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Post by stef242 on Dec 5, 2022 15:15:01 GMT
Hi folks, Today I saw this Scotsman article that explains Police Scotland has to make tough budget choices on where to prioritise spend.
Knowing that they send out an officer to come check my house and fill out a form every time they renew my air weapon license or I move house, I do wonder whether the air weapon licensing arrangements are OTT relative to the risk that air weapons represent to the Scottish people. How many people are truly harmed by air weapons, and has the licensing regime helped? I also note that other EU countries and England don’t have air weapon licensing requirements and they are not overrun by air weapon crime.
If the Scottish government are contemplating budget cuts to Police Scotland, it feels like it could be a really good time to propose that Scotland quietly drop the requirement to license air weapons and align itself to English or EU requirements. Sure it's only just come in, but I'd rather they spend my taxes chasing real criminals than checking my form is filled in right. My question is which organisation will have the right contacts in the Scottish civil service to advance such a proposal? Does anyone know? How could we get the idea planted with the right people quickly if budget cuts are being considered now? Stef |
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Post by Stoof on Dec 5, 2022 16:27:20 GMT
Air weapon licencing didn't even make sense when it was introduced originally . All the horrible things you can do with an airgun are already illegal, so maybe catch and charge the criminals? (daft suggestion I know). Call me a cynic, but you'll have a hard time convincing the same administration that introduced it that it was a total waste of time, money and effort - no government likes to give up an element of control they've already seized.
On a more optimistic note, perhaps there is someone at BASC who could be contacted? They tend to know, and write articles about, pertinent law changes and licencing difficulties. They'll certainly have the contacts.
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I
Sharpshooter
Posts: 101
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Post by I on Dec 6, 2022 11:44:37 GMT
BASC are about as much use in Scotland as a chocolate fire guard unless you shoot driven birdies. Where were they when it was introduced? Better off contacting Scottish Association of Country Sports(SACS). At least they did try and derail the licence. There is no way on earth that Queen Nicola will ever relinquish control of licensing.It's a vote winner from cat owners and anti shooting types which is right up her street. It would also be an admission that it was flawed in the first place and there isn't any way she'll do that.
You really don't want to be aligning with EU rules.Some of them are even worse than a license.
Note: fpe = Foot Pounds Energy, fps = Feet Per Second
AUSTRIA – No restrictions in fpe but limit on caliber (FAC req for .25 and above)
BELGIUM – No restrictions on rifles
BULGARIA – No restrictions
CYPRUS – .177 only (No information on energy levels at this time)
CZECH REPUBLIC – No restrictions up to 6.35calibree. Above this Police need to be notified.
DENMARK – No restrictions, but soon will have restrictions imposed due a change in the legislation.
ESTONIA – No limits in .177, .22 and larger cal FAC required. No hunting with air gun
FINLAND -There is no muzzle restrictions but anything over .25 calibers requires a license. No hunting with air rifles and all air rifles can be shot in your own garden so long as it is safe .
FRANCE – 20 Joules. Hunting with an airgun is banned.
GERMANY – 6 fpe (7.5 Joules)
GREECE – No power or Calibre restriction, Silencers and Scopes are banned by law. Hunting is not allowed.
HOLLAND – No restrictions – NO look a like’s
HUNGARY – 6 fpe (7.5 Joules)
ITALY – 6 fpe (7.5 Joules) must be over 18 to buy, over 10 to shoot it with presence of a parent; >6 fpe you need a f.a.c. and you’ve to declare the purchase to the police. NO Hunting.
LATVIA – 12 Joules
LITHUANIA – 7.5 Joules (NO hunting allowed)
LUXEMBOURG – FAC required for everything and anything.
MALTA – FAC required for everything and anything.
NORTHERN IRELAND & EIRE – Airguns or CO2 guns that are in excess of one (1) Joule (0.737 ft/lbf) require to be held on an FAC.
NORWAY – No restrictions
POLAND – 12.5 fpe (17 Joules) (NO hunting allowed) >17 Joules allowed if gun is registered with police (Formality)
PORTUGAL – .177 or .22 velocity of 1181 fps Hunting not allowed
ROMANIA – FAC needed for everything
RUSSIA – 6 fpe (7.5 Joules) (Unsure of this one)
SLOVAK REPUBLIC – 11 fpe (15 Joules)
SLOVENIA -4.5mm power limit 200m/s, for 5.5 it is 20 joule and below 200m/s and for 6.35 it is 20 joule. Hunting forbidden, silencers forbidden.
SWITZERLAND – Over 18 to purchase. Illegal to hunt with an air rifle. No power limit .
SPAIN – 18 fpe (24.5 Joules)
SWEDEN – 7.5 fpe (10 Joules) also maximum velocity of 200m/s. The same for rifles and pistols. Semi or full auto airguns: 3 Joules
and the rest of the world gets fully worse.FACs or total bans are everywhere.
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