UK law on shooting a RIF in a garden

[Rogerborg]

It’s all just a huge mish-mash to ensure Lord Rich Big Knob can always get away with carrying, and Joe Shmo from down the road will always be prosecuted. Or is that paranoia

Honestly, I think it is that. There's no real reason why shotguns and firearm possession are conditional-on-ammunition offence when the same very broad "reasonable excuse" could apply - and I think should apply - whenever you have one in public, shootable or otherwise.

 

[mbea61]

I've been looking into the rules and regulations just lately about shooting in the back garden and although there are a set number of rules regarding air rifles of sub 12ft lbs (the legal limit in uk) which relate to not shooting beyound your boundary, having to use a effective back stop, not discharging a air rifle within 50ft of a public rd or foot path and not causing distress to neighbours i can find no information on iether using a air pistol or airsoft gun all airsoft are alot less powerful and even if bb ricoches it is very unlikely to cause injury as the power of most airsoft guns is around 1-1.5 joules energy were as airguns can range from 7 joules for a pistol to up to 16 joules for a sub 12ft lb rifle also its a plastic bb that is 0.2 to 0.2.5 not a steel bb or pellet that even in 177 is about 8.5grms or up to 16grms or more for a. 22 air rifle and this is also the reason that a lot of indoor airgun ranges where people use air pistol to shoot knock down steel plonking targets at a range of 6-10mtrs are now banning the use of metal ammo at this range due to people being hit from ricoches its not to bad with rifles at 25mtrs but you do still get a few also since these airgun ranges are banning metal ammo both lead and steel and not only telling but even providing pistol shooters with airsoft pistols for safety will this ever be a valid form of defence as people won't be able to use a air pistol other than precision target shooting which is only a very small minority of air pistol shooters not to mention you dont use gbbg or co2 pistols to shoot 6mtr precision target sorry for rant gents 

 

[Cannonfodder]

Word salad

Any chance you could put that in English? Maybe try using a little bit of punctuation too, that way your post might make some sense 

 

[Herrgh]

Any chance you could put that in English? Maybe try using a little bit of punctuation too, that way your post might make some sense 

ChatGPT to the rescue! (Bold text added for emphasis.)

I have recently been researching the rules and regulations regarding shooting in my backyard. While there are specific rules for air rifles with a muzzle energy of less than 12ft lbs (the legal limit in the UK), such as not shooting beyond your property boundary, using an effective backstop, avoiding discharging near public roads or footpaths, and not causing distress to neighbors, I have been unable to find any information regarding the use of air pistols or airsoft guns.
 

All airsoft guns are much less powerful, and even if a BB were to ricochet, it is highly unlikely to cause injury. Most airsoft guns have an energy level of around 1-1.5 joules, whereas airguns can range from 7 joules for a pistol to up to 16 joules for a sub 12ft lb rifle. Additionally, airsoft guns fire plastic BBs weighing around 0.2 to 0.25 grams, unlike steel BBs or pellets used in air rifles. Even a .177 caliber pellet weighs about 8.5 grams, while a .22 caliber pellet can weigh up to 16 grams or more. This is why many indoor airgun ranges, where people use air pistols to shoot knockdown steel targets at a range of 6-10 meters, are now prohibiting the use of metal ammo due to the risk of ricochets. Though the issue is not as severe at 25 meters with rifles, there are still a few instances.
 

Furthermore, these airgun ranges are not only prohibiting the use of metal ammo but also providing airsoft pistols to pistol shooters for safety. However, this raises the question of whether air pistols will ever be considered a valid form of defense, as individuals will be unable to use them, except for precision target shooting, which represents only a very small minority of air pistol shooters. It is worth noting that precision target shooting at 6 meters is not typically done with gas blowback or CO2 pistols. I apologize for the rant, gentlemen.

I also had the AI analyse the communication quality of the original post, for the funny:

 

The original paragraph suffers from several issues that affect its communication quality:

1. Lack of clarity: The paragraph lacks clarity due to run-on sentences, lack of punctuation, and poor sentence structure. This makes it challenging to understand the intended message and follow the logical flow of ideas.
   
2. Lack of organization: The paragraph jumps between different topics without clear transitions or organization. It discusses regulations for air rifles, then abruptly shifts to air pistols and airsoft guns, ricochets, and indoor airgun ranges. This lack of coherence makes it difficult to grasp the main point being made.
   
3. Lack of conciseness: The paragraph is excessively wordy and contains repetitive information. It could benefit from concise and focused statements to convey the main ideas more effectively.
   
4. Informal language and style: The paragraph uses informal language, abbreviations, and a conversational tone, which can undermine the clarity and professionalism of the message. It also includes personal opinions and unrelated remarks that distract from the main topic.
   

