95R,
Do they work with sports shooting licenses in the UK?
Over here in the Netherlands, anything that even resembles a handgun (including a non-firing repro) is outlawed. Exception are antique guns like blackpowder muzzle-loaders and some cartrigde-fed guns where cartridges can no longer be supplied.
When one joins a sports shooting club, shoots with club guns for the first year, getting at least 12 registered (yup) shooting turns and when criminal record and behaviour pattern are considered to be 'normal', one can purchase a personal weapon. Weapon must be locked up at all times, ammo separately stored from the weapon. Weapon may not be transported or carried, unless to a gun dealer or the range. After one year of single-gun ownership without problems one can own an amount limited to 5 guns.
There are basically only a few ways to own a firearm legally here:
-Sports shooting
-WW2 resistance veterans and offspring
-Hunters
-Weapons experts (very limited and nearly impossible to obtain these days, intended more for museums)
-Gunsmiths
In fact, obtaining an illegal firearm is easier than obtaining a legal one and this is the major drawback with these laws. It's made difficult for honest owners, while illegal ownership is easy. Personally, I'd prefer it the other way round
