<P> A lot of current civilian rifle clubs trace their history to the' volunteers' of the middle 19th century, raised locally among the gentry to afford some readiness to counter the constant threat of invasion by Napoleon III . These volunteer organisations and military shooting clubs developed over time into civilian clubs as the volunteer organisations were incorporated into the Territorial Army . The rise in popularity in the civilian clubs started in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially fullbore rifle events sponsored by the military and National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom to improve the general standard of marksmanship under the auspices of Defence of the Realm . </P> <P> In 2012 the Home Office reported that, "in 2010 / 11, firearms were involved in 11,227 recorded offences in England and Wales, the seventh consecutive annual fall". Firearms statistics in England and Wales include airguns and imitation guns, which make up a high proportion of these recorded offences (see under "Firearms crime" below). However, this was a return to the levels seen prior to the legislation in 1997 . Firearms offences almost doubled in the eight years following handguns being made illegal . </P> <P> Fully automatic (submachine - guns, etc .) are "prohibited weapons" and require explicit permission from central government to permit ownership . Generally, such permits are not available to private citizens . Semi-automatic rifles over . 22 in (5.6 mm) and pistols are similarly "prohibited", although there are exceptions for short barrelled breech - loading semi-automatic and revolver pistols for use for the humane dispatch of animals (classed under section 5). There are also very limited exceptions for pistols both to preserve firearms of historic or technical interest (classed as section 7 firearms) and to enable use by elite sports teams . Semi-automatic shotguns are restricted to a magazine capacity of no more than two shot and is held under section 2 of the Firearms Act, although a' multi-shot' shotgun can be owned under section 1 (restricted firearms and ammunition) of the Firearms Act . Where the term' multi-shot' is used, this refers to either a Semi-automatic or pump action shotgun with no restriction on magazine capacity . All other rifles and their ammunition are permitted with no limits as to magazine size, to include: target shooting, hunting, and historic and muzzle - loading weapons, as well as long barrelled breachloading pistols with a specific overall length, but not for self - defence; however if a home - owner is threatened they may be used in self - defence, so long as the force is reasonable . Shotgun possession and use is controlled, and even low - power air rifles and pistols, while permitted, are controlled to some extent . A Firearm Certificate issued by the police is required for all weapons and ammunition except air weapons of modest power (of muzzle energy not over 12 ft ⋅ lbf (16 J) for rifles, and 6 ft ⋅ lbf (8.1 J) for pistols). Shotguns with a capacity of three rounds or less (up to guns with a magazine holding no more than two rounds, in addition to one in the chamber) are subject to less stringent licensing requirements than other firearms and require a shotgun certificate; shotguns with higher capacity require a Firearm Certificate . </P> <P> Possession of a live firearms round can lead to severe penalties . Live firearms ammunition, other than most shotgun ammunition, may only be purchased and possessed with the authority of a Firearm Certificate . Shotgun cartridges can be possessed by anybody over the age of 15 but no licence is required to hold such ammunition so long as the cartridges contain 5 or more shots . However, a licence covering possession of a firearm capable of firing shotgun ammunition is required for purchase . </P>

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