Offensive Weapons Bill

Published on:
Jun 20, 2018

Share

• Share
• Tweet

We have just received notice that the first reading of the Offensive Weapons Bill took place today; this is a formal procedure so no debate took place. The date for the Second Reading has not yet been announced

The Bill seeks to extend the prohibitions on possession of firearms to;

• “any rifle from which a shot, bullet, or other missile, with kinetic energy of more than 13,600 joules at the muzzle of the weapon, can be discharged”
• “any rifle with a chamber from which empty cartridge cases are extracted using
  • I) energy from propellant gas, or
  • Ii) energy imparted to a spring or other energy storage device by propellant gas,

Other than a rifle which is chambered for .22 rim-fire cartridges”

• “any device (commonly known as a bump stock) which is designed or adapted so that –
  • I) it is capable of forming part of or being added to a self-loading lethal barrelled weapon (as defined in section 5791b) and (2A)), and
  • Ii) if it forms part of or is added to such a weapon, it increases the rate of fire of the weapon by using the recoil from the weapon to generate repeated pressure on the trigger…”

A full copy of the Bill is accessible here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2017-2019/0232/cbill_2017-20190232_en_4.htm#pb6-l1g28

The Home Office have also just published the responses to the consultation – see Offensive and dangerous weapons: new legislation

We are reviewing the proposals and working up our response – more to follow.

Regards

Andrew Mercer

Group Chief Executive & Secretary General