Shotgun law

[olim 28]

I have been planning on getting a shotgun license and a shotgun for a while now and was planning on getting one when I turned 17 (this thursday) but inconveniantly the law changed last year so I will have to wait until I am 18. I know that if I have a license that I can be given one, so i could basically get someone to buy one with me and have it transfered to my certificate I think but correct me if I am wrong, or would I be able to buy one from someone second hand e.g. classified?

 

My main question is though if I apply for one and the firearms officer asks me how I will get a shotgun what would I be able to say, I am planning on waiting until I am 18, I am going to be gifted one or I am going to buy one second hand. I have looked into getting a license for a while now and I am fine with everything else apart from these technicalities.

 

All help and advice would be appreciated, thanks Oli

[halamrose 24]

Look here: http://www.basc.org.uk/en/utilities/document-summary.cfm/docid/F5F7DD08-9471-4DF6-AD6B7F1FD074B235

looks like you can be gifted the shotgun or borrow one. Some less official shotgun clubs are not permitted to lend guns to non licence holders.

Halam

[olim 28]

Thanks for the link but what I really want to know is will the firearms officer question me about how I am going to obtain one e.g. who will gift me one or even prevent me from getting one or would I be able to say that I itend to join a clay club (which I do) and will purchase one when I am 18, but will they say wait until you are 18? It seems that it is fairly straight foward if your parents have a license but complicated if not. I just want to be sure before I apply.

 

Thanks oli

[carpentermark 21]

Hi mate, sounds to me like you're worrying over nothing! if they ask you where you will get one from (which they probably wont) just tell them you have tried a couple at clay clubs and are still deciding what the correct choice of bore size and barrel length suits you best and when you have made your mind up (through having more lessons at the club) you will buy second hand from a local gun shop. What they are most concerned about is SAFETY!!!!!! they honestly don't care where you buy or get given one from so long as you are responsible enough to own one. Therefore you need to be able to answer questions like "what range do 12 bore pellets travel once fired?" what are the laws surrounding public footpaths/ bridleways and byways?" "How you would hold a gun when in the field?" "What reason do you have for wanting a shotgun?" "Do you intend to have lessons?" "Where will the guns be kept?" "Do you have a safe?" "Where would you keep the ammunition?" etc.

 

Hope that helps.

[olim 28]

Hi mate, sounds to me like you're worrying over nothing! if they ask you where you will get one from (which they probably wont) just tell them you have tried a couple at clay clubs and are still deciding what the correct choice of bore size and barrel length suits you best and when you have made your mind up (through having more lessons at the club) you will buy second hand from a local gun shop. What they are most concerned about is SAFETY!!!!!! they honestly don't care where you buy or get given one from so long as you are responsible enough to own one. Therefore you need to be able to answer questions like "what range do 12 bore pellets travel once fired?" what are the laws surrounding public footpaths/ bridleways and byways?" "How you would hold a gun when in the field?" "What reason do you have for wanting a shotgun?" "Do you intend to have lessons?" "Where will the guns be kept?" "Do you have a safe?" "Where would you keep the ammunition?" etc.

 

Hope that helps.

 

 

 

Thanks, that does help and I probably am worrying too much, am I able to buy one second hand then from someone else at 17 and just not new from a dealer or just able to be gifted one?

 

 

thank oli

[matt_hooks 188]

No. It is an offence under the firearms act 1968, as modified by the violent crime reduction act 2006, to sell or rent a shotgun, or any ammunition for a shotgun, to someone under the age of 18.

 

You can still have an SGC, and you can be gifted a shotgun, but you would need to be gifted the ammunition too.

[olim 28]

No. It is an offence under the firearms act 1968, as modified by the violent crime reduction act 2006, to sell or rent a shotgun, or any ammunition for a shotgun, to someone under the age of 18.

 

You can still have an SGC, and you can be gifted a shotgun, but you would need to be gifted the ammunition too.

