Like I said, I don't have the time/energy/money to try my luck in court, but there's literally nothing in the firearms Act that differentiates a long barreled pistol from any other section 1 firearm with a rifled barrel.
Handling an LBP without a slot
- Thread starter Elshad
- Start date
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Please can somebody point out the exact clauses in the most up to date version of the Firearms Act where it defines / or characterises the long barrelled pistol as a particular type of firearm.
My understanding is that there is section 1 which covers all firearms.
Section 2 carves out and defines shotguns (ie smooth bored, 24” or longer barrel, a fixed magazine with max of two cartridges)
Section 5 - prohibited firearms. Where prohibitions are based on overall length and barrel length and firing mechanism etc.
My understanding is that there is section 1 which covers all firearms.
Section 2 carves out and defines shotguns (ie smooth bored, 24” or longer barrel, a fixed magazine with max of two cartridges)
Section 5 - prohibited firearms. Where prohibitions are based on overall length and barrel length and firing mechanism etc.
@Heym SR20 I thought the same and so looked into it.
The conclusion I reached is that the legislation talks about ‘rifle clubs’ and ‘muzzle loading pistol clubs’ (or similar) in relation to club licenses/possession without a license at a club.
That’s then been interpreted as meaning that long barrelled pistols/revolvers can’t be lent at clubs/be held on club licenses as they aren’t either rifles or muzzle loading pistols. The same goes for a s1 shotgun.
Whether this was intentional or a side effect of ‘excising’ pistols from the legislation is hard to say, but given the 1968 act does (or at least did) differentiate between pistols and rifles on a more factual basis pre-1997, I’m not convinced a challenge to that interpretation would get anywhere.
The conclusion I reached is that the legislation talks about ‘rifle clubs’ and ‘muzzle loading pistol clubs’ (or similar) in relation to club licenses/possession without a license at a club.
That’s then been interpreted as meaning that long barrelled pistols/revolvers can’t be lent at clubs/be held on club licenses as they aren’t either rifles or muzzle loading pistols. The same goes for a s1 shotgun.
Whether this was intentional or a side effect of ‘excising’ pistols from the legislation is hard to say, but given the 1968 act does (or at least did) differentiate between pistols and rifles on a more factual basis pre-1997, I’m not convinced a challenge to that interpretation would get anywhere.
Just refreshed my memory.
The exemption to having to have a FAC to possess a firearm at a club is in s15 of the 1988 Act.
That section refers to rifle clubs and muzzle loading pistol clubs and says that someone may have in their possession a rifle or muzzle loading pistol.
It’s not a case of saying that there’s a specific prohibition on lending s1 shotguns/LBPs/LBRs. Instead, there’s the general prohibition on possessing a s1 anything without a FAC which is subject to certain exemptions, of which none exist for s1 shotguns/LBPs/LBRs.
As much as the police might like to say otherwise, it appears the Estate Rifle exemption would apply to a s1 shotgun.
The exemption to having to have a FAC to possess a firearm at a club is in s15 of the 1988 Act.
That section refers to rifle clubs and muzzle loading pistol clubs and says that someone may have in their possession a rifle or muzzle loading pistol.
It’s not a case of saying that there’s a specific prohibition on lending s1 shotguns/LBPs/LBRs. Instead, there’s the general prohibition on possessing a s1 anything without a FAC which is subject to certain exemptions, of which none exist for s1 shotguns/LBPs/LBRs.
As much as the police might like to say otherwise, it appears the Estate Rifle exemption would apply to a s1 shotgun.
We (shooters in general, that is a) did it to ourselves.
After '97 many wanted to still shoot pistols and although 'long range pistols' were a thing and the odd bunt-line was about, hand-fired long firearms were just coming on to the market to fill the void and were just classed as firearms. To metaphorically stick our fingers up at those that we thought were to blame, and to still shoot pistols, we started calling these long, hand fired guns LBP/LBRs and so it stuck.
No doubt it would have come in at some point without legislation, much like the optional 'action type' that now seems to be written on the FAC.
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