The guns of England

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mcdonl

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So, I am not very well versed in international gun laws but my understanding is that in England you are only allowed hunting firearms. Perhaps even limited to shotguns. I have no idea if this is accurate, but I wanted to point something out.

My wife and I have been watching a show on BBC America, called The Survivors... essentially a virus wipes out 99% of the world and the remaining 1% have to re-build.

So far, I have seen 2 pistols 3 pump action shotguns, 2 double barreled shotguns and 1 single barrel shotgun.

One of the pistols was carried by a felon who stole it from a prison guard and the other was carried by a Government official.

It struck me odd, as there are several scenes of "looting" and other basic survival but there are no firearms for protection, seems like only the bad guys have them. Even my wife who is neutral on the subject immediately sees that the poor man trying to defend his family needs to throw malatov cocktails at them.

It is interesting how firearms play a role in this series, but never in a positive self defense or protection role, only in a negative offensive manner.

I am just looking for a better perspective for when I watch this program. Finally a show I enjoy with my wife... so far.

MODS... if this strays into a zombie thread, or off the topic of what firearms are allowed in England and what their mindset is that feel free to shut 'er down!
 
I assume you meant the United Kingdom (UK), which comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. I believe modern handguns are banned in private ownership in England, Scotland and Wales apart from a few exceptions such as antique firearms. In Northern Ireland, I believe it is possible to obtain a handgun license for self defense.

I believe it is possible to obtain a shotgun license throughout the UK, however the licensing process is rigorous, the minimum barrel is 24", and any magazine must be non-detachable with a maximum capacity of two cartridges.

The rules in Great Britain (i.e. England, Scotland and Wales) are summarized here http://www.sportingshooter.co.uk/guns-and-shooting/useful-stuff/firearms-law.
 
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We have members living in England right now and we hope they chime in.

Paging Odd Job, Boomstick, Guido, etc.
 
I don't know their laws but I understand they have Knife buy back programs :what: Hope the "HUN" doesn't give the Brits another reason to buy arms from us again. It's very sad and should make the Citizens of this country join Gun rights groups here so we don't end up like the UK= Subjects
 
Msdonl wrote: So, I am not very well versed in international gun laws but my understanding is that in England you are only allowed hunting firearms. Perhaps even limited to shotguns. I have no idea if this is accurate, but I wanted to point something out
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Simplistically speaking all handguns are banned over here except Long Barrelled Revolvers (LBR in .357 and .44 mag and .22) and muzzle-loading pistols.

Semi-auto centrefire guns are banned except .22 rimfire. You can still own traditional semi-autos like AK47, AR15 etc but they must have the semi auto-function disabled and reconfigured to a straight-pull arrangement whereby you have to manually pull back the bolt to eject and reload a shell from the mag.

Everything else is okay from .17 to .50 cal so long as you can show good reason and have secure storage (gunsafe). Typically good reason would be target shooting, hunting and pest control. There are no restrictions on mag size. All guns except air guns have to be held on a Firearms Licence (FAC), which are issued by the local Police Force.

You can own as many shotguns as you like including pump and semi but there is a mag restriction placed on these. Shotguns require a Shotgun Licence, which again, are issued by the local Police Force.

You can’t own a gun for self-defence because the Police are there to protect you :rolleyes:

Survivors was made in the seventies IIRC when we were allowed to own handguns (under licence) so that might where the script-writers got the idea from.
 
I'm British (living now in Texas) and can comment on the British mindset. Even before handguns were virtually banned in 1997, it crossed few British minds to obtain a gun for self defense. There just wasn't a culture of gun ownership in late 20th century Britain. My impression is that most Britons support the current tight restrictions on gun ownership. It was very influential that the Hungerford and Dunblane massacres were committed by legal gun owners. While most Britons believe that wider gun ownership might save some victims of homicide, they have the perception that a greater number of lives would be lost due to gun accidents and increase in homicides if guns were more readily available. So, on balance, most people are in favor of the controls.
 
My family line is English (I actually have inherited titles and a great-great grandfather was the Sheriff of Nottingham although several hundred years after the Robin Hood story) and I find it hard to believe that the Socialized population in Great Britain today are the descendants of Harold the Saxon and William the Conqueror.

But then, I can't believe the cowards currently populating the United States are the descendants of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, either.
 
Didn't the US form part of the 2nd amendment based on the British government (king/queens) disarming British subjects to quell dissent??? (Think I read that when I read the Heller case). And carries on through today?

Doesn't Great Britain still use the 10ga shotgun. You don't see much about it in the US.
 
There was not a lot of gun control in Britain until 1920. In 1937, self defense was withdrawn as a valid reason for obtaining a gun license. Gun controls were tightened up progressively over the years. In 1997, following a massacre the year before at a school in Dunblane, Scotland, a virtual ban on handguns was introduced.
 
Could one of our cousin members clarify suppressor possession? My understanding is they are not regulated as here. If this is true, what would an "average" .22LR suppressor cost?

I remember watching a news program on the menace of a species of American squirrel on native species and the interviewee was strolling through a woodland popping vermin with a beautiful suppressed bolt gun.
 
snorko wrote: Could one of our cousin members clarify suppressor possession? My understanding is they are not regulated as here. If this is true, what would an "average" .22LR suppressor cost?
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Prices for moderators/suppressers range from 50.00 pounds upwards depending on quality and calibre. Here is a link to one shop in the UK that supplies some. click here

If you want one over here then you have to ask the Police for permission for each one and get it/them added to your license. Basically you’ll need a really good reason to own one for target shooting but it’s relatively easy for hunting.

There aren’t any laws for fitting one to an air rifle.
 
Sorry, OP, never saw the series, but many media types will automatically portray firearms usage in a negative light, whether in the UK or The United States. That's just the way life is at the moment. As for the guns of England, well, thier country, thier laws. I know two who left because of the firearms laws, one is now CZ-USA top shooter, Angus Hobdell, another is on my board. Same as Canada, Peru, France, Italy, etc., thier country, thier laws, thier problem to fix or not to fix as they see fit. I will express my natural national and area pride, and state I would not wish to live somewhere that restricts my rights, and Arizona, USA, does a pretty good job of leaving me be. If that's the way our aquaintenaces across the pond wish to manage thier affairs, that is thier business.
 
I have been meaning to catch this show. It has the hot chick from Demons in it.
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LOL... not sure, never saw demons but there are some fine looking women.

It is an interesting series though. The 3rd episode introduced a member of the government before the "plague" and she had one of the pistols and promptly executed someone they caught looting so it seems as though firearms could go in either direction.

It is also strange because none of the infrastructure or structures were damaged so it puts a different spin on security and survival.
 
Calibre44, does the UK have anything like the NRA? Love to get into the vaults over there and give a couple of SMLE's a new home.

My AR-15 isn't disabled:neener:, just yanking yer chain.
 
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