World wide legal requirements for gun owners

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Saltlake58

Member
Apr 9, 2015
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Utah, United States
As noted on a couple threads lately, this forum is heavily weighted to those of us in the United States where gun ownership is part of our Constitution. While the right is under attack from many angles, and if you are in some states such as California, New Jersey, or New York, even Air Guns are regulated, most of the rest of us can buy and sell without much issue.

I know this is not the case in many nations around the world include examples like:
Canada where I believe an air rifle is limited to 6 FP limit before needing some kind of a permit.
Britain with the 12 fp limit before requiring an FAC (firearms certificate)
Australia where air rifles are class A weapons and require license and registration. Even a 3 fp air pistol must be registered.
I believe Germany has some very strict laws, though I am not sure about France and other European Countries, does the EU cover these? My ignorance of European law is showing!

From our international friends, what are some of the legalities you deal with?

What are some of the strange things you deal with, like here a moderator is in a legal gray area that no one wants to touch! You'd think in the USA, moderators would be simple, but firearms moderators are regulated much more stringently than firearms, and it's difficult to tell a Air Gun (unregulated) moderator from a firearms Moderator that is regulated.

So, what are the legalities around the world? I'm curious! Lets hear from around the world!


 
While Federal and in most cases state restrictions are minimal here in the United States regarding air guns the various city ordinances can be very restrictive and arbitrary. In my city for example I can step out of my back door and shoot firearms with no restrictions however a non powder propelled weapon cannot be fired within 500 feet ( 167 yards )of a street or residence !! A very restrictive exception is made for bow and arrow but nothing else. It would be wise, even if you are in the US, to check your city and county or other governing agency's laws to be sure you are within the law. Does anyone know of an organization that can help with information or other assistance when someone is working to modify such local laws?
 
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Perhaps misspoke on CA for airgun regulations. Powder burners are more heavily regulated than other states. Including air guns may have been overstating.

​Perhaps in the future, instead of coming on like a bull in a china shop and demanding backup for a statement made in error, one could simply state that California does not regulate and we can keep the conversation more civil
 
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In France:
-for manual loading gun : you have to be a member of the French rifle federation (be a member of an official club) and buy what you want without limits.
- for semi automatic gun : same as above + fill some papers that will be checked by the administration. They check that you are not retarded, no previous troubles with justice and so on.. in fact if you are a normal guy you will get your licence to own semi automatic (5 years valudation)
Those guns are in fact never yours since you have to ask each 5 years the authorization to keep them. If you stop firing you have to sell them or cops come at home to take them.
-full auto -> TRAVEL TO US :)
 
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G'day everyone, in Australia you need to have a firearms licence before you can legally obtain a firearm. You have to attend a mandatory firearms safety course, provide proof on what you want to use the firearm for and prove to weapons licensing (police) that you are a fit and proper person.
Category A&B licence covers airrifles (no restriction on power) rimfire rifles, centrefire rifles and break barrel shotguns. From the on you have different categories covering semiautomatic weapons, self loading shotguns, and weapons with more than a 5 or ten shot magazine (I think) pistols and air pistols are also in a different category as well as bigger cal pistols. All these categories require to attend specific training courses. You are also have to provide secure storage for your weapons.
Then there are various restrictions on where you can operate (shoot) your firearm. You have to either attend a range or live on a property bigger than 40 acres or know a cockie (farmer) that will let you shoot on his or her property.
As for moderators or silencers they are not permitted in Australia and therefore illegal. You also require a permit to acquire from weapons licensing before you can purchase a firearm. This process takes about a week. So you see you just can't go into a gun shop and buy a firearm on the spot.
As you can see there are many things that will influence you the average Aussie in obtaining or wanting a firearm. But it's a great sport and visiting my friends properties out west can be very rewarding in hunting for pigs, goats, foxes, rabbits and the cursed feral cat. These pests do untold damage to the country and native fauna.
Its a rigerous system and some in Australia don't approve of all the requirements but it helps promote a safe sport.
I am no expert and some of our states have slightly different rules but this should give you some idea of owning and operating a firearm in Aussie. 








 
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Interesting to hear the rules for other countries. Different power limits, but with an FAC, you can buy whatever you need / want / can afford. This is good to understand. It sounds like Australia is by far the most restrictive, requiring any air rifle purchase to have an FAC equivalent license. France has tighter controls,

Dreuf - are those rules for powder burners, or air rifles? Are air rifles considered Firearms in France?