Overall, the original paragraph's communication quality is hindered by its lack of clarity, disorganized structure, verbosity, and informal style. Improving these aspects would greatly enhance the effectiveness of the message and make it easier for readers to understand the main points being conveyed.

Gosh. We can all learn.

 

[Rogerborg]

sorry for rant gents

We love a good rant here, but I'm not getting enough outrage from that post.

 

[Tommikka]

We love a good rant here, but I'm not getting enough outrage from that post.

Grrrr

its an outrage 

I've been looking into the rules and regulations just lately about shooting in the back garden and although there are a set number of rules regarding air rifles of sub 12ft lbs (the legal limit in uk) which relate to not shooting beyound your boundary, having to use a effective back stop, not discharging a air rifle within 50ft of a public rd or foot path and not causing distress to neighbours i can find no information on iether using a air pistol or airsoft gun all airsoft are alot less powerful and even if bb ricoches it is very unlikely to cause injury as the power of most airsoft guns is around 1-1.5 joules energy were as airguns can range from 7 joules for a pistol to up to 16 joules for a sub 12ft lb rifle also its a plastic bb that is 0.2 to 0.2.5 not a steel bb or pellet that even in 177 is about 8.5grms or up to 16grms or more for a. 22 air rifle and this is also the reason that a lot of indoor airgun ranges where people use air pistol to shoot knock down steel plonking targets at a range of 6-10mtrs are now banning the use of metal ammo at this range due to people being hit from ricoches its not to bad with rifles at 25mtrs but you do still get a few also since these airgun ranges are banning metal ammo both lead and steel and not only telling but even providing pistol shooters with airsoft pistols for safety will this ever be a valid form of defence as people won't be able to use a air pistol other than precision target shooting which is only a very small minority of air pistol shooters not to mention you dont use gbbg or co2 pistols to shoot 6mtr precision target sorry for rant gents 

The Highways Act covers the firing within 50’, and covers ‘any firearm or firework’

The 6 & 12 ft lbs covers low powered air weapons in the firearms act, but still treats them within the firearms definition

Even though airsoft fires at a much lower power it previously still qualified as a low powered air weapon / firearm

But legislation change exempted compliant airsoft guns from being firearms 

This could arguably mean that airsoft is legal to fire within 50’ of a highway

 But the best position to be in is to never test that out.

Irrespective of what is being shot a police response could occur, which provided there isn’t idiotic escalation or other offences would generally result in ‘advice’.  Police advice can be given in many legal situations in order to avoid worrying the public in the first place

Be sensible

Don’t be overlooked 

Don’t be overheard

Ensure that every BB is stopped and cannot bounce 

Be friendly and open with neighbours

If there’s any concern then don’t do it

 

[Dan Robinson]

 Police advice can be given in many legal situations in order to avoid worrying the public in the first place

Be sensible

Don’t be overlooked 

Don’t be overheard

Ensure that every BB is stopped and cannot bounce 

Be friendly and open with neighbours

If there’s any concern then don’t do it

Or in other words - harking back to the other thread - "Don't be a genital" seems to cover most bases.

 

[typefish]

The 6 & 12 ft lbs covers low powered air weapons in the firearms act, but still treats them within the firearms definition

Even though airsoft fires at a much lower power it previously still qualified as a low powered air weapon / firearm

But legislation change exempted compliant airsoft guns from being firearms 

This could arguably mean that airsoft is legal to fire within 50’ of a highway

 But the best position to be in is to never test that out.

In agree with that last sentence, however if I were a betting person, I would say that it would have been the intention of parliament to say that the word "firearm" within the Highways Act is something that is to be interpreted as described within the Firearms Acts.

 

[Rogerborg]

I would say that it would have been the intention of parliament to say that the word "firearm" within the Highways Act is something that is to be interpreted as described within the Firearms Acts

I'd agree, as me. Although if I were a bitter, mediocre lawyer whiling away the hours until retirement at the CPS, I'd argue with firmly faked sincerity that if Parliament had meant the Highways Act to use the Firearms Act definition, then Parliament could and would have said so.

 

[Shamal]

LOL, I know what you mean, I had to scroll to the top to check what we're actually discussing, but I'll be grumpily honest & admit I'm so feckin tired of spoon feeding noobs answers to the same questions that have been asked a thousand times before, made worse by wannabe trolls that say shite like "if the plod come round, make an official complaint about wasting time" etc. 

There's a core of members here, you & I included, that literally have hundreds of years of combined experience within Airsoft, add to that our own personal life experiences & skill sets in numerous professional fields, & I'll bet that not one of us has fallen foul of the law due to how we use/behave/own our Airsoft rifs. 

Why. 

Because we've been sensible, applied common sense & been aware of the massive responsibilities of "gun" ownership. 

Yet we're still having to spell it out to new members ffs. 

Yeah but am I allowed to shoot from my bedroom window at next doors fecking cat? 

I hate it with all my being.??