Is newsagent allowed to display BB guns in shop window?

Dimey

wealdroam wrote: »

Post # 43.

Yep - Picked it up just after I posted and edited my post 57. :-)

OlliesDad

earthstorm wrote: »

i was told this by a police officer when i was trading at the appleby horse fair. the cheaper spring ones can be sold to anyone from 16 yrs old. it is when you get the rifles and the powerful air ones that it has to be 18 years.
It does not bother me as i dont sell them and wont on principle, i have seen some traders sell them to kids as young as 5, although the ones like you get from poundland have no power to them to hurt anything

Hmm.. looks like he may have been mistaken (or the rules have changed since), The police website advises it is over 18 for any BB/Air guns but more powerful ones require a license.

lovinituk

earthstorm wrote: »

As a retailer i am aware of the regulations for BB guns, selling to general public the air/electric versions have been increased to 18 but the spring loaded the min age is 16. yes to sell these to general public in a general retail environment they have to be coloured

Its 18, you need to check your regulations!

earthstorm wrote: »

you also need firearms licence for the more powerful BB guns in the UK.

This is getting a bit silly now! You couldn't legally use an overpowered bb gun in airsoft and someone with a firearms is hardly likely to want one. The seller would also need to be a licenced firearms dealer and as there is little call for overpowered bb guns by those licensed to own firearms, its seems a little pointless selling them!

The legal limit for bb guns that can fire semi or full automatic is widely accepted to be around 374 fps using a 0.2g bb. Any guns over that are technically illegal without a firearms licence (but see above).

lovinituk

OlliesDad wrote: »

Hmm.. looks like he may have been mistaken (or the rules have changed since), The police website advises it is over 18 for any BB/Air guns but more powerful ones require a license.

It is over 18. The policeman and/or earthstorm are wrong.

A lot of police officers are not aware of the actual regulations as its not something they deal with regularly.

I remember hearing a story of 2 armed police officers who went in to a bonafide airsoft shop to buy an airsoft pistol for a colleague who was retiring. They were extremely surprised to be told that they could not legally buy one because they were not bonafide airsofters, despite the fact they had real Glocks on their person

earthstorm

I am amazed how users on MSE think they are the law and know more than the law. i would rather believe a policeman than someone from a public forum.

Below is taken from a information card i was presented with

The Firearms Act 1968 states, “An imitation firearm is anything which has the appearance of being a firearm, regardless of whether or not it is capable of discharging a shot, bullet or other missile.” If you take a BB gun onto the streets you may get arrested for this offence or worse - police respond to any call where and gun is involved is to send armed officers with real guns and real bullets --

Minimum age to purchase an air powered BB gun is 18 years. Spring powered BB guns can be purchased by anyone over 16 years. An adult must supervise persons 14 to 18 years of age. No gun should be carried in a public place unless in transit when it should be unloaded and placed in a bag. Guns must not be concealed on one's person, or pointed or fired at another human or animal.

With the VCR bill introduced October 2007, the law as it stands in the UK: (7)A realistic imitation firearm brought into Great Britain shall be liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts. (1) A person is guilty of an offence if (d) he brings a realistic imitation firearm into Great Britain. (9)An offence under this section shall be punishable, on summary conviction (a) in England and Wales, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or with a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.

From 01/10/2007 the laws regarding airsoft guns have changed for the UK. Under the VCRA Bill 2006 it is illegal to buy or sell an airsoft gun to anyone under the age of 18 years. Under Section 36 of the V.C.R Act it is a criminal offence to alter the appearance or paint in a colour of an imitation firearm to make it into a realistic firearm...

lovinituk

earthstorm wrote: »

I am amazed how users on MSE think they are the law and know more than the law. i would rather believe a policeman than someone from a public forum.

Below is taken from a information card i was presented with

Which force is that please? I can find no reference to any distinction between spring and any other powered (eg. gas).

Here is one police force stating 18...

http://www.cleveland.police.uk/young-people/The-Law.aspx

Some spring guns can be more powerful than gas powered so it makes no sense.

I will stand corrected if you can provide a link to the regulation that states 16. Otherwise for all we know you could have added that bit yourself!

lovinituk

Are you sure you didn't add that bit yourself?

Here is your potential source with no mention of the 16 years old bit...

Minimum age to purchase a BB gun is 18 years. An adult must supervise persons 14 to 18 years of age. No gun should be carried in a public place unless in transit when it should be unloaded and placed in a bag. Guns must not be concealed on one's person, or pointed or fired at another human or animal. Safety glasses and other protective clothing should also be worn when operating the gun or viewing.

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100406005248AAgBO7h

Your version also contradicts itself...

"Spring powered BB guns can be purchased by anyone over 16 years"

and then

"it is illegal to buy or sell an airsoft gun to anyone under the age of 18 years"

earthstorm

lovinituk wrote: »

Are you sure you didn't add that bit yourself?

Here is your potential source with no mention of the 16 years old bit...



http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100406005248AAgBO7h

Your version also contradicts itself...

"Spring powered BB guns can be purchased by anyone over 16 years"

and then

"it is illegal to buy or sell an airsoft gun to anyone under the age of 18 years"

well if is whats on a card i was handed by the police at appleby horse fair. tried to scan the card, but it just appears black once scanned.

made no difference to me as i dont sell BB guns and never will, but he stated he had to hand them out to any trader they thought may sell them.

lovinituk

earthstorm wrote: »

well if is whats on a card i was handed by the police at appleby horse fair. tried to scan the card, but it just appears black once scanned.

made no difference to me as i dont sell BB guns and never will, but he stated he had to hand them out to any trader they thought may sell them.

It might not matter to you but you are giving wrong information that could potentially get someone in to trouble.

Which force was the police officer from that gave you the card? I'm still reluctant to believe it. If you look at every reference of the VCRA there is no mention of the 16 year old age limit. I find it hard to believe that one police force has added their own clause to it, particularly as later on the same card states its illegal for under 18s.

earthstorm

lovinituk wrote: »

It might not matter to you but you are giving wrong information that could potentially get someone in to trouble.

Which force was the police officer from that gave you the card? I'm still reluctant to believe it. If you look at every reference of the VCRA there is no mention of the 16 year old age limit. I find it hard to believe that one police force has added their own clause to it, particularly as later on the same card states its illegal for under 18s.

Appleby Horse Fair is in Cumbria, so Cumbria Police. Its the first time i have been handed such a card, normally traders just get a contact card, so if needed you can contact the mobile incident unit