Full Auto - Legal in UK?
- Thread starter AUPaintSoc
- Start date
Sorry
they
are
illegal
and
banned
or
i
would
offer
you
some.
Behave your having a laugh. Mr wine surname type person
To Define under the eyes of the law..i've studied this from a number of angles from a police point of view, using police documents and handbooks/guidelines for officers and:
A) AU - As i've mentioned in another thread, for those of us up here in God's country - more than one missile ejected per trigger pull is ILLEGAL in scotland, it is classed as a section 5 firearm in this case. in Scotland, paintball guns have no seperate classification and fall under airgun legislation. Again as stated in another thread, the reason paintball was banned in scotland for 3 years was due to a marker at bedlam firing in excess of one trigger pull per shot. The police attended, put markers as a whole through the ringer (firing ball bearings at a pigs skull from a distance of about two feet, if what i'm told is true) and then declared them, and therefore the sport, illegal. It was only when a different firearms specialist was appointed that the UK legislation was looked at, and markers returned to legality in Scotland, but without the "adventure sport" adendum that the UK enjoys, see below.
B) Airguns (england and scotland) themselves fall in and out of legislation depending on what you are doing with them. Ie, shooting an airgun on private property is not illegal, whereas shooting one in public is "reckless discharge of a firearm", carrying a loaded airweapon in a public place is an offence under firearms legislation (paintball gun will come under this legislation) but having an unloaded one isn't (except in Scotland where it is, though if you can provide reasonable grounds it is unlikely you would be charged for it)
C) (UK legislation) An airgun adapted and used for "adventure sport" purposes and propelled by Co2 should never be considered a firearm. (This is in a home office document)..and this is where the very tenuous grey area is created.
Basically remember, firearms legislation changes for different countries (to include the various portions of England's current 'empire'...eg, the poor Manx Guys suffer from their sport being COMPLETELY illegal on the Isle of Man, and manage to play only because they have special dispensation from the Chief Constable, and even then, only at approved areas under their recball site name.
so Basically, for you AU, yes, full auto or even ramping [Edit : After a final check on this, this evening - ramping probably isn't!], is illegal...
A) AU - As i've mentioned in another thread, for those of us up here in God's country - more than one missile ejected per trigger pull is ILLEGAL in scotland, it is classed as a section 5 firearm in this case. in Scotland, paintball guns have no seperate classification and fall under airgun legislation. Again as stated in another thread, the reason paintball was banned in scotland for 3 years was due to a marker at bedlam firing in excess of one trigger pull per shot. The police attended, put markers as a whole through the ringer (firing ball bearings at a pigs skull from a distance of about two feet, if what i'm told is true) and then declared them, and therefore the sport, illegal. It was only when a different firearms specialist was appointed that the UK legislation was looked at, and markers returned to legality in Scotland, but without the "adventure sport" adendum that the UK enjoys, see below.
B) Airguns (england and scotland) themselves fall in and out of legislation depending on what you are doing with them. Ie, shooting an airgun on private property is not illegal, whereas shooting one in public is "reckless discharge of a firearm", carrying a loaded airweapon in a public place is an offence under firearms legislation (paintball gun will come under this legislation) but having an unloaded one isn't (except in Scotland where it is, though if you can provide reasonable grounds it is unlikely you would be charged for it)
C) (UK legislation) An airgun adapted and used for "adventure sport" purposes and propelled by Co2 should never be considered a firearm. (This is in a home office document)..and this is where the very tenuous grey area is created.
Basically remember, firearms legislation changes for different countries (to include the various portions of England's current 'empire'...eg, the poor Manx Guys suffer from their sport being COMPLETELY illegal on the Isle of Man, and manage to play only because they have special dispensation from the Chief Constable, and even then, only at approved areas under their recball site name.
so Basically, for you AU, yes, full auto or even ramping [Edit : After a final check on this, this evening - ramping probably isn't!], is illegal...
Legal
BB guns fire fully auto and lok very real but are classed as toys and therefore are NOT firearms..I believe the power limit is low and they fire "a non lethal projectile" paintball markers fall into the same area.
If they fell under normal firearm laws then even semi auto would not be allowed just bolt action or pump (not carrying anymore than 2+1 rounds)...
To be done under firearm laws you would have to be doing something pretty stupid and if the police wanted to do you they would (a man was charged under firearm offence for making his finger look like a gun whilst inside a plastic bag !!!)
if you commit any crime (criminal damge.. ASB ...Trespass)and are found with anything looking like a gun the you will be charged.
on a different note dont think we 1000 paintballers are safe from the goverment. They pulled the rug out under Rifle Pistol and shotgun users at the drop of a hat(there were over 3 million regular users)and paid them a £100 quid compensation for that £2500 custom built Semi auto M16 that they lost..and even if tit is morraly wrong they have finnished off the rest of the hunting community...compared to them we are small fry.
