SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1FIREARM CERTIFICATES – EXEMPTIONS
Firearms dealers
1
1
The holder of a firearms dealer’s certificate may, without holding a firearm certificate, have in his possession or purchase or acquire a firearm or ammunition in the ordinary course of his business as a firearms dealer.
2
An employee of the holder of a firearms dealer’s certificate may, without holding a firearm certificate, have in his possession or purchase or acquire a firearm or ammunition in the ordinary course of his employer’s business as a firearms dealer.
3
Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) apply to the possession, purchase or acquisition of a firearm or ammunition in the ordinary course of a firearms dealer’s business even if the firearm or ammunition is in the possession of, or purchased or acquired by, the dealer or his employee at a place which is not specified as his place of business in his firearms dealer’s certificate.
4
In sub-paragraph (5) “relevant supervision” means supervision provided for a customer in the ordinary course of a firearms dealer’s business by the holder of a firearm dealer’s certificate or his employee.
5
A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, have in his possession a firearm or ammunition while he is under relevant supervision.
Auctioneers, carriers and warehousemen
2
1
A person carrying on the business of an auctioneer, carrier or warehouseman or an employee of his may, without holding a firearm certificate, have in his possession a firearm or ammunition in the ordinary course of that business.
2
An auctioneer, carrier or warehouseman who—
a
fails to take reasonable precautions for the safe custody of any firearm or ammunition which he or his employee has in his possession and for which he does not require a firearm certificate; or
b
fails to report immediately to the Chief Constable the loss or theft of any such firearm or ammunition,
shall be guilty of an offence.
Slaughter of animals
3
1
A person licensed to slaughter animals may, without holding a firearm certificate, have in his possession a slaughtering instrument in any slaughterhouse in which he is employed.
2
The proprietor of a slaughterhouse or a person appointed by him to take charge of slaughtering instruments for the purpose of storing them in safe custody at that slaughterhouse may, without holding a firearm certificate, have in his possession a slaughtering instrument for that purpose.
3
In this paragraph—
“licensed” means licensed under the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 558);
“slaughterhouse” includes a knacker’s yard; and
“slaughtering instrument” includes ammunition for a slaughtering instrument.
Equipment for ships and aircraft
4
1
A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, have in his possession on board a ship a firearm as part of the equipment of the ship.
2
A person may, without holding a firearm certificate—
a
have in his possession on board an aircraft or at an aerodrome a signalling apparatus as part of the equipment of the aircraft or aerodrome;
b
remove a signalling apparatus which is part of the equipment of an aircraft—
i
from one aircraft to another at an aerodrome; or
ii
from or to an aircraft at an aerodrome to or from a place appointed for its storage in safe custody at that aerodrome,
and keep any such apparatus at such a place.
3
If he has obtained a permit from the Chief Constable, a person may, without holding a firearm certificate, remove—
a
a firearm from or to a ship; or
b
a signalling apparatus from or to an aircraft or aerodrome,
to or from a place and for a purpose specified in the permit.
4
In this paragraph “firearm” and “signalling apparatus” include ammunition for a firearm or a signalling apparatus, as the case may be.
Sporting purposes
5
A person carrying a firearm or ammunition belonging to another person holding a firearm certificate may, without himself holding a firearm certificate, have in his possession that firearm or ammunition under instructions from that person and for that person’s use for sporting purposes only.
Athletics meetings, etc.
6
A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, have a firearm in his possession at an athletics meeting or other competitive occasion for the purpose of starting, finishing or abandoning races.
Firearms clubs
7
A member of a firearms club which is authorised under Article 49 may, without holding a firearm certificate, have in his possession a firearm and ammunition when engaged as a member of the club in, or in connection with, drill or target shooting.
Recreational facilities
8
1
A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, acquire or have in his possession at a recreational facility an air gun if the person operating the facility has a firearm certificate for the gun.
2
Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply if—
a
the air gun is an air pistol capable of discharging a missile so that the missile has, on being discharged, a kinetic energy in excess of 8.13 joules; or
b
in any other case, the air gun is capable of discharging a missile so that the missile has, on being discharged, a kinetic energy in excess of 16.27 joules.
3
In sub-paragraph (1) “recreational facility” means a miniature rifle range, a shooting gallery or a facility for combat games.
4
Sub-paragraph (1) is without prejudice to paragraph 9.
5
Sub-paragraph (1) so far as it relates to a facility for combat games does not apply in relation to a person who is under the age of 16.
Air guns and ammunition
9
1
A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, have in his possession or purchase or acquire an air gun.
2
Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply if the air gun is capable of discharging a missile so that the missile has, on being discharged, a kinetic energy in excess of one joule.
3
A person who is under the age of 18 may not by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)—
a
have an air gun in his possession without a firearm certificate unless he has attained the age of 14 or is under the supervision of a person who has attained the age of 21;
b
purchase an air gun without a firearm certificate unless he has attained the age of 17.
4
A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, have in his possession or purchase or acquire ammunition for an air gun.
Rifles
10
1
A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, borrow a rifle from the occupier of private premises and use it on those premises in the presence of the occupier or an employee of the occupier if—
a
the occupier or employee in whose presence the rifle is used holds a firearm certificate for it; and
b
the borrower’s possession and use of it complies with any conditions as to those matters in the certificate.
2
A person who by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) is entitled without holding a firearm certificate to borrow and use a rifle in another person’s presence may also, without holding a firearm certificate, purchase or acquire ammunition for use in the rifle and have it in his possession during the period for which the rifle is borrowed if—
a
the firearm certificate held by that other person authorises the holder to have in his possession at that time ammunition for the rifle of a quantity not less than that purchased or acquired by, and in the possession of, the borrower; and
b
the borrower’s possession and use of the ammunition complies with any conditions as to those matters in the certificate.
3
Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to a person who is under the age of 18.
Shotguns
11
1
A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, borrow a shotgun from the occupier of private premises and use it on those premises in the occupier’s presence.
2
A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, use a shotgun at a time and place approved by the Chief Constable for shooting at artificial targets.
3
Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to a person who is under the age of 18.
Theatre and cinema
12
1
A person taking part in a theatrical performance may, without holding a firearm certificate, have a firearm in his possession during and for the purpose of the performance.
2
A person taking part in the production of a film intended for public exhibition may, without holding a firearm certificate, have a firearm in his possession for the purpose of the production.
3
Where the Secretary of State is satisfied, on the application of a person in charge of a theatrical performance or the production of a film intended for public exhibition, that a prohibited weapon is required for the purpose of the performance or production, the Secretary of State may authorise—
a
that person to have possession of the weapon; and
b
such other persons as that person may select to have possession of it while taking part in the performance or production.
4
In this paragraph—
“film” includes any record, however made, of a sequence of visual images, which is a record capable of being used as a means of showing that sequence as a moving picture; and
“theatrical performance” includes rehearsals.