At least from what we read in the states it sounds like owning any sort of a firearm in England is a major deal and using one in self defense in the home is a near certain ticket to prison for the homeowner. Is this picture entirely fictitious or exaggerated beyond recognition somehow or other?
Getting a shotgun certificate isn’t that hard if you don’t have a criminal record or history of mental illness. I know plenty of people who have them. Rifles (i.e. firearms with a magazine or clip of more than 3 rounds) are a bit more tricky, but if you join a gun club you can get those fairly easily as well.
If you shot an intruder in your own home, as long as he didn’t show signs of being subdued beforehand, its unlikely that you would be charged. Tony Martin was done because, and I cannot emphasise this enough, he shot Fred Barras in the back outside as he was running away. There have been many instances (which aren’t reported by the tabloid press with the same level of enthusiasm for obvious reasons) where burglars have been killed or very badly hurt by householders and no charges have been brought because they had a legitimate reason of self-defence or grounds to fear for their or their family’s safety...