From: J.M.Spencer@newcastle.ac.uk (Jonathan Spencer)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: bringing guns to Britain - advice
Date: 13 Apr 92 12:46:37 GMT
Organization: University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, NE1 7RU

Several people have now asked for advice on bringing their guns to
Britain in order to take part in shooting competitions etc.

[Mr Moderator, since this is becoming an IAQ (infrequently asked
question) might you stash the answer away somewhere, and pull it out on
request?]

The British law divides firearms into:-

prohibited weapons
  which includes machine guns (full auto), semi-auto rifles greater than
  .22 rimfires, (CS etc) gas guns. The public are not permitted these.

firearms
  centre-fire rifles, handguns, those not falling into the other
  categories. The public may possess these provided that the Chief of
  Police for the area issues a Firearms Certificate. (You have to
  satisfy certain criteria such as safe storage, stability of mind,
  place for use, good reason for needing the weapon.) Each and every
  weapon must be applied for individually and is listed on the
  certificate. 

shotguns
  are "smooth bore guns, not being air guns, with a barrel length not
  exceeding 24 inches" and may be self-loading (semi-auto) or pump
  action but may not have a magazine capacity greater than two rounds.
  Shotguns may only be possessed under authority of a Shotgun
  Certificate. There is no limit on numbers, unlike with firearms. 

airguns
  air rifles and air guns may not produce muzzle energies greater than
  12ft-lbs, air pistols may not produce muzzle velocities greater than
  6ft-lbs. Anyone over 17 years of age can purchase these without
  certificate. 

They, in a nutshell, are the various categories.

As for bringing guns into the country ...  The visitor must apply for a
visitor's certificate. This costs L12. In short, visitor must be
sponsored by a UK resident in the area which the visitor vists. (I
don't think the sponsor has to be a British subject nor the holder of a
Firearms Certificate.) The same criteria apply to visitors as to
residents (i.e. good reason for requiring a gun (competition shooting
or sporting shooting are good reasons), safe custody, place it's to be
used). The problem for foreigners who are planning on visiting, and
don't have prior contacts, is getting the sponsorship. Whatever
happens, DO NOT turn up in possession of guns without having obtained a
certificate because the guns will be seized by Customs & Excise.

There exists the National Pistol Association to whom I have written
seeking advice on behalf of you, and a National Rifle Association to
whom I have not written. When I get a reply, I'll post it here. In the
meantime, their addresses are:-

NPA, 21 The Letchworth Gate Centre, Protea Way, Letchworth,
Hertfordshire, SG6 1JT, England. Tel: +462 679 887

NRA, Bisley Camp, Brookwood, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0PB, England.
Tel: +4867 6969

I hope this helps.


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#From  : Jonathan M Spencer
Mail  : Computing Lab., University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, England
Phone : +91 222 8229
ARPA  : J.M.Spencer%newcastle.ac.uk@cs.ucl.ac.uk
JANET : J.M.Spencer@uk.ac.newcastle
UUCP  : !uknet!newcastle.ac.uk!J.M.Spencer
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