 21; and you do not shoot beyond the boundaries of where you are using it; or you are a member of an approved club and you are using it for target practice at that club; or you are using an airgun at a shooting gallery for airguns or miniature rifles.
Young people between 14 and 17.
If you are between 14 and 17 years old, you can be given or lent an airgun or ammunition but you cannot buy or hire them yourself.
It will become an offence to give an airgun to someone who is under the age of 17.
However you can :
carry an air rifle (but not an air pistol) in a public place as long as it is covered with a securely fastened gun cover that prevents it from being fired; member of that club; and use an airgun at a gallery for airguns and miniature rifles.
It is illegal to:
Carry a loaded or unloaded airgun or imitation firearm in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. Trespass in a building or on private land with an airgun whether it is loaded or whether or not you have ammunition.
Possess or use an airgun if you have been sentenced to three months or more in custody.
If the sentence was up to three years you are banned from using or owning any airgun or firearm for a period of five years from the date of release. If the sentence was over three years you are banned for life.
Kill or injure any bird or animal protected by law unless you are authorised to do so under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
Air Cartridge weapons (rifles and pistols)
Owners of airguns that use self contained air cartridges (Brocock / Uberti / Saxby and Palmer / Crown) have to apply for a FireArms Certificate (£50) before 30 April 2004. Failure to do so could result in a mandatory five-year prison sentence under the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
Any owner that doesn't want to apply for an FAC can hand their weapons in at any police station for destruction (there will be no compensation).
Gun Law
Gun law is complex. Be sure to check the law before you take any action. The following are guidelines and advice only and do not specifically state the law.
These paragraphs refer mostly to guns used in unauthorised situations, and do not generally apply to guns used, for example for sporting purposes, by persons authorised by the landowner.
Guns are often encountered by countryside professionals, and are frequently used legally and effectively without problem. Occasionally a landowner will encounter someone using or carrying a weapon which is not authorised. In a public place, such as a country park, this can call for sensitive, quick, action. A good knowledge of the law can help the countryside professional in such cases. The following is derived partly from guidelines produced for staff at an urban country park where unauthorised shooting was a problem.
The law may be thought to be a little complicated but it is designed to make sure that guns can be properly used by people without danger to anyone else, or the environment. Obeying the law will not prevent anyone from enjoying responsible gun ownership, and safe use of the countryside. Countryside professionals are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with these laws if they are likely to be encountering those abusing them - gun users are often very familiar with the law.
Air Weapons
(Adapted from a leaflet entitled AIRGUN LAW published by the Shooting Sports Trust Ltd.)
Airguns in Public Places
It is against the law for anyone to have an airgun in a public place unless they have some proper reason for doing so - for example, it has just been confiscated from an offender. A public place is anywhere where the public are allowed to go, regardless of who owns the land, and even though they may have to pay. Roads, streets, footpaths, canal towpaths, public parks, play areas are all examples of public places. If the general public have some sort of right or permission to be in a particular place, that is a public place and you are not allowed to have a loaded airgun in that place.
Airguns and Young People
These restrictions apply to young people. Two age groups are involved, those between 14 and 17 years and those under 14 years.
Persons Aged 14 to 17 years
In this age group you may not buy or hire an airgun but you can borrow one from a person over 17 years (for use when on private land). If you are under 17 years, your airgun and ammunition must be bought for you by someone over 17 and this should generally be your parents or guardians.
In this age group you can use an airgun on private property where you have a right to be, without supervision. With two exceptions you may not have an airgun in a public place. The exceptions are:
• Using an airgun at a rifle range or in connection with a rifle club or shooting gallery.
• It will become illegal for anyone to carry a loaded or unloaded airgun or imitation firearm in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
Persons under 14 years
If you are under 14 years the restrictions on using an airgun are very strict indeed. All those restrictions which apply to adults and people in the under 17 age group apply to you and there are more. You may not buy or hire an airgun or ammunition and may not even accept an airgun as a gift. If anyone gives or sells an airgun or ammunition to a person under 17 years he commits an offence. Parents who wish to buy an airgun for a person under 17 years must keep control of it at all times and must not allow the child to be in complete control, though he can be allowed to use it under supervision. If you are under 17 years you can have an airgun and ammunition temporarily in your possession only in two special situations :
• In connection with your membership of an approved rifle club or cadet corps or when at a shooting gallery.
You can have the airgun temporarily, and you can use it when you are on private premises where you have a right to be provided you are under the supervision of a person who is over 21 years old. If a pellet goes outside these premises on to someone else's property, both the child and the adult may be taken to court. You can also carry an airgun or air rifle (but not an air pistol) in a public place if it is in a securely fastened gun cover and you are supervised by someone over 21 years.
For all practical purposes a person under the age of 17 years must be supervised by someone over the age of 21 years at all times when he has an airgun in his possession, even within his own home.
