[suicideneil]

UK firearms laws are tighter than.... rude joke. To get an FAC (firearms cert.) you have to be a member of a rifle range for 2-3 years, and get loads of references before the police will even consider letting you purchase a gun.

Pistols/ revolvers are banned outright- the UK olympic team have to train in switzerland I believe because you cant own handgun in the UK, no exceptions.

Shotgun licenses are easier to get though, since you just need to have a clean criminal record, and a few references & metal gun cabinet, though if you live in a rural area that would probably help- no-one in a city really needs to have a double barrelled shotgun normally....

Air rifles are limited to 12 ft/lbs of power, and pistols 6, before you need to have a full license again, but with pistols if they go over 6 ft/lbs they are illegal as before.

All it takes is for a few nut-jobs to go on a killing spree with illegally held weapons anyway, and the government caves in the the angry mums brigade and bans handguns, or with the VCRA make it very difficult to purchase even airsoft guns without proving you are a memeber of a skirmishing site etc. The thing the goverment and angry mums neglect to realise is that criminals dont buy guns (even when they could) through legal channels, so introducing ban & ban only effects responcible, law abiding shooters; the crims carry on as normal & get their stuff from overseas and the underworld black market trade. I dont know why immigrnats want to flock to the UK, this place is really going down the sh*tter lately under 'New labour' government...

EDIT: wow, hows that for good timing Native Paul! I like your more accurate explanation more than mine- I have trouble remembering specific info, and went for the general gyst of it.... :)