Firearms Act 1965

10 Interpretation

(1) In this Act, except so far as the context otherwise requires—

• " air weapon " means such a weapon as is specified in section 16(1)(b) of the principal Act (that is to say, an air gun, air rifle or air pistol not being of a type declared by rules made by a Secretary of State under that Act to be specially dangerous);

• " imitation firearm " means anything which has the appearance of being a firearm (other than such a prohibited weapon as is mentioned in section 17(1)(b) of the principal Act) whether it is capable of discharging any shot, bullet or other missile or not;

• " indictable offence " has the same meaning as in the [1952 c. 55.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1952, except that it does not include an offence which is triable on indictment only after one or more previous summary convictions thereof;

• " land " includes land covered with water ;

• " principal Act " means the [1937 c. 12.] Firearms Act 1937;

• " public place " includes any highway and any other premises or place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise;

• " shot gun " means such a weapon as is specified in section 16(1)(a) of the principal Act (that is to say, a smoothbore gun having a barrel not less than twenty-four inches in length).

(2) For the purposes of this Act a shot gun or an air weapon shall be deemed to be loaded if there is ammunition in the chamber or barrel or in any magazine or other device which is in such a position that the ammunition can be fed into the chamber or barrel by the manual or automatic operation of some part of the gun or weapon.

(3) References in this Act to any enactment shall, except in so far as the context otherwise requires, be construed as references to that enactment as amended or applied by or under any subsequent enactment including this Act.