UK passes new gun law

[MicroBalrog]

The Home Office have advised us, on the 9th December 2003, that the
Anti-Social Behaviour Bill has now become an Act of Parliament and that the provisions
banning the Brocock style of air cartridge pistol will take legal effect on
the 20th January, 2004.

We have been told that there will be a three month 'period of grace' after
the 20th January 2004 during which an existing owner of a Brocock style pistol
may either legitimately dispose of his pistol(s) or obtain a Firearm
Certificate for it/them. Existing owners will be allowed to keep their pistols on a FAC
as Section 1 firearms. The pistols are to be otherwise classed as 'prohibited
weapons' - Section 5 - under the Firearms Act, 1968 (as amended).

The Home Office will supply full details shortly but, in the meantime, owners
are put on notice of what is to be required of them. It seems that there will
be no 'Good Reason' requirement demanded before a FAC may be granted but the
other criteria relating to such a grant - i.e the applicant is not prohibited
by law from possessing firearms and is a fit person to be entrusted with
firearms without danger to the public safety or the peace - will apply. This means
that the police will check these factors in the case of all owners of Brocock
style pistols who apply for FAC's. Security conditions will also apply.

The Home Office also advised us that the new law contained a mandatory 5 year
prison sentence under certain circumstances for persons convicted of being in
possession of these firearms after the 'period of grace' . They have
emphasised that they do not want anyone to be caught out by this provision.

The Sportsman's Association has made its views known to the Home Office about
this ludicrous laaw but we can only comply with it until it has been
repealed. We have made the point that we would have thought that our legislators would
have had enough sense to realise that there were much bigger problems to deal
with than the occasional misuse of Brocock style pistols.

We will keep you informed as soon as we have more detailed information.


Richard Malbon, Sportsman's Association

No comment.

 

[MaterDei]

The pistols are to be otherwise classed as 'prohibited
weapons' - Section 5 - under the Firearms Act, 1968

I seems 1968 was a bad year for gun owners worldwide.

 

[TheOtherOne]

Brocock style of air cartridge pistol

Is that just a pellet/bb gun?

 

[mtnbkr]

More or less. They're designed to look like real firearms (more or less) and have actual cartridges that you charge with compressed air, insert a pellet into, and fire. They basically are an airgun with more "realistic" gun handling features.

I think the problem is that 1) they look real, and 2) they can be converted to actual cartridge (with powder and bullet instead of compressed air and pellet) firearms.

Chris

 

[MicroBalrog]

Chris, but NOBODY would ever ban something just because it looks scary!

 

[WonderNine]

2) they can be converted to actual cartridge (with powder and bullet

 

[Cosmoline]

"Anti-Social Behaviour Bill"

The phrase "Orwellian" gets used too much. But in this case I think it fits perfectly.

 

[mtnbkr]

WonderNine,

Do a search on the Internet for Brocock and converting them to real firearms and you'll find enough information about criminals doing that in England when they can't get the real thing.

It's really not much different than zipguns and the like except that these even look like regular guns since Brocock's products are designed to chamber compressed air containers that look like loaded ammo. All that's left is to fashion a barrel and firing mechanism. Actually, IIRC, the Brocock guns even release the compressed air for the shot via a strike against a section of the "cartridge" that looks like a primer. So, the firing pin mech may be there already.

Chris

 

[bvmjethead]

Worse than the ridiculous gun law is the "manditory" sentencing guidelines.

God help us.

 

[agricola]

We have made the point that we would have thought that our legislators would
have had enough sense to realise that there were much bigger problems to deal
with than the occasional misuse of Brocock style pistols.

depending on the year between 30-50% of gun murders are with converted brococks

 

[Dain Bramage]

Agricola, am I to assume that the converted ones are already illegal?

 

[Cosmoline]

Of course they are. But don't try talking sense here. After all, what's needed are more and more draconian laws.

I'm gonna be laughing when the costs and benefits make it worthwhile for British gangs to start arming with full auto AK's. Hell, if everything is going to get you hard time you might as well get something that works.

 

[T.Stahl]

Strange thing.

UK: mandatory five year prison sentence.

Germany: legal to buy and own for _anyone_ at least 18 years old, citizen, foreigner, ...

 

[geekWithA.45]

Well, they've run out of real guns to ban, so they may as well carry on with the toys.

 

[jimpeel]

We have been told that there will be a three month 'period of grace' after the 20th January 2004 during which an existing owner of a Brocock style pistol may either legitimately dispose of his pistol(s) or obtain a Firearm Certificate for it/them.

Confiscation will commence at a date and time to be chosen by the Parliament at their leisure or as circumstances permit.

 

[Sergeant Bob]

Look at the bright side. They've probably just about run out of gun laws they could possibly pass.

 

[carpettbaggerr]

These look pretty neat. Does anyone know if you can buy them somewhere in the US?

 

[igor]

A friend recently migrated back to Finland from the UK - she told me that these air cartridge guns' cartridges (what are they, .25 - .32?) can be modded to pressures that give muzzle energies comparable to centerfires of the same size. Anyone heard this?

 

[jimpeel]

An interesting thread on the subject. We're not the only ones who are confused on this.

http://www.airsoftclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=126

 

[jimpeel]

This was also discussed a year ago at TFL.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=143018

 

[cookhj]

does anyone have any website that sell/have info on these?

 

[jimpeel]

Here are the good guys.

http://www.sportsmansassociation.com/

The Sportsman's Association exists to fight for the restoration of target pistol shooting as a legitimate sport and for fair and effective firearms legislation. We also seek to defend shooting and other field sports against further unnecessary restriction by the authorities and to defend freedom of choice to pursue one's chosen sporting activity.

 

[Ryder]

Anti-Social Behaviour Bill has now become an Act

How lucky am I not to live there!

Sorry, but many people aren't trustworthy enough to be socializing with. I do wish it were otherwise.