Vernon and his Rifle

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 97029

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...> wrote:
 
> bboy_mn:
> 
> don't know about the UK but in the US private sales, that is private
> person to private person rather than business to private person, are
> not regulated to the same degree. Usually these sales can occur 
quite
> easily, especially if it involved a common hunting rifle rather 
than a
> handgun or military style weapon.
> 
> I suspect Vernon got the gun from the same person who rented him the
> boat and the hut on the rock.
> 

Geoff:
It is mandatory in the UK that firearms are registered with the 
police. There are, obviously, illegally held weapons. Vernon could 
have, as you say, purchased the gun privately in which case the 
police must be advised of the change of ownership, unless Vernon has 
struck an illicit deal, which doesn't seem like him, odious as he may 
be.

An alternative which occurred to me was the purchase of an air rifle 
which I think can be held without a licence. After all, Vernon 
doesn't know how Hogwarts will proceed next and may have obtained the 
rifle just to give him a sense of security.