Fully auto might not be ILLEGAL in this country but we dont use it because we are safer keeping our heads down until the sport is larger and more recognised..
Robbo
Film quote Starwars APM
Obi Wan: When they find us, they will crush us, grind us into little pieces, then blast us into oblivion!
BB guns fire fully auto and lok very real but are classed as toys and therefore are NOT firearms..I believe the power limit is low and they fire "a non lethal projectile" paintball markers fall into the same area.
If they fell under normal firearm laws then even semi auto would not be allowed just bolt action or pump (not carrying anymore than 2+1 rounds)...
To be done under firearm laws you would have to be doing something pretty stupid and if the police wanted to do you they would (a man was charged under firearm offence for making his finger look like a gun whilst inside a plastic bag !!!)
if you commit any crime (criminal damge.. ASB ...Trespass)and are found with anything looking like a gun the you will be charged.
on a different note dont think we 1000 paintballers are safe from the goverment. They pulled the rug out under Rifle Pistol and shotgun users at the drop of a hat(there were over 3 million regular users)and paid them a £100 quid compensation for that £2500 custom built Semi auto M16 that they lost..and even if tit is morraly wrong they have finnished off the rest of the hunting community...compared to them we are small fry.
Fully auto might not be ILLEGAL in this country but we dont use it because we are safer keeping our heads down until the sport is larger and more recognised..
Robbo
Film quote Starwars APM
Obi Wan: When they find us, they will crush us, grind us into little pieces, then blast us into oblivion!
Fantastic answer. Something researched and official sounding
Cheers for everyones help, I appreciate that their has been countless threads, but doesnt it seem like most people didnt actually know?! So we've all helped each other out!! Aww, theres that nice warm feeling again...
I'm sorry Pump, but isn't all that just conjecture & you're interpretation of the current airgun law?
As it stands, as I previously stated, only a High Court Judge could decide upon the legality of full auto paintball guns & the only way that will ever happen, is if a test case is presented. The current firearms law doesn't specifically cover paintball in any way. We fall firmly in the 'Adventure Sports' grey area, basically meaning that we are neither breaking the law nor are we not breaking the law, until such time as a ruling is made.
As it stands, as I previously stated, only a High Court Judge could decide upon the legality of full auto paintball guns & the only way that will ever happen, is if a test case is presented. The current firearms law doesn't specifically cover paintball in any way. We fall firmly in the 'Adventure Sports' grey area, basically meaning that we are neither breaking the law nor are we not breaking the law, until such time as a ruling is made.
Erm, no....I work for the police
and no, apologies, but it doesn't stand as you previously stated..a high court judge? the law is already there, If you want to p/m me we can discuss it ad infinitum.....
The way I have looked into, researched and spoken to senior officers in relation to the law (specifically in Scotland, but also in England) relates to an officer's interpretation...ie, will you get arrested and charged? And Fully-auto use could get you charged in the UK, your marker is classed as an airgun which is a firearm, it is not a prohibited weapon under statute, but any firearm (and in the eyes of an arresting officer a paintball marker is a firearm, though as I mentioned, not a prohibited one) which ejects two or more projectiles without repeated pressure on the trigger is enough to get you arrested and charged for a firearms offence (section 5).....a lot less could get you charged up here.
Believe me, fully auto *is* illegal, though in court (a different kettle of fish than actually getting cautioned and charged with the offence) a UK baller's lawyer could construct a defence around that "adventure games" clause, providing of course s/he was playing paintball at the time....if it was in any other way.....you'd be looking at a sentence of one form or other.
ramping we-ell, it requires repeated pressure on the trigger to operate....I am guessing this is why when it was presented to the home office, they've decided to wait and see with it, and not jump any legislative (excuse the pun) gun at this time....
In England essentially a paintball marker (though the legislation does state powered by co2) falls somewhere between a toy and an airgun.
In Scotland it's an airgun.
On the Isle of Man it's a prohibited firearm
And, as for what happens if it goes to court, well, that's anyone's guess...I mean for Christ sake, if you've ever seen what lawyers get people off on, you'd take a life of crime right off the bat
and no, apologies, but it doesn't stand as you previously stated..a high court judge? the law is already there, If you want to p/m me we can discuss it ad infinitum.....
The way I have looked into, researched and spoken to senior officers in relation to the law (specifically in Scotland, but also in England) relates to an officer's interpretation...ie, will you get arrested and charged? And Fully-auto use could get you charged in the UK, your marker is classed as an airgun which is a firearm, it is not a prohibited weapon under statute, but any firearm (and in the eyes of an arresting officer a paintball marker is a firearm, though as I mentioned, not a prohibited one) which ejects two or more projectiles without repeated pressure on the trigger is enough to get you arrested and charged for a firearms offence (section 5).....a lot less could get you charged up here.