Norway, does it by caliber
​Matt Dauber of Hunting South Africa mentioned in a video that SA also restricts by caliber, not necessarily power.

​Finland is all PewPew (love that one)
Sweden - 7.4 fpe limit, then FAC

All interesting, and leads me to believe that the restrictions are not nearly as complex as I believed.

​Then there's the US - jimmymc2900 posted above
OK, for the US, here's what I get out of the legal summary: Nationally, no Federal rules on Air Rifles.

California restricts the sale of non-powder guns to those under 18. Also restricts the DISPLAY of non powder guns in public places, meaning, I believe that you must put a BB or Pellet gun in a case to transport. California also restricts the possession of an air rifle on school property.

​New Jersey and Rhode Island consider air guns the same as powder burners.

Illinois and Michigan regulate large bore or high powered air guns as firearms

Connecticut, Delaware and North Dakota list some or all non-powder guns as dangerous weapons, whatever that means

​Rolling Stone (above) mentioned that cities and localities sometimes regulate air rifles differently. That is true as the city I live in doesn't allow pellet guns, but does allow BB guns (strange!)

The rest of us are probably under the age restriction (considering I haven't been under 18 for over 4 decades, I forgot about that one).

​Best to understand where you are as some states like New Jersey have reputations for enforcing gun laws on anyone from out of state, including New York City police officers that live in New Jersey. Just be careful where you travel and understand the local laws in the US because they vary!

​Lots of approaches to Air Rifles world wide!
 
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Thanks for the update from Down Under. Wish I was there right now, about -5C where I am. Sure Brisbane or Melbourne are both warmer!

​Safe sport can be an issue up here. I'm sure you've seen the "Stupid People with Guns" videos. Some are, sadly, from the US. I've even seen some very poor practices at the range. Most people understand what they are doing, but some don't.

​I had a couple work mates in the Brisbane area start shooting at a local club. The three of them were contemplating purchasing a shotgun for trap and skeet, but the price was three times what I would expect here.

​As a practical question though, here, there are some cities, where technically it's legal to get a gun permit (Another US Anomaly in Gun Management), but the city (Chicago) hasn't issued a single permit in 10 or 15 years, being an effective ban on guns. Are the Australian Police Departments pretty consistent in their standards? How difficult is it to convince the local police that it's OK to allow you a air rifle??
 
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Ever since we had the Port Arthur massacre 30 or so years ago we have had very consistent rules from the Australian police. Government at that time instituted a buy back scheme where all gun owners who didn't want their firearms handed them in to the police and were reimbursed to some extent. Those who wanted to keep their firearms had to obtain a licence and permit for their weopens, hence the tough regulations in place now.
As far as ownership is concerned not only for an airrifles but for any firearm you have to demonstrate that you are a fit and proper person to own one. The police at the time of your application do background checks on you as well, any mental illness or other issues are stringently looked at. This process on licence application takes approximately 3 months.
Hope this helps out.
We are currently at a place called Burrum Heads it's about 33 deg C. We went for a swim this morning, wonderfull, going out now to catch some live bait for a bit of fishing tonight. Still miss my Walther.
 
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Here in the netherlands there are no power restrictions for now(someone in the government has plans to change that this year) airguns/bb guns that resemble firearms are forbidden. This rule is very wierd because some airguns have been confiscated because it had a bolt. The guns can be confiscated by the police if the officer thinks it looks like a firearm. There are no guidelines for this. So if the officer thinks a gun with a bolt like a 850 airmagnum looks like a firearm he can confiscated it even tho it is sold in every gunshop here.
also suppressors are legal on airguns.
,Niels
 
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I looked up Burrum Heads, looks beautiful with the gum trees, or eucalypts, don't know which they are from the pictures.

​The answer did help me understand Australian law a bit better.

AirgunNeils - 80 Joules must be a pretty weak firearm. That's a 45 grain bullet going 800 ft per second. My 22 long rifle is a 40 grain bullet traveling at 1100 feet per second, or about 145 Joules. Might want to check this guy's math. Maybe comparing to a .22 short? or a pistol?

​Spain looks difficult to shoot. 1.7fpe is a mighty light gun. Can't even get .177 target pistols down in that range. Most of them are in the 3FPE range. 

​France a little tougher. 

​All very interesting seeing world wide attitudes towards shooting. ​Thanks for responding. If anyone knows how other countries regulate, I'm always curious.
 
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