F’rinstance: in the USA, if you’re 18 it’s generally feasible to wander into any sporting goods store and pick up at least a 12ga shotgun, .22 rifle, and just about any caliber of handgun–and the requisite ammunition. You might have to go to the gun shop down the road to pick up a .30-30 deer rifle or other specialty items (starlight scopes, nonstandard ammunition, etc.). Some states are a bit more restrictive in that they may require some forms to be filled out, but you can still walk out armed.
I assume this is not the case in the UK. So, is there a feasible process where an Englishman, say, could legally purchase, load, and of course fire a .45 handgun? How about rifles / shotguns?
hand gun no…not any way really…shotgun yes with a certificate for which " The current licensing procedure involves: positive verification of identity, two referees of verifiable good character who have known the applicant for at least two years (and who may themselves be interviewed and/or investigated as part of the certification), approval of the application by the applicant’s own family doctor, an inspection of the premises and cabinet where firearms will be kept and a face-to-face interview by a Firearms Enquiry Officer (FEO) also known as a Firearms Liaison Officer (FLO). A thorough background check of the applicant is then made by Special Branch on behalf of the firearms licensing department. Only when all these stages have been satisfactorily completed will a license be issued, which must be renewed every 5 years.
Any person who has been sentenced to three years or more in prison is automatically banned for life from obtaining a firearms licence.[32] Similarly, persons applying for licences with recent, serious mental health issues will also be refused a certificate…" Firearms regulation in the United Kingdom - Wikipedia
It’s effectively impossible to obtain a handgun unless you need one for work or something (and in a country where the police aren’t even armed, there are very few people who can demonstrate such need).
People can and do buy shot guns and rifles – sports enthusiasts, farmers and the like. But you need to apply for a license first and comply with strict regulations on storage (ie locked gun cabinet, ammo stored separately etc). You can’t wander through the mall with a loaded shotgun slung over your shoulder. Having said all that, we do have country sports-like stores that sell guns openly. It’s not some secret transaction.
Handguns - no sir, no way. Mere possession means five years in prison.
The quoted text here relates to a Firearms Certificate (used mostly for hunting rifles), not a Shotgun Certificate. Obtaining a shotgun is a much less rigorous process. Note though that considerable discretion is given to the local Chief Constable in these matters - I guess it’s easier to legally own a shotgun in rural parts than in the inner city.
It’s maybe worth noting that, as in so many areas, gun laws are not uniform across the UK. In Northern Ireland handguns can be obtained legally, as can semi-automatic rifles chambered in .22 calibre.
Hence “generally feasible,” but noteworthy nonetheless. There IS more to it than buying a pack of gum, but for your average law-abiding citizen with no documented mental instability it’s not much different.
In NJ, you have to first have a gun purchasers license, which requires two references, finger printing, and a background check. The whole thing takes about six weeks. So, unless you go through that first, you’re not going to walk out armed. It really doesn’t seem that different from the UK process, I suppose.
Handguns require a different license and then you have to purchase the gun within 30 or 60 days (or something like that) from when you get the handgun purchase approval.
Note: all of that applies to BB guns as well as shotguns, rifles, etc. BB handguns are subject to the same rule as regular handguns. Airsoft guns don’t require any paperwork, though.