Legal Situation on BB Guns

Shigsy

Ok, basically i just want to know if anybody has any idea if BB guns are legal in Ireland or not. Im talking about softair BB guns that fire standard 5mm plastic BB's. Is it legal to have them delivered here or not?

Thanks.

Victor

You need a firearms licence and you are only likely to get one as part of a gun club.

Shigsy

I really doubt you need a firearms licence for a SoftAir BB gun. These are not pelet guns now, just SoftAir BB guns. Heres an example of what i mean.

http://bbgunsuk.co.uk/store/customer/product.php?productid=16147&cat=252&page=1

I cant see u needing a full on firearms licence for a gun that looks like its out of a cartoon! In england you can legally buy these when your 14, there cant be that much of a difference.

PhoenixRising

They're definitely illegal Shigsy, unless you can get a firearms licence.

[EDIT]
Having checked here http://www.oasis.gov.ie/culture_and_recreation/sport_and_leisure/sport_in_ireland/sporting_weapons.html?search=Guns, it says that all air-pistols are totally prohibited with or without a firearms licence.
[/EDIT]

Shigsy

I had a look at that link u posted and it doesnt mention BB Guns anywhere (BB guns are not "Airguns", they are "SoftAir BB Guns"). Am i missing something?

Atreides

softAir gun is an Air gun as evident by the name,

PhoenixRising

If it's a gas powered gun (air or CO2) I'm pretty sure it's covered by the legislation. Call down to your local garda station or contact the appropriate government department for specifics. All I can say is that I wanted to get one a few years ago and looked into it, and was told they were illegal. Look at it this way, if they were legal, they would be sold here. You wouldn't have to send away to the UK for them.

Shigsy

They are not C02 powered, they are simply spring powered, uses AA batteries. And as i said, a BB gun is not an "Air Pistol" or "Air Rifle" as covered in that document.

PhoenixRising

Like I said, best to check with the authorities here before ordering.

I can remember looking at several UK BB gun shop websites and many of them had a notice on their site stating that they could not ship to the Republic of Ireland. There has to be a good reason for that.

Victor

Originally posted by Shigsy
They are not C02 powered, they are simply spring powered, uses AA batteries. And as i said, a BB gun is not an "Air Pistol" or "Air Rifle" as covered in that document.

Then the would be considered equivalent to a sling shot or such, essentially a noxious weapon and just as illegal.

Shigsy

Ok people, thanks for the info.

nadir

BB guns are so much fun.
I havnt had one in years though, I'm thinking about buying a rifle sometime this year, not sure what the law is on that, I'll probably join a gun club first though. Any one kow if a lisence is hard to get? for like a .22 hornet or something like that.

User45701

They are clamping down on internet ordering of BB guns and Air guns and other Items to Ireland. I tried to order a bottle of the amazing drink Absinthe. The website wouldent ship to ireland because of legal reasons.
Ive always wanted an eletric P90 BB gun that fires pointed tiped pelets. It has a top loading mag with a capicty of 100 or 150 rounds.

The thing i dont understand is u can drive up the north and buy a BB gun then bring it back. Before 9/11 you could bring them back if they where in your suitcase on the plane - I never got around to doing either my loss i supose.

vibe666

me and all my mates used to have them at school in the UK when I was a lad. some of them were powerful enough to send a plastic BB right through a coke can or apple at close range, and most of them would leave a bruise if you got shot with one. didn't last long though, as some dumb eejit (not me before you say it) got caught shooting his chemistry teacher as he was getting into his car. to save his own hide he told them we all had them, and named names of quite a few people, so it all came to a very abrupt end.

also knew a guy who bought one from a gun shop in London. he had a barge and used to use it to scare off the kids who habitually stood on bridges and spat on him and his boat as he went under. it was a gas powered .22 pistol which opened like most single shot air rifles (break action?) to reveal a round magazine with about 12 pellets in it (like a revolver) which could be taken out and replaced with a fresh mag of pellets. the grip where the mag would normally go contained the gas cartridge (refillable with a C02 gas can). the whole thing was semi-auto and you could empty it within a couple of seconds. every shot caused the cocking mechanism to move back like a real pistol and it packed quite a punch. great fun, but i only got one go of it.

rymus

Originally posted by vibe666
to save his own hide he told them we all had them, and named names of quite a few people, so it all came to a very abrupt end.

Theres nothing worse than a rat... I hope he was soundly pistol whipped with the guns before ye were made dispose of them

Shigsy

So basically whats the chances of this a mini electric BB gun being stopped on its way into the country?

MojoMaker

Same chance as any other package dude. Probably about 1/10. Go ahead and order it and take your chances.

I have a Walther PPK replica CO2 pistol which uses a 15-round magazine of steel ball bearings (BB's). I ordered four dozen CO2 cartridges and 5000 rounds from a UK website and had them shipped here without problems.

Btw - yes, the type you describe is illegal, but you can't get in trouble for importing it. Worst case scenario is that it gets confiscated or returned to sender. After all you could easily argue that someone else must have ordered it - in this day and age most people know a few credit card numbers.

Shigsy

I'll keep you all informed about how it goes

exCrumlinBoyo

I live in Florida. But I'm from Dublin Ireland. Been living here for two years.

I don't believe in guns and all of that but I can walk into my local supermarket walmart and buy a double barrell shot gun or a pump action shot gun ect. Now I can buy them there and then as they sell the licence also.

As for Air Rifels I've got 2 of them and they are pretty cool. You can just buy them right out no licence needed also you can buy sling shots which are kept colse to the childrens toys department... :rolleyes:

Long Onion

OP: "are BB guns illegal?"

Everyone: "Yes"

OP: "NO they're not"

Everyone: "Yes they are"

OP: "No they're not, I'm buying one anyway"

Everyone: "No problems, thanks for asking"


On a seperate note, where do we stand with noxious weapons and BB Baskin?

o1s1n

Zombie thread is back to eat your babies.

\Nyom.

SV

Poor Long Onion..
isn't it annoying when the others delete their posts..

diverdriver

Wow 2004, those were the days. I wonder if he ever did get his 'BB' gun. Does the OP frquent the Airsoft forums, I wonder? Finally his question can be answered. Yes they're legal