Six months custody for possessing a RIF in public

[Rogerborg]

Missed this one, but back in March, an (actual) mental case decided to film himself camoed up, masked and posing with his airsoft  airgun RIF in a supermarket car park, then - oh, it gets better - stopped off at a hotel to use their WiFi to post the video, and put his MP5K Master Race airsoft airgun toy out on the table while so doing.

Not loaded, "deactivated" (battery out, I'd assume whatever that means) and with no intent to cause alarm.

Even so: six months custody.  Suspended, but that could have gone the other way since he had previous[1][2], or if he so much as sneezes near a copper in the next year.

https://www.cumbriacrack.com/2019/05/14/man-with-fake-gun-outside-penrith-hotel-more-akin-to-buzz-lightyear-than-al-capone/

No mention of where a mental got his hands on a RIF.  If that was followed up, I wonder what the seller's defence would have been for selling to a mentalist convict.

Anyway, this is why I bang on over and over about having your "reasonable excuse" to hand every time that you're in possession of a RIF (or an IF) in public.  Nothing to do with VCRA or even airsoft, it's a straight up offence under Firearms Act 1968 Section 19.  Don't be this guy.

[1] https://www.cwherald.com/a/archive/erratic-behaviour-lands-magazine-seller-in-court.245684.html

[2] https://www.cwherald.com/a/archive/sentencing-of-man-found-with-hunting-knives.375197.html

 

[Alpha.s1]

Tbf The ‘airsoft’ gun was more likely from the market stall than anything that’s actually difficult to get hold of, lots of military shows on recently (not anything wrong with military shows just where flea market bb guns stalls tend to set up) and the market stalls don't really understand anything past can they pay cash

not saying the bloke in question is any less of a knob though

 

[Druid799]

The phrase ‘mad as a box of frogs’ springs to mind ? Does sound like a right loon ! 

From my point of view he’s not the one that’ll get the sport in trouble , I’ve always thought it’ll be the cock walking or riding public transport to a gameday wearing full gear and carrying his guns in a rucksack or the one who’s got the boxes with gun pictures on them all across the back seat of his mums micra when he pulls in to McChucklenuts for his breakie before the game or for his Big McWopper on the way home that’ll cause us real grief .

 

[Rogerborg]

The phrase ‘mad as a box of frogs’ springs to mind ? Does sound like a right loon ! 

We'll, anyone who plays dress up with toy guns is on the same spectrum, and we have a posing thread, so I don't want to be too harsh.  But yes, mental.

From my point of view he’s not the one that’ll get the sport in trouble , I’ve always thought it’ll be the cock walking or riding public transport to a gameday wearing full gear and carrying his guns in a rucksack 

We've had folk rock up here trying to justify their desire to open-carry.  Remember the guy who was going to camo up and carry his Aliens Pulse Rifle on a bus, which would be OK because he would know that it wasn't real?

The thing is, even if you're daft enough to do that, you can get away with it, if you have your excuse to hand: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/gun-toting-cosplay-gamer-heading-12904017

On where the mental in this case got his gun, it's a peculiar one.  HK trades (ish), but it looks like semi only.

Waaaaaaait a second.

Articles say "airsoft", but isn't that an CO2 airgun?

Seized:

Pellpax CO2 airgun. https://www.pellpax.co.uk/airguns/air-pistols/co2-powered-air-pistols/heckler-koch-mp5-k-pdw/310

Yup, I think it is.  Look at the magazine:

Well, either way.  RIFs out in public = bad idea.

 

[sonofsammo]

Nothing to do with VCRA or even airsoft, it's a straight up offence under Firearms Act 1968 Section 19.  Don't be this guy.

I just looked that section up and I'm really confused by something. It specifically states you're not allowed a loaded shotgun.
But the implication then is that an unloaded shottie is fine??

 

[Tommikka]

I just looked that section up and I'm really confused by something. It specifically states you're not allowed a loaded shotgun.
But the implication then is that an unloaded shottie is fine??

.... without lawful authority or reasonable excuse ..... has with him .... in a public place

.... loaded shotgun 

Just possessing a loaded shotgun in a public place (or shotgun plus shells) can be an offence 

By implication, yes, an unloaded shotgun (without shells in your possession) can be legal under this part of the act

What you are doing and what brings your attention to the police could be a different matter .... and even if not directly an offence could render you unsuitable to possess the licence 

I’ve seen people wandering around Salisbury with shotguns (in their slips) and going to shops in general.  Good reason is their trip to the gun shop, taking the gun to other shops isn’t what I would call a good reason 

 

[Rogerborg]

A couple of Bailii cases specifically mention "loaded shotgun" in this context:

http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/1997/2826.html&query=("firearms+act"+"loaded+shotgun")

http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2015/1619.html&query=("firearms+act"+"loaded+shotgun")

This one (unrelated) is tragic-comic though.  Chap tries to off himself with a sawn-off shotgun, only manages to blow half his face off... and gets 5 years for possession of a prohibited weapon: http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2012/1781.html&query=("firearms+act"+loaded+shotgun+suicide)

 

[GeorgePlaysAirsoft]

I’ve seen people wandering around Salisbury with shotguns (in their slips) and going to shops in general.  Good reason is their trip to the gun shop, taking the gun to other shops isn’t what I would call a good reason 

My grandad was asked to leave the waitrose in salisbury cause he had 2 shotguns in sleeves on his back. No police were involved, for better or worse! Must be something in the water

 

[Rogerborg]

Peculiar thought: you can't be done for simple possession a real unloaded shotgun, but could you be done for possession of an unloaded imitation of that shotgun?

 

[Guest]

I’ve seen people wandering around Salisbury with shotguns (in their slips) and going to shops in general.  Good reason is their trip to the gun shop, taking the gun to other shops isn’t what I would call a good reason 

Probably because they’ve been to a shoot, and it’s not permissible to leave them unattended (eg in your car boot), unless it’s de-activated. Much easier just to take it with you. Until the shop keeper objects ?