Slingshots and Catapults

BrianD3

I had a Black Widow catapult when I was about 11 or 12. had great fun shooting bottles and cans and the occasional crow with it. I got to be a fairly decent shot with it and could easily hit a can from 15 or so metres away. But these things are actually pretty dangerous - a shot to the head from one could easily kill a person.

I was just wondering what the legal status of these things is nowadays. Are they banned? They must have been legal when I was a kid as they could be bought in any sports-shop.

Anyone else here know anything about catapults or remember using them. Here's an example of the sort of thing I'm talking about:
http://www.barnettcrossbows-uk.com/diablo.htm

BrianD3

rymus

few of my mates had something like that too (I was never allowed to have one). Pair it with a few ball bearings and you have yourself an exceedingly lethal weapon. I'd imagine they'd fall into the "as long as it's not in public" category. I mean I use a very sharp knife to gut fish when I go fishing, but I'm not going to whip it out in a shopping centre and start cleaning my nails with it am I?

Maybe you have to be a farmer to get one these days? They seem to have access to everything

I'm quite sure I'd be able to buy one if I went into my local fishing/hunting supply place. I mean I'm over 18, somewhat responsible and don't have any specific homocidal intentions.

Of course this is all just waffle, the actual legal stance on these things is currently unknown to me. They're freely advertised in tackle shops and the likes, I don't see any reason why anyone over 18 would have any problem getting their hands on one.

BrianD3

If they're freely advertised in tackle shops, then I guess they must be OK.

AFAIK crossbows also used to be OK, i.e. you didn't need any sort of licence or permit to own one. Then the law was changed and crossbows became classified as firearms. Which was a good thing seeing as a crossbow is every bit as deadly as a gun. Scarily, a couple of guys I knew had crossbows. They weren't mates of mine and were a couple of years older than me but still were no more than about 14-15 at the time :eek: Absolute madness.

BrianD3

jabberwock

have a look at the duchas site.
they're responsable for that sort of stuff .i.e. firearms licences.

Victor

They are illegal. "Noxious weapon" or some such. Lets put it this way, no one has a good resaon to have one.

BrianD3

I had a look at the legislation. I can find no specific reference to catapults/slingshots being illegal or requiring a firearms permit. In contrast, there is a specific reference to crossbows and airguns.

The noxious weapon provision covers weapons which discharge noxious liquids or gases, so that definitely doesn't include catapults.

The only thing that I can find which may possibly cover catapults is the following statement which defines the term "firearm"
"a lethal firearm or other lethal weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged.

I guess if a catapult is regarded as an "other lethal weapon" then they are illegal but it is debatable whether a catapult is actually a lethal weapon. Is there any record of a person being killed by one? Have their been any studies done to ascertain whether a catapult shot is or isn't likely to be lethal to a human? I reckon it is a grey area.

BrianD3

zAbbo

Originally posted by BrianD3
If they're freely advertised in tackle shops, then I guess they must be OK.

Thats cause they`re for fishing, are they advertised for use with fishing perhaps

And yes, with some ball bearings they are feckin lethal, many a car window has succumbed to my aim

paulthelegend

Haha jasus i still have the diablo (is a red with dark glass handle) and i still have my black widow ... duno where they are nowadays but wonder are the originals worth anything on bargin hunt :P david dickinson will be knocking on me door now

BrianD3

Haha jasus i still have the diablo (is a red with dark glass handle) and i still have my black widow ... duno where they are nowadays

What did you used to shoot with it? For me it was usually glass bottles and cans. Bottles would literally explode when hit. Cans produced less spectacular results one of the main reasons was they were so light and would just "fly" when shot and would sustain little damage. So I had an idea of filling them with water before shooting which meant the can would stay put when shot. This gave some good results - shoot a drinks can full of water with a 3/8 inch ball bearing and it was entirely possible for the bearing to travel right through the can with entry and exit holes!

Ah the joys of being 12 There were only a couple of guys my age who had black widows. With practice we became accomplished shots and gained the respect of our peers because of our shooting prowess

BrianD3