Can Anyone Answer This?????

[leachy]

So looking at this from "UKPSF" a just carrying a marker in a public place is an offence.
(1) Possession of firearms in a public place

The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 Sec 37 amends Section 19 of The Firearms Act 1968, which deals with possessing certain firearms in a public place. This section now reads as follows….

A person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse (the proof whereof lies on him) he has with him in a public place

(1) a loaded shotgun

(b) an air weapon (whether loaded or not)

(c) any other firearm (whether loaded or not) together with ammunition suitable for use in that firearm, or

(d) an imitation firearm.

The above is effective from 20th January 2004.

 

[Bob]

just out in interest what was the marker setup?

 

[leachy]

I havn't got a clue my mate thought I was an expert cos I marshal

 

[Skeet]

This is all off teh top of my head, but I think you will find it accurate.

Firstly, you cannot use an Airgun (call it what you will), on any land where you do not have the right to be (Ie. With an airgun)

A Public Place, is anywhere that the public have access to, even if they have to pay to get in there etc.

It is an offence to discharge any weapon, with 50 feet Of The Centre of The Queens Highway.

It is an Offence to have an Airgun in a public place, unless it is suitable covered, so that it cannot be fired.

The 50 feet thing, is really to stop people unloading shotguns, rightfully on land with permission, but right next to teh road so as it startles passers by etc, horses and the like.

If, on private property, with permision, etc...you only commit an offence if you are under age or teh projectile leaves teh boundaries of said property.

So...pretty much buggered all round there really...

 

[leachy]

Thanx Lads, like you say he's buggered anyway

 

[Skeet]

Well..not necessarily.
Despite the public using it as a shortcut...it is private property.
They did have teh right to be there, but not to discharge a weapon.
Depending on the exact positioning when fired, he could get around the 50 feet thing.

So..it all depends on the owners of teh damaged property, and whatever disceplinary action takes place, they could move to prosecute...or not...depends really.

 

[Gups]

Not really skeet... Leachy has already said the general public have access to this carpark and so it is not private land. And the airgun link provided states 'A public place means any highway or place or premises to which, at the material time, the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise. You may not have an airgun in a public place without proper reason'.

But then there is still the point is a paintball gun an airgun or not. Although we believe this to be the case, as it better to err on the side of caution, it's down to the local chief constable to decide. But in any case i guess it's an immitation firearm, so he's buggered one way or the other

 

[leachy]

As you might guess, this has actually happened and management are currently making their decisions as to how they'll proceed. The police have been spoken to on an informal basis and have said that if they had received a call at the time, they would have automatically sent an armed response unit, the owner of the gun would have been arrested and the gun confiscated and destroyed - minimum penalty.

My mate said to thank you all and I will let you know the out come of it all,