paintball guns as imitation firearms

[jonhaley]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3812753.stm

This is a little old now but I haven't seen any other threads on it (cue pointing out that I'm a blind f***wit)

But anyway, I'm, not going to start another rant on how stupid these guys are and giving us a bad name (all goes without saying) BUT I do think its worth noting that he was charged with "possessing an imitation firearm".

An imitation firearm is "any thing which has the appearance of being a firearm . . . whether or not it is capable of discharging any shot, bullet or other missile"

The effect of the case is that paintball guns can be viewed as imitation firearms. There are a number of offences relating to imitations and this means that, potentialy, they can all apply to paintball guns. Generally its not a problem because they all relate to their use in connection with other crimes. However, worth noting that it has been proposed to ban the sale to imitations to under 18s.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3812753.stm

 

[L J]

Originally posted by jonhaley
worth noting that it has been proposed to ban the sale to imitation firearms to under 18s.

i think this should have been done long ago!

 

[jonhaley]

even if it includes banning sale of paintball guns to u18s?

 

[L J]

yes

at least then their parents/over 18 people have to buy them and they can have some degree of control. the under 18 can still have the marker. just means they didnt buy it.
hell, i'm under 18, but id rather have my parents buy my marker, but know the streets are *slightly* safer now that you have to be 18 to get one...

 

[jonhaley]

true. problem is, if the proposed airgun legislation goes through it'll also make it illegal to give a paintball marker to a minor

 

[L J]

Originally posted by jonhaley
true. problem is, if the proposed airgun legislation goes through it'll also make it illegal to give a paintball marker to a minor

how d'you mean? i know that if you're under 17 or something you legally need an adult to supervise...
do you mean all minors wont actually be allowed to use one even under supervision?
that would suck a bit

p.s. what age group is a minor, under18 ?



p.p.s im glad the government are really looking after the country, stopping about 10 airgun injuries a year, but ignoring the 1000's people a year or whatever influx of people in the country and cause more death and injuries through gangs

 

[Mog]

i use to live in the village next to where this happened, the name sounds familiar to, if people like this insist on spoiling things for us they deserve more than a 12 month over the wall.

 

[Zodar]

I come from Sweden, and there they have these laws and have had them for a while. Practically impossible to play airsoft and paintball for under 18s there. It really really sucks, so I don't hope they'll get the same laws here in England, although it would be good with some level of control to restrict the misuse of soft air guns and paintball guns.

 

[beasty1711]

check this ebay item.

i really like this quote in the item description.. "The III Series comes only in full automatic mode."