gun question for the British folk on my flist

[thrihyrne]

I'm writing a HP story and a character who's forced into being 'Mugglefied' has had it grudgingly suggested to him that he purchase a gun— for self-defense. Being in the States, our gun control is, well, pretty lax, depending on the state. How difficult is it to buy personal arms in the U.K. (this story is set in England proper, however), and, what I'm really wanting to know, are there semi-public ranges for people to learn how to shoot one? We have them here, the proverbial gun club, but I have the sense that they are far less prevalent in the U.K. Okay, I'll be honest; a year or so ago I wrote a story set in England and had someone shooting at a pesky raccoon and it was pointed out to me that that would be highly unlikely to happen in England, as opposed to many parts of the U.S.

Any comments are welcome!

Comments

[shocolate.livejournal.com]

http://www.ukgundealer.com/rules.htm

Possible, but it's been really, really tightened up lately, since someone burst into a school and shot lots of five-year-olds.

Shotguns in the countryside, yes, but licensed.

An illegal gun is probably easier - have your character lurk in Hackney and buy one!

[mad_maudlin]

::is desperately curious::

[freckles42.livejournal.com]

When is the story taking place? It makes a difference as to the gun control - when I lived there (approx same years as Harry's 6th and 7th years), gun control was VERY strict. Recently, the laws have relaxed, and then tightened again.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

It's very rare for people to carry a gun here. Non-criminal firearms tend to boil down to rifles carried by farmers to shoot vermin and occasional left-over WW2 firearms. I've lived in various parts of the UK all my life and never encountered a public firing range, though I believe they do exist.

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

If you're talking firearms, then only people who use them work-specifically may have them (police, army etc). It is virtually impossible to get a firearms licence if you do not fit into one of those categories. Firearms, on the other hand, CAN be bought on the sly. It's like anything - people want to be gangsta's (sadly), so there is a market to feed this.

Shotguns, on the other hand, are a different matter. I have a shotgun licence, but I am in a small minority. It is NOT common to have one. Mostly, rural communitites, where there are a high percentage of farmers, have shotguns, but that's it.

[anna-wing.livejournal.com]

No raccoons either. People with shotguns usually shoot at pesky rabbits. Foxes are also a possible target. In some parts of the country and at some times of the year, one might conceivably shoot deer, various game birds or the Beast of Bodmin. No non-criminal civilian would have a handgun or an automatic weapon in the normal course of things.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Excellent! An illegal gun it is. Now I just need to figure out where he practices...

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

LOL!! It is for your story. *g*

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Sometime off in the future, actually, so I may take license with it. Thanks for your thoughts!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

I've lived in various parts of the UK all my life and never encountered a public firing range, though I believe they do exist.

I may have to do a google search; this story is set in the future, but I think I'll go the realistic route and have the firearm be unlicensed. Thanks for your commentary!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Excellent- thanks heaps. I think the concensus is an unlicensed shotgun, purchased... with help, is the way to go.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

No non-criminal civilian would have a handgun or an automatic weapon in the normal course of things.

What a lovely concept!! That's certainly not the case here. Thank you for your comment.