Firearms and UK Law Discussion

[Smith]

Going to preface this by saying the purpose of this thread is to talk about how UK firearms ownership works, as I figured it would be an interesting subject, given we RP on a UK themed server, and play a milsim game. This is not a suggestion or petition to get assault rifles legalised in game for those inevitable questions.

From what I currently understand, a rifle may be owned up to a certain calibre. Said rifle may not be semi or fully automatic, although some companies now sell modified semi autos that require charging after firing each shot. The rifle I believe must be minimum of 12 inches long.

No pistols may be owned as they fall under the length requirement, however, barrel and stock extensions can be used to get around this.

The length requirement doesn't apply to black powder based weapons.

In terms of licenses, afaik you must approach your local police and apply for a license , specificly justifying every gun's purpose. However, you can go and get a shotgun license from them, wherin it is up to the police to provide a reason as to why you can't own one.

Please add your thoughts and knowledge to this as I do find this an interesting subject.

Going to tag @SI Joseph Tadworth because I have a suspicion he is somewhat knowledgeable on this

 

[AnonMember1]

As far as I am aware. By UK law the only legal item is a section 1 firearm. These being shotguns, of which you require a certificate to do so. Barrels of these must be at least 30cm in length and the total length of the firearm must be no less than 60cm.

Transferring this to Arma is difficult, handguns are legal as they are the less lethal, I suppose SMGs would be a good talking point as it would still somewhat keep the balance. 

Note so far, this is to own, carrying any type of firearm in a public place is illegal unless lawful authority or reasonable excuse is present.

I feel a reasonable idea would be just a confiscation policy if found with an SMG, this would allow people to carry for personal protection but not be fined or imprisoned for having it on their person.

 

[Busterguy]

As said only shotguns in the UK I believe. But then you got the topic of why shotguns but limited on other items? Surly a shotgun can do more damage.


Little off topic but for altis, Might be good to add in an additional firearm license that's somewhat expensive, maybe 500k to 750k that lets you carry an SMG.

Then strict laws can be had in them for example in the city they must be kept in backspacks.

Now that police can remove licenses this can be good for the people who want to follow the law and also for even PMC groups.

Like this if I should make a suggestion

 

[Dave Noble]

There are two types on licences in the UK that I know of, one is a shotgun licence and the other is a firearms licence which allows you to own a rifle eg a .22 rifle and some others. I think a licence for some weapons would be a good addition to the civilians/rebels of Altis. to be used legally of course 

 

[MrChee]

Let me preface this by saying that lots of what has been said is very much correct, i would just like to organise the points:
-Firstly, it is important to note that UK firearms law is one of the more complicated sets of legislation we have, and the lay public are full of misconceptions, due to its various amendments (1998, 1997) and array of exclusionary clauses.
-Secondly, all licences are given out and managed by the applicants local police constabulary.

The following applies to the wide majority of cases, all laws have exceptions and exclusions but for most owners, they follow the mainstream routes. This is a very brief guide, you could spend hours explaining the legislation.

Two main categories of ownership;
    Shotgun Certificate (Sec 2) (most widely owned type of firearm in UK)-
This is the more easily awarded of the two 'permits' as the police must allow ownership unless the person has a disqualifying history (conviction, severe mental health problem etc...)

Shotguns must be of a certain length (24" barrel). They can be both break barrel (one or two shots before reload), or semi automatic/pump action (upto 2+1 config). NOT FULLY AUTOMATIC. 

In short, this is because shotguns are a critically important tool in countryside life (broad pest control) and leisure (skeet, olympic trap etc), whilst also being the 'safer' of the firearms due to the ballistics physics of the shot (slugs are not permitted). 

Altesians dont have access to shotguns as far as i am aware so this doesn't really affect the server weapon set, although having them in would be both realistic and cool! 

    Firearms Licence (Sec 1)-
This is the more difficult permit to gain as the applicant must prove they are bona fide and the reasons for why they need EACH and EVERY one of the firearms they apply for (and ammunition). Firearms have greater; range, penetration, terminal energy than shotguns which is some of the justification for this. 

For firearms, in short, you can get whatever calibre you want as long as you can prove you need it and a have a registered space to shoot it (enjoy trying to prove why you need a .50BMG for deer or target shooting in your 200m back garden). I have known many people who own calibres from .17HMR to .308Winchester. 
They MUST be a certain length (12" barrel) , and they must be single action (pump action, straight pull, bolt action etc). No semi-auto*, No full-auto.

*The only rifles which are allowed to be semi-automatic is one in which the calibre is .22 rimfire. 

