UK Bans Crossbows, Licenses Existing Owners

0:00On March 20, the UK government plans to ban the sale of crossbows and broadhead hunting arrows after a string of violent attacks, existing owners will need a license with suitability checks to keep their weapons. Right now, there's no registration or licensing system, making them easy to buy online, though kids can't own them and public carry without reason can, mean up to four years in jail. These changes follow high profile cases, let the July 9, 2024 murders of BBC commentator John Hunt's wife and two daughters in, Bushy, Hartford Shire, and a stalker shot dead by police after breaking into a home with a crossbow earlier that year. Officials also point to an April 26, 2025 attack in headingly and other serious crimes. Families affected by these tragedies are welcoming the news. One survivor's partner was killed in East York Shire, and she's pushed for years for tighter rules, calling the move a step toward preventing more. She hopes the law honors her late partner and stops even one more family from suffering.

1:04The government ordered this review after a 2021 attempt to assassinate the late Queen with a loaded crossbow at Windsor Castle. A public inquiry into another incident revealed a teen tried buying crossbows discreetly, and police reviews found mischances to protect victims. Consultations will shape the licensing details in ban rollout, though no timeline is set yet. Its tougher controls aim to keep these powerful weapons out of the wrong hands and stop harm before it starts.