Q&A
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Do I need a bigger cabinet?
Q
I
’ve heard that plans are afoot
to introduce tighter controls on
the storage of airguns. I keep several shotguns for clay shooting at home as well as a number of air rifles. Do the new proposals mean that from now on, I will have to keep my air rifles in the gun cabinet alongside my shotguns? If so, it will mean having to buy a bigger cabinet in order to accommodate all the guns in one place.
A
You’re right that there is a consultation under way which may lead to a change in the law. The government’s aim is to prevent anyone under the age of 18 having unsupervised use of air weapons on private premises. It seeks to clarify the obligation to take ‘reasonable precautions’ in terms of the storage and security of air weapons.
At present, the law requires the owner of an air weapon to take ‘reasonable precautions’ to prevent anyone under 18 from getting access to it.
This is generally taken to mean that it should be stored in either a lockable cupboard or a gun cabinet. The guidance suggests that a cupboard needs to be ‘suitably robust’ and the keys should be kept separately in a safe place.