300,000 crossbow owners in this county. Why?

[newnamethanks]

What possible reason could anyone have for owning one? Competitions? Is that a thing?

Not regulated in the since you don't need certificate to buy one, however, if you tried walking down the high street with One, you'd be lifted for having an offensive weapon in a public place.

For the same reason(ish) there is 6 million air rifles in the UK. Because they are legal and fun to use. Note I say (ish) as crossbows can no longer be legally used for any type of hunting (air rifles can, so used for both sport and hunting).

Like a knife...

You can buy a carving knife, but you can't randomly wander around with it in your handbag

pulls knife back out of backpack

👀

But no seriously yeah you need a proper reason to carry a bow,crossbow,air rifle or knife.

Hunting / vermin control with land owners permission (not the crossbow)

On the way to a event / shooting range

Just purchased and on the way home

^ This

the sale of the item is not regulated. But you have to be over the age of 18 to use one unless supervised by an adult. (Unless it’s a low draw, which is exempt as it is practically a toy).

Wander around without without a suitable justification and bad things are going to happen.

I have just looked and could order some relatively cheap, lethal crossbows for delivery tomorrow.

Simple as a click of a button.

Yes we can, you can have a .50 calibre rifle if you really want one (and can afford the ammo!).

Yes, this exactly. £120+ will buy a 'real' one quite capable of maiming or killing at medium distance. More traditional bows can be just as dangerous, but the difference is that they cannot be carried around loaded and cocked ready to shoot at the simple pull of a trigger.

Forgot to say, they are available on Amazon, not even some specialist site.

I have a couple of crossbows, with pretty high draw weights. I like to target shoot, and am part of an archery club. I keep them very securely, locked away so no child can access.

I would be in support of regulation for owning though. They are deadly weapons in the wrong hands and I think there should be licensing in the same way as we have guns.

Like all weapons they need to be regulated ..some need to be licensed, they are deadly weapons akin to a gun.

Yes, regulation necessary. And restrictions on age and use.

If it hadn't been a crossbow it would have been something else. Vile, awful excuse for a human being.

Guns aren't banned, they're controlled more tightly. There are over half a million people with a shotgun or forearm certificate in the UK.

Just out of interest what's the difference between a compound bow & cross bow?

I do horse archery & do some recurve at a mainly social club but sometimes see compound bows especially wheelchair archers. Often wondered how they differ from cross bows?

Because of one incident?

May more people are murdered with hammers every year. Maybe we should regulate them first?

Obviously it is very sad. But all these knee jerk reactions are a bit daft.

Perhaps they need to regulate men.

Wasn't someone killed in Wales via a crossbow in the last few years and random people were shot with one in London recently.

My friend has one for self-defense should someone try to attack her in her own home. She is tiny, there is no way she could fight someone off or do much damage with a baseball bat or a knife. The crossbow gives her distance.

There has been ten murders with them I have just read.

There was also the case of Sana Muhammad, a pregnant woman killed by her ex-husband.

There have also been a few cases of yobs and sickos using them to kill animals recently.

Given that their only function is to kill I don't know why they are legal. As with guns, they make killing easier for the murderer. I bet this latest case will only inspire more miscreants to buy them.

Planning for a zombie apocalypse

Archery is a common hobby. Also medieval re-enactment groups.