Can British soldiers carry guns?

[Llama]

This came about after a conversation with a friend. She friend calims that her father (who is in the Army) has personal possession of a Rifle (dunno if it's automatic or not)
Now, I was under the impression no one in the country can keep a weapon such as a rifle as personal property.
Can they or can they not, and could you provide me with sources as backup? I've tried looking but found nothing so far.:angry:

 

[Ren.182]

Nope i don't think they can. She probably meant an Air Rifle.

 

[kirovman]

Wasn't there some issue about a woman soldier leaving her gun in a supermarket toilet a few weeks ago? But that wasn't a rifle, it was a hangun. Suggests to me that they might be able to :O

 

[Llama]

hmmm, the Wikipedia page is a complete contradiction of itself

Quote 1

All guns except low-powered airguns and shotguns (which have a less strict control system), can only be obtained if a person holds a "firearms certificate" (gun licence) which can be obtained from the local police, and is renewable every five years.

Quote 2

Automatic weapons have been completely banned from private ownership since 1937. In 1988 semi-automatic rifles (except for .22 rimfire) were completely banned for private ownership following the Hungerford Massacre the previous year.

:| :O

 

[Bob_Marley]

It is legal to hold a single shot or bolt-action rifle of any calibre provided you have good reason to own one (i.e., You can have a .50 rifle but there are only two places in the UK where one could fire it, so you cant have one for pest control). You may have a semiautomatic rifle of a calibre no greater than .22" (That's why we don't have "sporter" versions of military rifles, the majority being of either .223" or .30"). Also you may have a shotgun with a capacity exceeding 3 rounds. And, If you owned one before the sale of them were banned you may have a "brockcock" style air pistol (it should be noted however that it is now illegal to sell, transfer, import or manufacture these. Also if you have one without a firearms licence now you are breaking the law as the amnesty for getting one or having the weapon destroyed is over) These are the weapons that one may have with a fire arms certificate (I think) but you must have a FAC for each one.

With a shotgun licence you may hold as many shotguns as you like but, again, you must have reasonable grounds for having them. Also, their capacity may not exceed 3 cartridges.

You may own an air rifle with a power of no more than 12 foot pounds and an air pistol with a power of no greater than 6 foot pounds without a licence.

Anything other than this is illegal (with the exemption of items that fire a projectile at 1 joule [328 fps with a .20 projectile] or less, such as airsoft guns.)

Also, "forward venting" blank firers are illegal. And, if the VCRB comes into force it will be illegal to sell, manufacture or import "realistic replica firearms"

 

[Llama]

kk, thanks.
So, im guessing she was telling the truth?

 

[ríomhaire]

English and Irish gun laws are similar and we have a quite powerful rifle(1 mile range) and our neighbour has a shotgun and 3 antique(but working) rifles.

 

[Razor]

Military personnel aren't allowed to take home their weapons, as far as i am aware.

 

[DEATH eVADER]

This came about after a conversation with a friend. She friend calims that her father (who is in the Army) has personal possession of a Rifle (dunno if it's automatic or not)
Now, I was under the impression no one in the country can keep a weapon such as a rifle as personal property.
Can they or can they not, and could you provide me with sources as backup? I've tried looking but found nothing so far.:angry:

Would it depend if he lives on the base?

 

[el Chi]

Wasn't there some issue about a woman soldier leaving her gun in a supermarket toilet a few weeks ago? But that wasn't a rifle, it was a hangun. Suggests to me that they might be able to :O

That was so funny! In a kind of "Our military are shockingly incompetent" kind of way funny. :|

 

[gh0st]

Can British soldiers carry guns?

no. all british soldiers are issued forks.

 

[Bob_Marley]

Also, muzzle loading handguns are leagal with a FAC. This incluedes muzzle loading revolvers.

Also, there are laws regarding barrel length which I cant remember at the moment whcih stop you from having easily conealable shotguns/rifles.

 

[DreamThrall]

Military personnel aren't allowed to take home their weapons, as far as i am aware.

From what I understand, at least in the US Air Force, unless you are deployed, you are never actually issued a personal weapon. Even our Security Forces (cops) are issued their weapons daily - they go to the armory before their shift, are issued their firearm, and return it to the armory after their shift. I'm pretty sure taking a weapon to the grocery store is strickly against regs. Unless of course they meant the on-base commissary...

 

[ríomhaire]

From what I understand, at least in the US Air Force, unless you are deployed, you are never actually issued a personal weapon. Even our Security Forces (cops) are issued their weapons daily - they go to the armory before their shift, are issued their firearm, and return it to the armory after their shift. I'm pretty sure taking a weapon to the grocery store is strickly against regs. Unless of course they meant the on-base commissary...

Well in Britain they aren't even issued guns on a day-to-day basis. The UK and Ireland are the only 2 places in the world with an unarmed police force.

 

[Razor]

From what I understand, at least in the US Air Force, unless you are deployed, you are never actually issued a personal weapon. Even our Security Forces (cops) are issued their weapons daily - they go to the armory before their shift, are issued their firearm, and return it to the armory after their shift. I'm pretty sure taking a weapon to the grocery store is strickly against regs. Unless of course they meant the on-base commissary...

That is how it is done in the British military, if you need a gun, you go to the armoury and sign for it and then return it at the end of the day.

 

[CptStern]

That is how it is done in the British military, if you need a gun, you go to the armoury and sign for it and then return it at the end of the day.

:O .....so if I feel like say ...shooting up my family, I can go get a gun, kill everybody and then hand it in at the end of the day and no one will be the wiser?







...do they give you bullets too?

 

[Razor]

:O .....so if I feel like say ...shooting up my family, I can go get a gun, kill everybody and then hand it in at the end of the day and no one will be the wiser?

...do they give you bullets too?

They only do it if you have a reason to have the weapons and ammunition and are fully trained in their use i.e. you're going on a training exercise or guard duty. And even when you're on Guard Duty, you have to go through the training to make sure you know when to shoot and when not to.

 

[CptStern]

rats, so having annoying neighbours isnt a good enough reason?

 

[Razor]

rats, so having annoying neighbours isnt a good enough reason?

Shooting your neighbours is wrong CptStern and is also highly illegal and i should hope you should overcome any murderous urges by seeking proper professional help

 

[CptStern]

Shooting your neighbours is wrong CptStern and is also highly illegal and i should hope you should overcome any murderous urges by seeking proper professional help

what about "gutting them like a fish"? is that just wrong?

 

[Razor]

what about "gutting them like a fish"? is that just wrong?

Slightly less illegal then gunning them down like dogs, but i would still advise psychiatric help

 

[Beerdude26]

All of the above thread

Saved for the history books
Stern=Crazeh Bread

EDIT : And sigged