Is newsagent allowed to display BB guns in shop window?

zaksmum

My local newsagent is displaying several very realistic looking BB guns in his shop window with prices and eye catching price stickers, urging to "BUY NOW".

If anyone brandished one of these guns at you, it would definitely look real. I would be fooled.

Is it legal to display these guns in the window like this?:(

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

zaksmum wrote: »

My local newsagent is displaying several very realistic looking BB guns in his shop window with prices and eye catching price stickers, urging to "BUY NOW".

If anyone brandished one of these guns at you, it would definitely look real. I would be fooled.

Is it legal to display these guns in the window like this?:(

Sadly, I believe so.


However, from experience, I did find that speaking very calmly but incredibly clearly so my carefully moderated voice carried across the entire shop as I advised the manager that any incidents of cat, dog or wildlife shootings in the area would result in his being called to account, as the only supplier for miles, actually resulted in his deciding there were better things to become well known for selling.

earthstorm

nothing wrong as long as the guns are coloured and not black and they are spring loaded and not air released and they dont sell to anyone under 16.

peachyprice

Absolutely not!

If they are realistic gun coloured BB guns they are illegal to sell or own in the UK unless properly licensed for skirmishes and re-enactment groups.

I would phone your local police on the non-emergency number as there should not be for sale in a newsagent.

From the 1st of October 2007 it will be illegal to sell, manufacture or import realistic imitation firearms within the UK.
Furthermore, selling an imitation firearm to, or the purchase of an imitation firearm by, anyone under the age of 18 years is illegal under Section 40 of the Act. Contravening this is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment, a fine or both. In blunt terms it will not be legal to sell imitation firearms (of which realistic imitation firearms should be seen as a sub-set) to anyone under 18.
A realistic imitation firearm is defined thus in the Act:
38 Meaning of “realistic imitation firearm”
(1) In sections 36 and 37 “realistic imitation firearm” means an imitation firearm which—
(a) has an appearance that is so realistic as to make it indistinguishable, for all practical purposes, from a real firearm; and
(b) is neither a de-activated firearm nor itself an antique.
(2) For the purposes of this section, an imitation firearm is not (except by virtue of subsection (3)(b)) to be regarded as distinguishable from a real firearm for any practical purpose if it could be so distinguished only—
(a) by an expert;
(b) on a close examination; or
(c) as a result of an attempt to load or to fire it.
(3) In determining for the purposes of this section whether an imitation firearm is distinguishable from a real firearm—
(a) the matters that must be taken into account include any differences between the size, shape and principal colour of the imitation firearm and the size, shape and colour in which the real firearm is manufactured; and
(b) the imitation is to be regarded as distinguishable if its size, shape or principal colour is unrealistic for a real firearm.

earthstorm

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I advised the manager that any incidents of cat, dog or wildlife shootings in the area would result in his being called to account, as the only supplier for miles

could be sold on street markets or online so cannot say any incident is from a gun sold from any particular retailer.

I sell toys, but due to principle i will not have have never sold BB guns, even though i get asked for these many times.

earthstorm

peachyprice wrote: »

Absolutely not!

If they are realistic gun coloured BB guns they are illegal to sell or own in the UK unless properly licensed for skirmishes and re-enactment groups.

This is why BB guns sold in UK must be coloured Blue, Red, Yellow etc. It is Illegal to sell BB guns that are Black or Silver.

JReacher1

earthstorm wrote: »

This is why BB guns sold in UK must be coloured Blue, Red, Yellow etc. It is Illegal to sell BB guns that are Black or Silver.

Is this true with cap guns? I'm trying to buy one for my nephew but they're all bright colours and look a bit rubbish. Cowboys don't have bright coloured guns!

earthstorm

JReacher1 wrote: »

Is this true with cap guns? I'm trying to buy one for my nephew but they're all bright colours and look a bit rubbish. Cowboys don't have bright coloured guns!

yes even the cheap rubbish cap guns and spud guns

even on markets a fireworks licence is needed to sell caps and fun snaps as they can cause and explosion, but the strange part is because you are on a market ( no fixed premises) you would not be granted one, but of you were in a shop (fixed premises) as they are so small a quantity you would not really need one. I was only verbally told this what TS did an inspection at one of the fairs i was trading at. I told them i will stop selling these when i have it in writing ( 3 yrs on) and still no written notice.

zaksmum

earthstorm wrote: »

This is why BB guns sold in UK must be coloured Blue, Red, Yellow etc. It is Illegal to sell BB guns that are Black or Silver.

These BB guns are silver. If that's definitely illegal I will speak to the police about it.

Some of the kids round here don't need any encouragement to be thuggish.

shaun_from_Africa

JReacher1 wrote: »

Is this true with cap guns? I'm trying to buy one for my nephew but they're all bright colours and look a bit rubbish. Cowboys don't have bright coloured guns!

Oh I don't know.
I could just picture the 2 main characters in Brokeback mountain brandishing pink or yellow 6 shooters.

JReacher1

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Oh I don't know.
I could just picture the 2 main characters in Brokeback mountain brandishing pink or yellow 6 shooters.

A bit of homophobia. I like it