Highways
It is an offence to fire any weapon within 50 feet of the centre of any roadway, if by doing so you cause a nuisance. This offence could be committed by someone on private property close to a road who used a gun in a way which upset people on the road.
Protection of Birds
Most birds are completely protected by law. It is sometimes thought that those birds which are often called vermin can be killed at any time by anyone. That is not so. Birds which are regarded as pests (magpies, sparrows, starlings, etc.) may only be killed by what the law calls an 'authorised person', that is the person who owns the land or who has permission to shoot pests. A trespasser or a person who shoots at such a bird in a public place will commit offences against the Firearms Act for having a gun and also against the law on the protection of birds by killing, or even trying to kill, a wild bird when he is not an authorised person.
Firearms
Any gun is a serious matter. It is normally an offence to have any firearm in a public place, unless safely covered. Even if it is safely stowed any firearm, including an airgun, could reasonably be reported to the police by a ranger. Anyone firing any weapon on or over a piece of land without the permission of the landowner is probably guilty of an offence, and should certainly be reported to the police.
Any unauthorised non-airgun should definitely be dealt with by the police. Weapons such as crossbows, bow and arrow, or even large catapults can be just as dangerous. If a person is behaving dangerously with any weapon, or seems likely to, call the police and tell them there is an armed person in a public place - they will be quick to help you deal with the situation.
In any case of doubt about any weapon:
• Do not approach the gun user
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Licence to kill or take certain birds
to prevent serious damage or disease
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by
sections 16(1)(j) and (k) and section 16(5) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended (“the 1981 Act”)
after consultation with Natural England, and being satisfied that as regards the purposes set out in paragraph (1)
that there is no other satisfactory solution, hereby grants the following licence:
Licence
1. The purposes for which this licence is granted are preventing the spread of disease and for preventing serious
damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland
waters.
2. Subject to the terms and conditions below, and for the purposes set out in paragraph (1) above, this licence
permits:
(i) any authorised person to kill or take any of the wild birds listed in this subparagraph, to take, damage or
destroy their nests or to take or destroy their eggs. The wild birds are:
Greater Canada Goose
Crow
Dove, Collared
Gull, Great Black-backed
Gull, Lesser Black-backed
Gull, Herring
Jackdaw
Jay
Magpie
Pigeon, Feral
Rook
Woodpigeon
(ii) the use of a semi-automatic weapon by authorised persons acting under subparagraph (2)(i) above;
(iii) the use of a cage trap, the dimensions of which do not satisfy the requirements of section 8(1) of the
1981 Act, by authorised persons acting under subparagraph (2)(i) above;
(iv) in relation to the killing or taking of Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) only:
(a) the use of any device for illuminating a target or any sighting device for night shooting, by authorised
persons acting under subparagraph (2)(i) above;
(b) the use of any form of artificial lighting or any mirror or other dazzling device, by authorised persons
acting under subparagraph (2)(i) above;
(v) the use, by authorised persons acting under subparagraph (2)(i) above, of any net, except the use of any
net for taking birds in flight or the use for taking birds on the ground of any net which is projected or
propelled otherwise than by hand.
Terms and conditions
3. Except as specifically permitted under paragraph (2) above, this licence does not authorise the use of any
method of killing or taking which is prohibited by section 5 or section 8 of the 1981 Act.
4. This licence can only be relied on in circumstances where the authorised person is satisfied that appropriate
non-lethal methods of control such as scaring are either ineffective or impracticable.
WLF18 (Rev. 12/06)
5. Where any cage trap, including a trap authorised under subparagraph (2)(iii) above is used, then only the bird
species listed in this paragraph may be used as decoys. Each decoy bird must be provided with adequate food,
water, appropriate shelter and a perch for the entire period during which it is used:
Crow
Jackdaw
Jay
Magpie
Rook
6. Any birds killed in accordance with this licence must be killed in a quick and humane manner. Greater Canada
Geese held captive prior to being killed must be killed out of sight of other captive birds of the same species.
(see note 8)
7. Where any live animal, other than a bird included in the list at subparagraph (2)(i) above, has become confined
in the cage trap it must be released immediately upon discovery. Birds included in the list at subparagraph 2(i)
which have become confined in the cage trap and which are to be killed under this licence, must be killed in a
quick and humane manner as soon as reasonably practicable after discovery.
8. When in use, every cage trap used pursuant to this licence must be physically inspected at least once every day
at intervals of no more than 24 hours except where this is not possible because of severe weather conditions.
