Quote:
Originally Posted by bobtodrick
From what Goodale has said I fear a return of the registry, and something like England where you can have a handgun..if you are a target shooter and the firearm is stored at your range..
|
You might want to brush-up on your UK gun laws, or at least be more specific instead of generalizing "handguns"...
"Handguns" (AKA small firearms) have been almost completely banned* since '97.
*Unless it has a 12" barrel, is .22 rimfire if semi-auto,
and is longer than 24" overall and cannot be shortened by any means.
Even the British Olympic team has to train outside the UK...
But I agree, it sounds like we're headed back to a Long-gun Registry.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firear...United_Kingdom
Quote:
Pistols
The 1997 law did not ban pistols as such and was drafted in terms of small firearms.[24]:3.2 British law defines a "pistol" as a firearm with a barrel shorter than 30 cm (12 in) or a total length of less than 60 cm (24 in)[27] (this definition encompasses revolvers, revolving pistols). Only muzzle-loading pistols—including muzzle-loading revolvers—are permitted; in practice all such firearms use black powder—a Class 1 explosive—as the propellant. Small quantities of muzzle-loading pistols and revolvers in various calibres, which comply with the regulations, are manufactured.[28] All other pistols are prohibited in Great Britain, with some exceptions such as pistols used for the humane dispatch of injured animals (such as deer) and some historical firearms.
Specific models of blank-firing starting pistol that are "readily convertible" to fire live ammunition can also be banned. The Bruni Olympic .380 BBM blank-firing revolver was banned in 2010 on evidence that it was being illegally converted.[29]
Long-barrelled revolvers and pistols
"Long-barrelled revolvers" and "long-barrelled pistols" meeting specified criteria are not classified as small, and hence prohibited, firearms; it is legal, with a Firearm Certificate, to possess them. The barrel must be at least 30 cm (12 in) long, and the firearm at least 60 cm (24 in) long, which can be achieved by having a permanently attached extension to the grip or butt of the firearm. Long-barrelled single-shot firearms of any calibre, and semi-automatic pistols of .22 rimfire calibres, are permitted with FAC.[30]
Target pistols
Aside from special temporary exemptions for major events such as the 2012 Olympics, pistol shooting for sporting purposes has been effectively banned since 1997. As a result, the GB pistol squad has to practice abroad.[31]
A few models of single-shot .22 calibre free pistol, as used in the 50 m Olympic 'Free Pistol' match, have been produced to meet the "long-barrelled pistol" conditions. Some free pistols have removable stabiliser bars extending backwards to improve stability; the UK-legal models have been made with non-removable stabilisers to extend the dimensions, instead of contrived and non-functional grip extensions. Examples are the single-shot Pardini K22 Longarm[32] and the Westlake Britarms Long Pistol, a permitted .22 LR five-shot semi-automatic pistol.[33]
|