 

 

ok, I believe with ammo that if I give written permission to some one over 18 and my license that they can buy it on my behalf, does anyone know if this has changed?

[matt_hooks 188]

No. It is an offence under the firearms act 1968, as modified by the violent crime reduction act 2006, to sell or rent a shotgun, or any ammunition for a shotgun, to someone under the age of 18.

 

You can still have an SGC, and you can be gifted a shotgun, but you would need to be gifted the ammunition too.

 

 

ok, I believe with ammo that if I give written permission to some one over 18 and my license that they can buy it on my behalf, does anyone know if this has changed?

 

Never heard of that one mate. As far as I know you can only buy ammunition if you have your own cert. Could be wrong though.

[doddsy1970 9]

Do you know many people who have an SGC? If not you could always use this next year to gain experience at you local gun club. That way you will be in good stead when you apply when you are 18.

[carpentermark 21]

Do you know many people who have an SGC? If not you could always use this next year to gain axperience at you local gun club. That way you will be in good stead when you apply when you are 18.

 

Sound advice that

Edited January 5, 2011 by carpentermark

[SportingShooter 0]

Couple of things that have been touched on.

 

As Matt says, you need to be over 18 to buy guns or ammunition, in any other circumstance you have to be given or gifted the gun and ammunition, no money can change hands.

 

As for giving written permission for someone else to buy you ammunition, sounds like a combination of various bits of information, but it is untrue.

 

It does appear you're worrying a little too much. A shotgun certificate, unlike a Firearms, is a "right" and the police would have to prove you ineligible to hold possess a shotgun or ammunition before they could refuse to grant you it. Strictly speaking when the Enquiry officer comes to speak to you, there is no need to tell him any reason why you want it, you do not need a "Good Reason" like you do with a Firearms.

 

However, it is always handy to drop certain things into conversation to make things run smoother, such as you regularly clay shoot or rough shoot etc

 

SS

[olim 28]

Thanks for the info, I have done a bit of clays and rough shooting previously when people have taken me but I think that I will try to find a local club and talk to them about joining.

 

Oli

[bewsher500 3]

having an SGC or FAC doesnt mean you own a rifle or shotgun or need to.

I had an SGC since I was 15 and a FAC since I was 18 and never "owned" a weapon of my own until I was in my 30's!

I have borrowed other people's but mostly used my father's guns and was never questioned about owning my own.

just get someone else's added to yours for use when they are not available to shoot with you.

numerous clay clubs loan guns to SGC holders also.

 

lots of other ways of shooting than blowing your own cash.

wouldn't worry about the FEO questions. just be honest

[matt_hooks 188]

having an SGC or FAC doesnt mean you own a rifle or shotgun or need to.

This is true, though in the case of an FAC it's not much use unless you have the weapon on it, even if you don't actually own it!

I had an SGC since I was 15 and a FAC since I was 18 and never "owned" a weapon of my own until I was in my 30's!

I have borrowed other people's but mostly used my father's guns and was never questioned about owning my own.

Again, this is fine for shotguns, the SGC confers the right to borrow someone elses gun and use it on your own. The FAC doesn't however. Unless you have the weapon on your FAC (that doesn't mean you necessarily own it, more than one person can have the same gun on their FAC) you are not allowed to use it on your own. Even under the estate condition you have to be under the supervision of the person with shooting rights (and the estate condition only applies to those over 18 anyway)

just get someone else's added to yours for use when they are not available to shoot with you.

 

numerous clay clubs loan guns to SGC holders also.

You don't need an SGC to shoot club guns at a registered clay ground.

 

 

lots of other ways of shooting than blowing your own cash.

wouldn't worry about the FEO questions. just be honest

 

I kind of get where you're coming from bew, but I can also understand wanting to hold your own weapons. Also not everyone else knows others who shoot, or has the luxury of being able to use fathers guns.

[apperknowle 3]

Aup mate the laws changed you have got to be 18 to be gifted a shotgun now