<P> Following the Dunblane massacre , the government passed the Firearms ( Amendment ) Act 1997 and the Firearms ( Amendment ) ( No. 2 ) Act 1997 , defining `` short firearms '' as Section 5 Prohibited Weapons , which effectively banned private possession of handguns almost completely . Exceptions to the ban include muzzle - loading guns , pistols of historic interest ( such as pistols used in notable crimes , rare prototypes , unusual serial numbers , guns forming part of a collection ) , guns used for starting sporting events , signal pistols , pistols that are of particular aesthetic interest ( such as engraved or jewelled guns ) and shot pistols for pest control . Under certain circumstances , individuals may be issued a PPW ( Personal Protection Weapon ) licence . Even the UK 's Olympic shooters fell under this ban ; shooters could only train in Northern Ireland , the Channel Islands , the Isle of Man , or outside the UK ( in Switzerland , in practice ) . Prior to the 2012 London Olympics , British Shooting negotiated an agreement with the Home Office to issue Section 5 Permits to a limited number of nominated elite athletes , allowing them to keep pistols and train on the UK Mainland at nominated `` Section 5 Ranges '' . This agreement was renewed following the Olympics and Section 5 Permits remain on issue for eligible members of the GB Squad . </P>
<P> Following the Dunblane massacre , the government passed the Firearms ( Amendment ) Act 1997 and the Firearms ( Amendment ) ( No. 2 ) Act 1997 , defining `` short firearms '' as Section 5 Prohibited Weapons , which effectively banned private possession of handguns almost completely . Exceptions to the ban include muzzle - loading guns , pistols of historic interest ( such as pistols used in notable crimes , rare prototypes , unusual serial numbers , guns forming part of a collection ) , guns used for starting sporting events , signal pistols , pistols that are of particular aesthetic interest ( such as engraved or jewelled guns ) and shot pistols for pest control . Under certain circumstances , individuals may be issued a PPW ( Personal Protection Weapon ) licence . Even the UK 's Olympic shooters fell under this ban ; shooters could only train in Northern Ireland , the Channel Islands , the Isle of Man , or outside the UK ( in Switzerland , in practice ) . Prior to the 2012 London Olympics , British Shooting negotiated an agreement with the Home Office to issue Section 5 Permits to a limited number of nominated elite athletes , allowing them to keep pistols and train on the UK Mainland at nominated `` Section 5 Ranges '' . This agreement was renewed following the Olympics and Section 5 Permits remain on issue for eligible members of the GB Squad . </P>
when did guns become illegal in the uk
when did guns become illegal in the uk
1997
1997