Prohibited Weapons (Sec 5)

All Pistols.
Semi Automatic rifles (excluding .22 rimfire).
Fully automatic weapons of all classes.
Grenades, Missiles etc...

-----------------------------------------------

So really, imo, the only type of weapon that could be implemented to Altis for legal ownership in a realistic sense would be shotguns, and single action hunting rifles. Our current access to pistols can be likened to a personal defence weapon (this is allowed IRL for some people in northern Ireland) for balance purposes. 

If arma has a type of semi auto shotgun, i think these would fit a good balance whilst not being stupidly unrealistic for legal ownership. I dont agree with SMG's unless they are very low damage just because -why??

 

[The Fiddler]

[SIZE=inherit]If arma has a type of semi auto shotgun, i think these would fit a good balance whilst not being stupidly unrealistic for legal ownership. I dont agree with SMG's unless they are very low damage just because -why??[/SIZE]

Shame that Bohemia scrapped shotguns just before the game was released. Would be nice to have them.

 

[Smith]

Interesting stuff! I wonder if there is anyway at all to legally own higher powered automatics...

 

[Dave Noble]

Interesting stuff! I wonder if there is anyway at all to legally own higher powered automatics...

There are quite a few semiautomatic .22 LR versions of military rifles that you can buy in the UK, including a Heckler & Koch MP5. Take a look at the Steyr HS 50 Cal, they are £5000 though

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[Gurlanin]

Interesting stuff! I wonder if there is anyway at all to legally own higher powered automatics...

Zero. Automatics are banned across the board, with only HM Armed Forces having access to them. Even AFOs (authorised firearms officers) don't use anything more than a semi-automatic weapon.

Our current access to pistols can be likened to a personal defence weapon (this is allowed IRL for some people in northern Ireland) for balance purposes.

As far as I am aware, it is still only the PSNI police who always have handguns, due to the lingering situation, and that comes under all NI officers also being AFOs - unlike AFOs in the rest of the UK, however, the PSNI officers take their firearms home with them as a precaution. I don't know of any civilians who are permitted use of them, though.

Firearms legislation also covers air guns, BB guns, and airsoft/imitation rifles. Air guns and BB guns are, almost everywhere in the country, largely unregulated - there is something about the maximum air pressure that they can be, or the like, but I can't remember. I'll find it later.

Airsoft/imitation rifles, however, have to be two-tone coloured UNLESS the owner; is part of a production group (which includes YouTubers like Tomska), reenactment (because apparently that is a thing with modern firearms - who knew?), costuming group, uses them for specialist purposes (such as police training, crime scene management, etc.) or is a registered UKARA member who regularly attends a officially licensed airsoft site.

There's also transport and storage of firearms and ammunition, the main one being that you cannot store or transport the firearm and the ammunition together. Ever. They also have to both be kept in a secure container that meets certain requirements (my local Air Cadet squadron had its firearms cabinet removed because it was on the wrong wall), and can't be transported openly unless there is a good reason (such as you are in costume, etc.).

There are a few more intricacies than that, but that is the basic gist of it.

Fun fact: Armed Police used to simply be a local bobby with a revolver in one pocket, and the ammunition in the other! How times have changed ...

 

[MrChee]

Firearms legislation also covers air guns, BB guns, and airsoft/imitation rifles. Air guns and BB guns are, almost everywhere in the country, largely unregulated - there is something about the maximum air pressure that they can be, or the like, but I can't remember. I'll find it later.

The power limits are 12ft.lbs (16J) power for an air rifle, 6ft.lbs (8J) power for a pistol. Going over automatically means you have a full firearm in the eyes of the law which is very naughty! 

 

[Rossss]

Even AFOs (authorised firearms officers) don't use anything more than a semi-automatic weapon.

Firearms legislation also covers air guns, BB guns, and airsoft/imitation rifles. Air guns and BB guns are, almost everywhere in the country, largely unregulated

The NCA use the L85 I believe, which is automatic, unless the function was removed? Is this a one off I guess? Just curious 

Air rifles with a power over 1J of energy require a firearms certificate in Scotland due to a law they passed a few years back

 

[Gurlanin]

The NCA use the L85 I believe, which is automatic, unless the function was removed? Is this a one off I guess? Just curious 

Maybe. I was under the impression that HM Government weren't happy with giving the police fully automatic weaponry.

Air rifles with a power over 1J of energy require a firearms certificate in Scotland due to a law they passed a few years back

Yes, but Scotland are weird anyway ......