British Firearms LAW as seen from New Zealand:

My main problem here is that while 'The Law' is one thing - its application by police in the various British  counties is different - and indeed - there are exceptions to the law as well!

- There is a 212 page Home Office 'firearms law guidance to the police' - originally issued in 2002 - with a revised version published in October 2013.

UK 'Section One' Firearms.

The British 1997 law did not refer to pistols at all - but rather to "small firearms".  - This seems to have resulted in pistols and revolvers being totally outlawed into the hands of criminal thugs - unless they have a barrel at least 30cm long (just under one foot) and an overall length of 60cm (approx. Two foot long overall).

UK 'Section One' Revolver.

-Possession of a single live round is a serious criminal offence - unless correctly licenced and recorded.

However it seems that muzzle loading 'small firearms' such as revolvers and single shots are allowed and licenced - and generally fire black powder. - But ingenious shooters have come-up with legal options such as the 'Patriot' muzzle-loading pistol that uses modern nitro smokeless powder - by hand-loading primers, powder charge and bullet into the chambers of five round 'charging blocks' that are hand indexed across the pistol for each shot.

The standard load for this .32"  'Patriot' is a 98gr  .311" dia. wad-cutter over 1gr of Bullseye powder.

Loading a British PATRIOT Pistol.

PATRIOT Muzzle loading Five Shot Bullseye Pistol

Air rifles and pistols have become even more popular despite the low power levels allowed (12ft.lbs for rifle and 6ft.lbs for air-pistols) for target shooting and small game hunting - and some truly fine accuracy and advanced designs are to be found.

How do kiwi IPSC shooters feel about shooting their matches using 'soft-air' (plastic-pellet) pistols ? - Or how about clay-shooters using electronic laser 'shotguns' that play a recorded "bang' when you press the trigger and register "hits & misses" on a display screen?

"Real" rifles and shotguns may be owned by qualified  (land owners etc.) and licenced shooters - but the strict requirements are varied in their application.

I am unclear about this - but limited 'exceptions' seem to have been applied to permit Olympic and Commonwealth Games target pistols to be legally held and used - For some time target shooters were keeping their guns in Belgium or France and going over once a month to train.

- All NZ shooters should try to inform themselves of these stupid British gun laws and might well consider that we New Zealanders are also BRITISH and that we are constantly under threat of toughened regulation. - All it seems to take is another nutter amok killing.

May I please get you to again think about the need for a strong and unified kiwi voice like the NRA before it becomes too late - and get you to read my "Herding Cats" post of 25 July.

Marty K
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