Information » Law & Rights » Crime » Weapons and Firearms
- Any item that can cause harm can be regarded as a weapon so these items can range from guns, knives, swords and air guns to scissors, tweezers, and even toothpicks
- A firearm is a weapon that shoots a bullet, pellet or air missile. Even a pea shooter can cause serious damage
- It is a crime to have a gun to help you commit a crime or to stop the police from arresting you
- It doesn’t have to be a real gun. Toy or replica guns still count as a crime if it can be proved that you meant people to think that it was a real gun
- If the police have a reason to think that you are carrying a gun they are allowed to stop and search you – see section on Stop and Search
- There are age restrictions on shotgun and firearms certificates, purchasing and hiring
- To get the details go to West Midlands Police
- At 14 you can hold a shotgun certificate but not a firearm certificate, you cannot purchase or hire a shotgun until you are 17 or receive a gift of a shotgun until you are 15 years old
- There are firearms that are used for sport; these include shot guns, rifles and airguns
- These sports enable you to use firearms in controlled and safe environments, so if you are interested in guns check out the web sites below and think about joining a gun club or taking up clay pigeon shooting
- If you are interested in swords consider fencing which will teach you to use a sword and to fight in a safe and controlled environment.
