The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004

Grant of firearm certificate to young persons N.I.

7.—(1) In this Article “young person” means a person under the age of 18 who has attained the age of 16.

(2) The Chief Constable may grant a firearm certificate to a young person [F1 for the acquisition and possession, but not for the purchase, of a firearm and ammunition] if—

(a) each firearm to which it relates is—

(i) an air gun to which paragraph (4) applies;

(ii) a shotgun; or

(iii) a .22 rimfire rifle that is to say of a calibre not exceeding 5.59 millimetres; F2 . . .

(b) the Chief Constable attaches a condition under Article 6(1) that the firearm and any ammunition for it to which the certificate relates are for the purpose of—

(i) pest control; or

(ii) the protection of livestock;

on agricultural land occupied by the holder or on which he works and also resides [F3 ; F4 ...

(c) the young person has produced with his application to the Chief Constable, the permission in writing of a parent or guardian to the acquisition and possession of the firearm and ammunition to which the application relates.][F5 and

(d) the Chief Constable attaches a condition under Article 6(1) that arrangements must be in place for ensuring that a parent or guardian assumes responsibility for the secure storage of the firearm and ammunition to which the certificate relates.]

(3) The Chief Constable may grant a firearm certificate to a young person [F6 for the acquisition and possession, but not for the purchase, of a firearm and ammunition] if—

(a) each firearm to which it relates is—

(i) an air gun to which paragraph (4) applies; or

(ii) a shotgun; F7 ...

(b) the Chief Constable attaches a condition under Article 6(1) that the holder shall have the firearm and any ammunition for it to which the certificate relates in his possession only—

(i) for sporting purposes [F8 or for the purpose of pest control] ; and

(ii) [F9 during the period until he attains the age of 18] under the supervision of a person who has attained the age of 21 and has held a firearm certificate for a firearm of that type for at least three years. [F10 and

(c) the Chief Constable attaches a condition under Article 6(1) that arrangements must be in place for ensuring that a person who has attained the age of 21 and has held a firearm certificate for a firearm of that type for at least three years assumes responsibility for the secure storage of the firearm and ammunition to which the certificate relates.]

(4) This paragraph applies to an air gun which is capable of discharging a missile so that the missile has, on being discharged, a kinetic energy in excess of one joule.

F1 Words in art. 7(2) inserted (28.7.2010) by Firearms (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1759), reg. 5(2)(a)

F2 Word in art. 7(2)(a) omitted (28.7.2010) by virtue of Firearms (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1759), reg. 5(2)(b)(i)

F3 Art. 7(2)(c) and preceding word inserted (28.7.2010) by Firearms (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1759), reg. 5(2)(b)(ii)

F4 Word in art. 7(2)(b) omitted (12.12.2019) by virtue of The Firearms Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1420), regs. 1(1), 5(2)(a)(i)

F5 Art. 7(2)(d) and word inserted (12.12.2019) by The Firearms Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1420), regs. 1(1), 5(2)(a)(ii)

F6 Words in art. 7(3) inserted (28.7.2010) by Firearms (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1759), reg. 5(2)(a)

F7 Word in art. 7(3)(a) omitted (12.12.2019) by virtue of The Firearms Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1420), regs. 1(1), 5(2)(b)(i)

F8 Words in art. 7(3)(b)(i) inserted (13.5.2016) by Justice Act (NorthernIreland) 2016 (c. 21), s. 61(1), Sch. 5 para. 2(1)

F9 Words in art. 7(3)(b)(ii) substituted (28.7.2010) by Firearms (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1759), reg. 5(2)(c)

F10 Art. 7(3)(c) and word inserted (12.12.2019) by The Firearms Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1420), regs. 1(1), 5(2)(b)(ii)