None of the guns sold on any of our websites requires a permit under current U.K. Law We DO NOT sell any weapon that uses a self-contained gas cartridge system. This Home Office guide is for your information only. BAN ON SELF- CONTAINED GAS CARTRIDGE WEAPONS WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU From 20 January 2004, under the provisions of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2004, it will be an offence to manufacture, sell, purchase, transfer or acquire any air weapon that uses a self-contained gas cartridge system. Anyone who already owns one of these weapons must obtain a firearm certificate for it from the police. Applications for firearm certificates must be made before 30 April 2004. As an alternative, existing owners can hand their weapon into the police for disposal. Again, this must be done before 30 April 2004. From 30 April 2004 it will be an offence, punishable by a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, to possess a self-contained gas cartridge weapon without the necessary firearm certificate. What is being banned? The ban applies to any air rifle, air gun or air pistol that uses, or is designed or adapted for use with, a self-contained gas cartridge system. It does not apply to weapons that use a CO2 bulb system because CO2 bulbs do not contain a projectile and are therefore not self-contained. Existing owners If you own a self-contained gas cartridge weapon on 20 January 2004, you can apply to keep it on a firearm certificate. You must apply before 30 April 2004. Application forms can be obtained from local police firearm licensing offices. If you do not wish to keep your weapon, you can hand it in at any police station. You will not be able to sell it or give it away. Compensation will not be paid for any weapon handed in. Applying for a licence Contact your local police firearm licensing department. The police must be satisfied that an applicant is fit to be entrusted with the gun, will not represent a danger to public safety or to the peace and is not a prohibited person. (Someone who has received a term of imprisonment of 3 years or more can never possess firearms, and someone who has received a term of imprisonment between 3 months and 3 years cannot possess firearms until 5 years after their release.) Because self-contained gas cartridge weapons are not currently subject to certification and are often used for informal shooting pursuits, you will be exempt from the usual requirement to demonstrate a good reason for wanting to keep your weapon when you apply. However, you will need to put in place appropriate security measures to prevent unauthorised access to your weapon. The level of security required will be the same as for other weapons held on a firearm certificate. The precise arrangements are for the police to determine based on the level of risk involved in each case. They will take into account factors such as local crime rates and location of the property. A new firearm certificate costs £50 (variation of an existing certificate costs £26). You will also need to meet the cost of any security measures required. Penalties Anyone who manufactures, sells, purchases, transfers or acquires a self contained gas cartridge weapon on or after 20 January 2004 will commit an offence under the Firearms Act 1968. You will be liable for a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and will soon be liable for the new minimum sentence of 5 years. Anyone who is found in possession of a self-contained gas cartridge weapon on or after 30 April 2004 without it being entered on a valid firearm certificate will also commit an offence under the Firearms Act 1968 and will be liable for the same penalty. If you have applied for a firearm certificate before 30 April 2004 but your application is outstanding or is the subject of an appeal, you will not be liable for prosecution. Dealers Retailers will not be able to trade in self-contained gas cartridge weapons from 20 January 2004 although you may continue to hold existing stock until 30 April 2004. If you wish to sell the weapons abroad or to provide a repair service, you must apply to the Home Office for the Secretary of State's authority under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 and to register with the police as a firearms dealer. Applications must be submitted before 30 April 2004.

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