Believe me, fully auto *is* illegal, though in court (a different kettle of fish than actually getting cautioned and charged with the offence) a UK baller's lawyer could construct a defence around that "adventure games" clause, providing of course s/he was playing paintball at the time....if it was in any other way.....you'd be looking at a sentence of one form or other.
ramping we-ell, it requires repeated pressure on the trigger to operate....I am guessing this is why when it was presented to the home office, they've decided to wait and see with it, and not jump any legislative (excuse the pun) gun at this time....
In England essentially a paintball marker (though the legislation does state powered by co2) falls somewhere between a toy and an airgun.
In Scotland it's an airgun.
On the Isle of Man it's a prohibited firearm
And, as for what happens if it goes to court, well, that's anyone's guess...I mean for Christ sake, if you've ever seen what lawyers get people off on, you'd take a life of crime right off the bat
Not a TOY
I have just read this thread and would like to comment on one part.
Paintball markers (guns) are NOT Toys - it is simple to see why - the UK toy industry have agreed to make all toy guns with an orange plug/mark or similiar on the end of barrel. This is part of the UK toy manufacturers code of practice. so if paintball markers or soft air guns were classed as a toy then it would have an orange end to the barrel to confirm with the UK toy manufacturers code of practice. So they are not toys !!!
Steve
Stick with semi auto (300fps or lower) standard quality paintballs and then there are NO grey areas at all. As to a Gov't ban - well they are thinking of banning drinking on trains etc.... what next - breathing air !!!!
And playing of friends farmland without insurance is foolish.
Just my thoughts
I have just read this thread and would like to comment on one part.
Paintball markers (guns) are NOT Toys - it is simple to see why - the UK toy industry have agreed to make all toy guns with an orange plug/mark or similiar on the end of barrel. This is part of the UK toy manufacturers code of practice. so if paintball markers or soft air guns were classed as a toy then it would have an orange end to the barrel to confirm with the UK toy manufacturers code of practice. So they are not toys !!!
Steve
Stick with semi auto (300fps or lower) standard quality paintballs and then there are NO grey areas at all. As to a Gov't ban - well they are thinking of banning drinking on trains etc.... what next - breathing air !!!!
And playing of friends farmland without insurance is foolish.
Just my thoughts
Of course they'll ban that !
because then they won't have to spend money supplying fresh stuff and saving the world
Not a TOY
See I agree totally with Steve, they have never been toys and never will be.
They are a professional piece of sports kit that can create harm if not looked after responsibly.
So that's why we have sites, memberships and control measures in place to aid player's safety.
Every time a player pushes the boundaries with safety he pushes himself further away from the true goal of getting a little bit more out of the sport.
Yes ramping has evened the field out a little, but no it really hasn’t changed anything that badly. But it has made players who had no trigger pulling skills look better and be capable of laying down more paint.
The market wants to sell you more paint and the market wants to sell you more software in there marker's but at the end of the day true skill wins games hence myself watching Kelly’s get through some tough games abroad. And then play better paintball to avoid bad refs mistakes shall we say.
The answer lies in the majority of people saying what they want; if you all want to follow a certain path then the path you choose is the path you have to take. But remember plan your path because once you go down it the results may be irreversible
Listening to some of the guy’s in the know Mr Bull and Robbo for example to mention two can only be wise as these guy’s have seen paintball grow and grow. And helped it on its way.
We must all stop the idiots who are going to get the dam thing banned just as we have to go around wearing air supplies on our backs with filling stations every two hours away.
“O my the feeling of de ja vous”
See I agree totally with Steve, they have never been toys and never will be.
They are a professional piece of sports kit that can create harm if not looked after responsibly.
So that's why we have sites, memberships and control measures in place to aid player's safety.
Every time a player pushes the boundaries with safety he pushes himself further away from the true goal of getting a little bit more out of the sport.
Yes ramping has evened the field out a little, but no it really hasn’t changed anything that badly. But it has made players who had no trigger pulling skills look better and be capable of laying down more paint.
The market wants to sell you more paint and the market wants to sell you more software in there marker's but at the end of the day true skill wins games hence myself watching Kelly’s get through some tough games abroad. And then play better paintball to avoid bad refs mistakes shall we say.
The answer lies in the majority of people saying what they want; if you all want to follow a certain path then the path you choose is the path you have to take. But remember plan your path because once you go down it the results may be irreversible
Listening to some of the guy’s in the know Mr Bull and Robbo for example to mention two can only be wise as these guy’s have seen paintball grow and grow. And helped it on its way.
We must all stop the idiots who are going to get the dam thing banned just as we have to go around wearing air supplies on our backs with filling stations every two hours away.