<P> The Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 (1) introduced an air weapon certificate in Scotland, which anyone owning an air weapon is now required to hold . </P> <P> The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 prohibits online or mail - order sale of new air guns in the UK . UK transactions for new items from retail UK shops must be finalised face - to - face, either at the shop where purchased, or through a Registered Firearms Dealer (to which an item may be posted and the transfer completed). Since February 2011, The Crime & Security Act 2010 (S. 46) made it an offence "...for a person in possession of an air weapon to fail to take reasonable precautions to prevent any person under the age of eighteen from having the weapon with him ...". This legislation essentially relates to the storage of air guns and the requirement of owners to prevent unauthorised access by children . Failure to do so renders owners liable for a fine of up to £ 1,000 . </P> <P> Possession of an air gun while trespassing, with or without ammunition, loaded or unloaded is armed trespass, and is considered a serious criminal offence and subject to heavy penalties . </P> <P> The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives states that: </P>

When is a pellet gun considered a firearm