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

British Government Consular Web Site ^

[spunkets]

Here's a summary of MA gun laws. They're similar and almost as restrictive as England's. The key to gun ownership, as in England, is political connection and allegience. Here's the other States

[spunkets]

" Illinois (I think)

No.

[spunkets]

"True, it's hard for a 18 year old soccer hooligan to buy a gun - but the majority of us like it that way - it's called "democracy"."

Socialists are always spewing exaggerated derogatory remarks when speaking about their fellows. That is of course, unless they are looking for some votes. It's called tyranny.

[spunkets]

"Yes you can own a hand gun, and keep at home; but it has to be stored securely. You can own a 9mm for example."

If, and only if you're a cop specially designated to do so. All others are forbidden. Remember the handgun ban after Dunblane, or did you miss that?

[spunkets]

"Britain's House of Commons voted in June 1997 to outlaw all handguns, despite strong opposition from Conservatives and some Labor lawmakers. Passage of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill followed the 1996 massacre by a gunman of 16 school children and their teacher in Dunblane, Scotland. The previous Conservative government had earlier banned larger caliber handguns, but Labor ministers said it had not gone far enough and left 40,000 handguns at large. Sports shooting enthusiasts protested, but no powerful gun lobby emerged to fight the ban. By a September 1, 1997 deadline, some 100,000 privately-owned firearms were surrendered to the police. Anyone caught in possession of a handgun after that date was liable to a jail term of up to 10 years."

You owned a 9mm in the UK Cpt? Are you on the payroll?

[dinodino]

Yeah, I don't get it--SRB's statements appear to be at odds with publicly available info on U.K. legislation.

SRB, if you are a policeman and neglected to provide that info, then I respectfully submit that you have not engaged in honest discourse here. I was taking your statements at face value.

[junta]

Thanks for answering. Nothing wrong with an Enfield I think they are a fine battle rifle. I think with some analysis of our reactions to British gun law you would find that what we find intolerable is the self-defence restictions placed on the subjects by the elite.

[BOBWADE]

Guns are not banned if you are a cop or can get permission from your gov't. Then you need to either keep it locked up at a club or at your friendly police station. Doesn't sound like your gov't trusts it populace very much nor does it sound like you have any gun rights at all. You don't have any rights to self defense or to keep and bear arms. I guess freedom scares the socialists to the point that they feel the need to disarm their own citizens. I guess they know its only a matter of time before they have to start heavily taxing the middle class and are afraid of another tea party.

[MediaMole]

I would love to know how he was able to legally own a 9mm Browning. All models of Hi Powers are on the list of prohibited firearms.

List of prohibited handguns

This is from the brochure which documents the changes after the Firearms Act of 1997 which is available here...

1997 firearms law brochure

The 1997 Act prohibits all handguns except:

* an air weapon or weapon powered by compressed carbon dioxide (CO2) if it is low-powered and does not require a firearm certificate issued by the police
* small-calibre pistols (and revolvers) - the Act defines these as ones which are chambered for .22 inch or smaller rimfire cartridges or air pistols/CO2 pistols powerful enough to require a police firearm certificate which fire .22 inch or smaller diameter ammunition
* muzzle-loading pistols (and 'black powder' revolvers which load from the muzzle end of the cylinder with loose powder and ball)
* firearms designed as signalling apparatus (flare guns)
* firearms which are regarded as antique under the Home Departments' guidelines, provided that they are held as a curiosity or ornament.

These handguns are not prohibited and owners can continue to hold them as before. A police firearm certificate is needed for small-calibre pistols and revolvers, flare guns, and muzzle-loading pistols (but not antiques held as a curiosity or ornament). There is more information about small-calibre handguns below.

Timing of the ban on handguns

Apart from the exceptions listed above all handguns become prohibited weapons as from 1 July 1997. Prohibition means that possession, acquisition, purchase, manufacture, sale and transfer require the authority of the Secretary of State under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968. He will not generally allow possession by private individuals. (emphasis my own.)

If anyone wishes to look at the information presented on firearms available from the UK Home Office, it is available here...

Home Office Firearms Page

[logic101.net]

UK self defense laws favor the criminal. Often in the UK a victim who defends himself will spend more time behind bars that the rapist/burgler/murderer. This post has no basis in current reality. Twenty years ago the laws might have been similar to what we have here now.

MARK A SITY
http://www.logic101.net/

[spunkets]

I suspect Cpt. Burton is a high end US citizen that thinks guns should only be in the hands of the monied and/or elite class. The same as the Sport Shooters assn. Also, I doubt he could hit a plate at 25ft with his 9mm. If he is an Englishman, then he's a damn lier.

He is probably a well paid fellow that has been to the UK on business, and has discussed this a few times with his coworkers. If he has a gun it's probably in the original box covered by the amount of dust that fell since he bought it, or he's got a fancy gold inlaid over and under in a display case.

[dinodino]

Why would Capt. Burton want to come on here to "prove" that U.K. gun laws are not as restrictive as reported, and "prove" it by lying? Because he's a jackass.

Also, one of my friends who recently (past two years) sold his multimillion pound house in London told me it was pretty much impossible to own a pistol there, so even the rich don't get an automatic free ride on this one.

[portcullis]

Gettng back to the self-defence laws, as much as I deplore them, they are probably a result of thugs wacking innocent people and claiming it was in self-defence. A popular pastime in the 1950s and 1960s.

Do you have any stories of this happening, that you could share?

[me2005]

You must be kidding.

The gun law in the UK is the worse of all Europe.
Here are some of examples of their stupid law:
A british citizen is not allowed to keep his weapons at home.
Semi auto rifles are banned, that's why AR15s have to be transformed into manual repeat action.

[PLMerite]

I keep a loaded AR-15 in my bedroom and a loaded 9mm pistol under my pillow.

If I go back to England, can I keep them like that there?