Air Guns That Are Defined As Firearms
Air weapons with with muzzle energy of more than one joule are regarded as firearms. Guns below this threshold, and qualifying “airsoft” guns, are not regarded as firearms. Air weapons with muzzle energy greater than 12 foot-pounds may only be held on a firearm certificate issued by local police forces.
Air pistols with muzzle energies greater than six foot-pounds (and certain other air weapons) are prohibited and may not be possessed without the authority of the Secretary of State.
In Scotland, any air weapon with muzzle energy above one joule may mean that you need an Air Weapon Certificate or permit – see www. airweapon.scot for more information. If you are in any doubt, seek advice from your local police force.
Air Guns and The Law
Apart from the exceptions mentioned later, you do not need a certificate to have an air weapon in England and Wales. In Scotland, you may need an Air Weapon Certificate or a visitor permit to use, possess, purchase or acquire an air weapon – see www.airweapon.scot for information.
Lethal barrelled air weapons are classed as firearms and regulated by firearms legislation. You must make sure that you know the law and keep within it. In addition to the duty, mentioned above, to take reasonable precautions to prevent unauthorised access:
- It is an offense for a person under the age of 18 to purchase or hire an air weapon or ammunition for an air weapon.
- It is an offense to sell, let on hire or make a gift of an air weapon or ammunition for an air weapon to a person under the age of 18.
- It is an offense for anyone under the age of 18 to have with them an air weapon or ammunition for an air weapon unless: (1) they are under the supervision of a person aged 21 or over; or (2) they are shooting as a member of an approved target shooting club; or (3) they are shooting at a shooting gallery and the only firearms being used are either air weapons or miniature rifles not exceeding .23 inch calibre; or (4) the person is 14 years old or above and is on private premises with the consent of the occupier.
- It is an offense to part with possession of an air weapon, or ammunition for an air weapon, to a person under the age of 18 except under the special circumstances mentioned immediately above.
- It is an offense for any person to use an air weapon for firing a pellet beyond the boundaries of any premises.
- It is an offense for a supervising adult to allow a person under the age of 18 to use an air weapon for firing a pellet beyond the boundaries of any premises.
- It is an offense to have an air weapon in a public place without a reasonable excuse. It is ultimately for the courts to decide what a reasonable excuse is. However, it might include carrying a weapon to and from a shooting club, or taking a new weapon home from a dealer.
- It is an offense to trespass with an air weapon.
- It is an offence to have an air weapon if you are prohibited from possessing a firearm. Anyone sentenced to a term of imprisonment of between three months and three years (including suspended sentences) is prohibited from possessing an air weapon or other firearm or ammunition for five years. Anyone who has been sentenced to three years or more is prohibited for life.
- It is an offense to fire an air weapon without lawful authority or excuse within 50 feet (15 meters) of the center of a public road in such a way as to cause a road user to be injured, interrupted or endangered.
- It is an offense to intentionally or recklessly kill certain wild animals and birds.
- It is an offense to intentionally or recklessly kill a pet animal or knowingly cause a pet animal to suffer unnecessarily, which could be committed by shooting at a pet animal.
- It is an offense to have an air weapon with intent to damage or to destroy property, or to be reckless as to whether property would be damaged or destroyed.
- It is an offense to have an air weapon with intent to endanger life.
The U.K.’s Guidelines For Preventing Children From Accessing Air Guns
It is an offence for a person in possession of an air weapon to fail to take reasonable precautions to prevent a person under the age of 18 from gaining unauthorised access to it. There have been several deaths as a result of children getting hold of air weapons. These tragedies might have been prevented had the air weapons been stored safely.
Below are some simple steps to reduce the risk:
- In many cases, it will be sufficient to store your air weapon in an existing, suitably robust, lockable cupboard – keeping the keys separate and secure.
- Alternatively, you could use a lock or locking device to attach your air weapon to the fabric of a building, or to a fixed feature. Or you could use a security cord, lockable chain or similar device attached to a point of anchorage within the building.
- Even where children are very young, or are not normally present, it is preferable to use some form of security cord or similar device rather than simply storing your air weapon up high and out of reach.
- If you hold other firearms, you could use an existing gun cabinet for your air weapon provided this does not compromise security.
You might find it useful to consider some of the security measures suggested for licensed firearms. This information can be found in the Firearms Security Handbook, available on the Home Office section of the gov.uk website.
When using your air weapon, the best advice is to keep it under close supervision at all times and to never leave it unattended. Where you have no option but to put your air weapon down for short periods, unload it and gather up all the ammunition. Steps should then be taken to prevent anyone under the age of 18 from gaining unauthorised access to it. This could include attaching it to a fixed object using a security cord or similar device, or locking it out of sight in a car.
What You Can Use Air Guns For In The U.K.?
Air weapons can be used for a number of purposes including target shooting, vermin control and hunting small ground game. However, if you have never shot before, you would be well advised to go to a shooting club with an air weapons section and learn from a qualified instructor how to handle your air weapon safely and responsibly and become an accurate shot.
You might find that target shooting provides all the challenge you need or you might want to move on to shooting live quarry. If you intend to shoot live quarry, you must be careful only to do so on private property on which you have permission to shoot.
What Can You Hunt With An Air Gun In The U.K.
- Grey Squirrels
- Rabbits
- Rats
- Stoats
- Mink
- Duck
- Pheasant
- Partridge
- Grouse
- Carrion Crows
- Magpies
- Woodpigeons
- Feral Pigeons
- Greylag Geese (Scotland Only)
- Hooded Crows (Scotland and Northern Ireland only)
- Jackdaws (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland only)
- Jays (England Scotland and Wales only)
- Rooks (England, Scotland and Northern Ireland only)
- Indian House Crows (England only)
Air Gun Laws – Age Rules In The U.K.
Minors under 14 years you can borrow a sub 12 ft/lbs airgun and you have to shoot under adult supervision, 14-17 years old you can borrow an airgun and shoot without supervision, 18 and over you can own your own airgun. In Scotland, you have to have an air weapon certificate if you want to shoot unsupervised. In Northern Ireland, if you are shooting supervised, that supervisor has to be aged 21 or over.