Firearm???

Timid Toad

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-48119092

Obviously awful that someone has been seriously injured and lucky to be alive.
My reason for posting here is with the spokesperson's use of the term "firearm". Further evidence of lack of knowledge or the idea that it involves a trigger release therefore is a firearm... ?
What is the official (legal) definition?
 

bimble

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it's just someone being asked for a statement for the press asap, and that's probably just the word they're used to using when it comes to shootings in Liverpool.
 

mk1

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-48119092

Obviously awful that someone has been seriously injured and lucky to be alive.
My reason for posting here is with the spokesperson's use of the term "firearm". Further evidence of lack of knowledge or the idea that it involves a trigger release therefore is a firearm... ?
What is the official (legal) definition?
The Crown Prosecution Service provide the answer

"a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged"
 

Timid Toad

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So it's the barrel that is essential, not any form of explosive propellant.
 

bimble

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don't forget being "lethal"... because nerf guns might have issues otherwise.
 

Corax67

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Barrel and propellant - compressed gas (air or carbon dioxide) is also a propellant - constitute a firearm. This is why antique weapons such as shooting sticks or many SOE developed covert weapons fall onto this category even though they don’t use conventional rounds.



Karl
 

little-else

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air weapons were excluded from the firwears act interpretation until a judge decided to redefine the lethal bit to prevent criminals possessing them and stun guns. There is a bit in the Act that goes on about noxious substances that was originally designed to stop people using mustard gas shells and lethal emans lethal to any creature so even if it is capable of killing a mouse it is covered and hence licenced in Scotland where air soft guns arent.
we had a gas gun at work that was designed to fire onbects such as ball bearings down to particles of dust using compressed air on one side of the chamber and a vacuum the other to replicate the effect of the impact of space debris with satellites etc. the velocity got up to 24000mph and even a speck of dust leave a big crater in a solar panel at that speed. Because it was an enclosed system it wasnt a firearm.
We had another verson for testing ceramic body armour and geophysical equipment that used a 10 bore shotgun mounted in a frame to fire into the ground to create shock waves. again exempt but needed by FAC to buy the ammunition. Ironically .22 rifles can also be exempt ( miniature rifle ranges like fairgrounds) and any firearm or weapon used in theatrical or film productions likewise. One of my brother's neighbours has a firearms cert because he restores vintage military vehicles and they arent always deactivated, not sure if he is covered by a museums licence

The term weapon is normally misused as well, the army have weapons, target shooters have firearms. I doubt if the crossbow was of military origin or issue but why let the facts stand in the way of the story
 

Restless Native

New member
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-48119092

Obviously awful that someone has been seriously injured and lucky to be alive.
My reason for posting here is with the spokesperson's use of the term "firearm". Further evidence of lack of knowledge or the idea that it involves a trigger release therefore is a firearm... ?
What is the official (legal) definition?
A firearm is a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged and includes any prohibited weapon whether lethal, barrelled or not, any component part of such a lethal or prohibited weapon or any accessory to such weapons which are designed or adapted to diminish the sound or flash caused by firing the weapon.

So not a crossbow then.
Andy.
 

ben tarrow

Well-known member
air weapons were excluded from the firwears act interpretation until a judge decided to redefine the lethal bit to prevent criminals possessing them and stun guns. There is a bit in the Act that goes on about noxious substances that was originally designed to stop people using mustard gas shells and lethal emans lethal to any creature so even if it is capable of killing a mouse it is covered and hence licenced in Scotland where air soft guns arent.
we had a gas gun at work that was designed to fire onbects such as ball bearings down to particles of dust using compressed air on one side of the chamber and a vacuum the other to replicate the effect of the impact of space debris with satellites etc. the velocity got up to 24000mph and even a speck of dust leave a big crater in a solar panel at that speed. Because it was an enclosed system it wasnt a firearm.
We had another verson for testing ceramic body armour and geophysical equipment that used a 10 bore shotgun mounted in a frame to fire into the ground to create shock waves. again exempt but needed by FAC to buy the ammunition. Ironically .22 rifles can also be exempt ( miniature rifle ranges like fairgrounds) and any firearm or weapon used in theatrical or film productions likewise. One of my brother's neighbours has a firearms cert because he restores vintage military vehicles and they arent always deactivated, not sure if he is covered by a museums licence

The term weapon is normally misused as well, the army have weapons, target shooters have firearms. I doubt if the crossbow was of military origin or issue but why let the facts stand in the way of the story
little-else its sounds like you have a fantastic job :)
 
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