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lesley · New Member

Hello, thank you to any one who takes time to read this.

I've spent all evening trying to work out the legality of a child buying a bb gun.

I took my 12 year old son and his younger friend to town and let them have an hour to themselves yesterday. Today I have discovered that he bought this
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003DASGYG/ref=asc_df_B003DASGYG1079084?smid=A1DVTBR2NQ2Q9F&tag=dealtmp52823-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B003DASGYG
in orange.

I'm most cross with him as he has ADHD and I have told him repeatedly not to buy guns and he already had plans to buy some mini figures so I wasn't worried. He told me he blew all his money on fast food but I discovered the gun today and his friend told me he got it from a gun shop.

I've been trying work out if it counts as a fire arm and if the shop were actually allowed to sell him such a thing.

We are in the UK.

Any help would be apreciated as I am very cross. A supermarket wouldn't sell him a pack of teaspoons once because they were on they list of items restricted for sale to children yet he comes home with this!

Thanks ever so
Lesley, trying to be a good Mum.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

I am not in the UK- but most places have a minimum age requirement to purchase any sort of projectile-shooting products, even "AirSoft" or "SoftAir" as the unit you have pointed out is.

Just looking at a couple of UK retailers' websites- it appears there is indeed a minimum age of 18 for purchasing these products. Perhaps someone else here who is in the UK could shed some light on this.

lesley · New Member

Thank you airgunEric, much apreciated. Smile

jlwilliams · Veteran Member

At the very least you are justified to go to the store and ask them where they get off selling your son this without you present.

It may or may not be illegal. I don't know UK law. As a practical matter, an angry parent confronting the clerk should result in a quick refund. They'll do that just to get you out of their store because no sales happen when there is an unhappy customer at the counter. If they quibble, then bring up the "is this even legal for you to sell to him?..." question. They don't likely want any official inquiry made because no one wants anu needed static from The Man.

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

Hi Lesley
The law on buying and using a BB gun in the UK states that you must be 17 or over to buy one and 14 or over to use one, any one between 14-17 years of age is required to be supervised by an adult.

See: http://bbgunsuk.co.uk/xcart/help.php?section=FAQ

I hope this helps

Al

PS: As jlwilliams says if you go back to the store and confront them about their policy on selling to minors. You should get a full refund as they will not want to get the "Trading Standards" Dept to get involved.