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Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997
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1 Extension of s.5 of the 1968 Act to prohibit certain small firearms etc.E+W+S
(1)Section 5 of the M1Firearms Act 1968 (referred to in this Act as “the 1968 Act”) shall have effect with the following amendments.
(2)In subsection (1) (which describes weapons which are prohibited by section 5), after paragraph (ab) there shall be inserted the following paragraph—
“(aba)any firearm which either has a barrel less than 30 centimetres in length or is less than 60 centimetres in length overall, other than an air weapon, a small-calibre pistol, a muzzle-loading gun or a firearm designed as signalling apparatus;”.
(3)In paragraph (ab) (self-loading or pump-action rifles) of that subsection, for the word “rifle” there shall be substituted the words “ rifled gun ”.
(4)In paragraph (ac) (self-loading and pump-action smooth-bore guns) after the word “not” there shall be inserted the words “ an air weapon or ”.
(5)In paragraph (ad) (smooth-bore revolver guns), for the words from “loaded” to the end there shall be substituted the words “ a muzzle-loading gun ”.
(6)After subsection (7) there shall be inserted the following subsections—
“(8)For the purposes of subsection (1)(aba) and (ac) above, any detachable, folding, retractable or other movable butt-stock shall be disregarded in measuring the length of any firearm.
(9)Any reference in this section to a muzzle-loading gun is a reference to a gun which is designed to be loaded at the muzzle end of the barrel or chamber with a loose charge and a separate ball (or other missile).”
(7)The general prohibition by section 5 of the 1968 Act of firearms falling within subsection (1)(aba) of that section is subject to the special exemptions in sections 2 to 8 below.
[F1(7A)In sections 2 to 7 below any reference to subsection (1)(aba) of section 5 of the 1968 Act shall include a reference to subsection (2A) of that section as it applies in relation to a firearm specified in subsection (1)(aba) of that section.
(7B)In section 8 below the reference to subsection (1)(aba), (b) or (c) of section 5 of the 1968 Act shall include a reference to subsection (2A) of that section as it applies in relation to any weapon or ammunition specified in subsection (1)(aba), (b) or (c) of that section.]
(8)In sections 2 to 8 below any reference to a firearm certificate shall include a reference to a visitor’s firearm permit.
F2(9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1S. 1(7A)(7B) inserted (14.7.2014) by Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12), ss. 108(9), 185(1) (with ss. 21, 33, 42, 58, 75, 93); S.I. 2014/949, art. 6(a)
F2S. 1(9) repealed (1.2.1998) by 1997 c. 64, s. 2(7), Sch.; S.I.1997/3114, arts. 4, 5, Sch. Pt. II
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 1(3) excluded (10.6.1997) by S.I. 1997/1535, arts. 3(b), 5, Sch. Pt. I
Commencement Information
I1S. 1 wholly in force at 1.7.1997; s. 1 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 53(3)(4); s. 1 in force at 1.7.1997 by S.I. 1997/1535, art. 3(b), Sch. Pt. I (with effect as mentioned in arts. 4, 4A (as amended by S.I. 1997/1536, art. 2) of the commencing Act)
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