I think Smallbore gave a short answer and got it in a nutshell. It is however rather complex and in some cases contradictory. For my sins I was a British Police Officer for over 30 years and had many dealings with Firearms legislation issues. The basic Act is The Firearms Act 1968 but there has been various add on bits since then so that now it defies logic. Firstly, firearms law for England and Wales are the same and that largely applies also to Scotland except for one or two slight variations such as there they have an offence covering the reckless discharge of a firearm and in England we do not, plus another couple of bits associated with older legislation but it is virtually the same all told although they are trying hard to go their own way on firearms legislation which includes a ban on airguns. Northern Ireland has different legislation and they can still own pistols for target shooting whereas we can only own them for the humane despatch of animals; as a slaughtering instrument or to despatch wounded ones and not to hunt with. The Channel Islands are different again and the Isle of Man are also quite different and very liberal in their interpretation allowing far more freedom to its citizens than the rest of the British Isles.
Many odd anomolies exsist such as Smallbore mentions on antique firearms not intended for use. These are usually defined as made before 1939 and where ammunition is no longer readily available. So, a child of five can go and buy a double .577 black powder big game rifle (assuming he gets a lot of pocket money) and walk out the shop with it without committing an offence; no license, no background checks - nothing. But that same child will have to wait until he reaches 18 before he can go and buy and use a low power air rifle. The same kid can play cowboys and indians (do kids still play that?) in the street with a deactivated original colt .45 but but if it's a toy cap fireing gun it would have to be painted with a bright luminious paint or clear plastic. At 14 a kid can apply for a Firearms Certificate for a stalking rifle and go deer hunting alone but would have to wait until 15 to go out alone with a shotgun and 18 to go out alone with a low power air rifle to hunt rats. Now do you see how odd it all gets? There is no lower age for the grant of a shotgun certificate so our 5 year old can, in theory, be issued with one but would have to be accompanied by an adult if he is under 15. He can't buy a shotgun or ammunition though until he is 17 but can be given his own gun at 15. Now, if he doesn't want to bother with a certificate but still wants to go shooting then that's o.k. but he will have to be accompanied by an adult who is also the owner of the land or the person with shooting permission and uses their gun.
I have both a Shotgun Certificate and a Firearm Certificate. If I want to buy another rifle I have to apply to the local poice and a variation to the certificate is made out provided I can show a reason for having it i.e. land to shoot on and the appropriate rifle for the job. Say if I wanted a .50 Cal Browning rifle I would have to show I was a member of a rifle club with a range suitable. Just a bit of form filling and that's it. With my Shotgun Certificate I can own, buy and sell as many as I wish without any further paperwork other than a short note to Police Headquarters informing them of the transaction. Renewals come up ever 5 years for certificates and there is no shooting tests or gun handling tests involved.
Technically we have a right to bear arms in our constitution too but it is somewhat sidetracked by legislation that has slowly crept in since the first Pistols Act of 1903.
GaryW, please p.m. me if you want any more specific information and I will be glad to have a go at explaining it. Lagopus.....
