When were guns banned in the UK?

Answer 1

Dueling was banned in the United Kingdom in the year 1450. It was banned because the act of dueling is believed to be unchristian, as it involved infringing on God's privilege to determine one's day and time of death.

Answer 2

The restriction of gun ownership and use in the UK has been an ongoing affair since the first restriction in 1870. Most laws focus on the private ownership of guns and it is worth noting that various UK law enforcement agencies, such as the Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA) are permitted to equip appropriately trained staff with firearms.

A timeline detailing the evolution of UK gun control is laid out below:

• In 1870, licences became a requirement for anyone who wanted to take a gun outside their house.
  
• In 1903, licences became a requirement for owning any handguns and ownership could be refused if the person was "drunken or insane".
  
• In 1920, a registration system was introduced with police given the power to refuse licences to anyone they thought to be 'unfit'.
  
• In 1937, private ownership of most fully automatic weapons was banned.
  
• In 1967, licences (but not registration) became a requirement for shotguns.
  
• In 1988, private ownership of semi-automatic and pump action rifles, weapons which fire explosive ammunition, short shotguns with magazines and elevated pump-action and self-loading riles was banned. Registration and secure storage of shotguns became mandatory.
  
• In 1997, private ownership of handguns was banned. initially the ban did not include .22 calibre pistols (a.k.a "garden guns") however the legislation was promptly amended to include them as well.
  
• In 2006, manufacture, importation or sale of realistic imitation guns became illegal.