In such cases, every effort must be made to inspect the cage trap as soon as possible. (see note 9)
9. At each inspection any dead animal, including any dead bird, caught in the trap should be removed from it.
(see note 8)
10. Where a cage trap is not in use, it must be rendered incapable of holding or catching birds or other animals.
Any bait, food, water or decoy birds must also be removed. (see note 10)
This licence is valid in England, unless previously revoked, for the period from
31 December 2007
Definitions
11. In this licence-
(i) “authorised person” has the same meaning as in section 27 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981;
(see note 11)
(ii) “to kill” includes accidentally to wound whilst attempting to kill in accordance with this licence;
(iii) “semi-automatic weapon” means any weapon which is not prohibited by section 5 of the Firearms Act
1968 as amended and which has a magazine capable of holding more than two rounds of ammunition,
where the depression of the trigger ejects a single shot, each subsequent shot requiring a further
depression of the trigger;
(iv) “wild bird” has the same meaning as in section 27 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. (see note 12)
Simon R Harding
Authorised by the Secretary of State Wildlife Species Conservation Division
for the Environment to sign Room 1/09a
in that behalf Temple Quay House
1 January 2007 2 The Square
Temple Way
Bristol BS1 6EB
Tel: 0117 372 8746
WLF18 (Rev. 12/06)
Notes
1. Under section 1 of the 1981 Act it is an offence for
any person to kill, injure or take any wild bird; to take,
damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while
the nest is in use or being built; or to take or destroy
an egg of any wild bird.
2. Section 5 of the 1981 Act prohibits the use of certain
methods of killing and taking wild birds including, but
not exclusively, the use of any poisonous, poisoned
or stupefying substance, any bow or crossbow, any
explosive other than ammunition for a firearm, or
any chemical wetting agent.
3. Under section 8 of the 1981 Act, it is an offence for
any person to keep or confine any bird whatever in
any cage or other receptacle which is not sufficient
in height, length or breadth to permit the bird to
stretch its wings freely.
4. Section 16(1) of the 1981 Act provides that sections
1, 5 and 8 shall not apply to anything done under
and in accordance with the terms of a licence granted
by the appropriate authority, which is the Secretary
of State (after consultation with Natural England).
5. This licence authorises acts which would otherwise
be an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981. Failure to act within the purposes of this
licence as set out in paragraph 1 or failure to comply
with the terms and conditions set out in paragraphs
3 to 10 may lead to an offence against that Act. The
maximum penalty available for an offence under Part
I of the Act is a fine of £5000 and/or a six month
custodial sentence.
6. Please note that except as provided under section
16(7) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, this
licence does not permit actions prohibited under
any other legislation. For example, where the action
involves the use of firearms, it is the authorised
person’s responsibility to ensure that he complies
with all relevant legislation. Similarly, anyone acting
under this licence is not exempt from the provisions
of section 28E of the Wildlife and Countryside Act,
as amended.
7. Where cage traps used under the terms of this licence
consistently capture birds not included in the list at
subparagraph (2)(i), the trap should be moved, as a
matter of good practice, to a different location in order
to minimise the risk of such birds being caught again.
8. Authorised persons should have regard to good
practice and any legislation affecting the disposal of
the carcase(s) of any bird killed in accordance with this
licence.
9. The authorised person should have regard to the
inspection requirements contained in paragraph (8)
when considering the use of a cage trap under this
licence. As a matter of good practice, cage traps
should not be used during severe weather conditions,
or when such conditions are reasonably anticipated.
10. In order to render any cage trap incapable of holding
or catching birds or other animals, it is necessary to
either secure the door in a fully open or closed position
or to remove the door completely. The exact method
used will depend on the type of cage trap, but where
the door is not fully removed, it must be secured by
such means as to prevent accidental operation or
unauthorised use.
11. At the time of issue of this licence, “authorised
person” is defined in section 27(1) of the Wildlife
and Countryside Act 1981 as:
• the owner or occupier, or any person authorised
by the owner or occupier, of the land on which
the action authorised is taken;
• any person authorised in writing by the local
authority for the area within which the action
authorised is taken; and
• any person authorised in writing by: Natural
England, a water authority or any other statutory
water undertakers, or a local fisheries committee
constituted under the Sea Fisheries Regulation
Act 1966.
The authorisation of any person for the purposes of
this definition shall not confer any right of entry upon
land. It should be noted that this definition may be
subject to legislative amendment.
12. At the time of issue of this licence, “wild bird” is
defined in section 27(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981 as “any bird of a species which is ordinarily
resident in or is a visitor to the European territory of
any member State in a wild state but does not include
poultry, or except in sections 5 and 16, any game
bird”. It should be noted that this definition may be
subject to legislative amendment.
13. Under section 14 of the 1981 Act it is an offence to
release into the wild any animal included in Part 1
of Schedule 9 to the Act. This includes the Greater
Canada Goose (
14. The authorised person should have regard to the
Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead
Shot) (England) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/2170).
Regulation 3 prohibits the use of lead shot for the
purpose of shooting geese with a shot gun.
15. The British Ornithologists’ Union advises that the
Herring Gull (
Gull (
seperate species. This licence does not authorise
the killing or taking of Yellow-legged Gulls. Yellowlegged
Gulls are sometimes confused with Herring
Gulls, but are distinct: adult Yellow-legged gulls have
yellow rather than pink legs, a slightly darker grey
back than the Herring gull and a red, rather than
yellow, ring around the eye.
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