Firearms Act 1968
Part I Provisions as to Possession, Handling and Distribution of Weapons and Ammunition; Prevention of Crime and Measures to Protect Public Safety
General restrictions on possession and handling of firearms and ammunition
1 Requirement of firearm certificate.
2 Requirement of certificate for possession of shot guns.
3 Business and other transactions with firearms and ammunition.
4 Conversion of weapons.
Prohibition of certain weapons and control of arms traffic
5 Weapons subject to general prohibition.
5AExemptions from requirement of authority under s.5.
6 Power to prohibit movement of arms and ammunition.
Special exemptions from sections 1 to 5
7 Police permit.
8 Authorised dealing with firearms.
9 Carriers, auctioneers, etc.
10 Slaughter of animals.
11 Sports, athletics and other approved activities.
12 Theatre and cinema.
13 Equipment for ships and aircraft.
14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15 Holder of Northern Irish certificate.
Prevention of crime and preservation of public safety
16 Possession of firearm with intent to injure.
16A Possession of firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
17 Use of firearm to resist arrest.
18 Carrying firearm with criminal intent.
19 Carrying firearm in a public place.
19A Having small-calibre pistol outside premises of licensed pistol club.
20 Trespassing with firearm.
21 Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime.
21AFiring an air weapon beyond premises
22 Acquisition and possession of firearms by minors.
23 Exceptions from s. 22(4) and (5).
24 Supplying firearms to minors.
24ASupplying imitation firearms to minors
25 Supplying firearm to person drunk or insane.
Part II Firearm and Shot Gun Certificates; Registration of Firearms Dealers
Grant, renewal, variation and revocation of firearm and shot gun certificates
26A Applications for firearm certificates.
26B Applications for shot gun certificates.
26 Application for, and grant of, certificates.
27 Special provisions about firearm certificates.
28Special provisions about shot gun certificates.
28A Certificates: supplementary.
29 Variation of firearm certificates.
30A Revocation of firearm certificates.
30B Partial revocation of firearm certificates.
30C Revocation of shot gun certificates.
30D Revocation of certificates: supplementary.
30 Revocation of certificates.
31 Certificate for prohibited weapon.
32 Fee for certificate and exemption from paying it in certain cases.
Issue etc. in Great Britain of documents for European purposes.
32A Documents for European purposes.
32B Renewal of European firearms pass.
32C Variation, endorsement etc. of European documents.
Registration of firearms dealers
33 Police register.
34 Grounds for refusal of registration.
35 Fee for registration and renewal thereof.
36 Conditions of registration.
37 Registration of new place of business.
38 Removal from register of dealer’s name or place of business.
39 Offences in connection with registration.
Supplementary
40 Compulsory register of transactions in firearms.
41 Exemption from s. 40 in case of trade in shot gun components.
42 Transactions with persons not registered dealers.
42A Information as to transactions under visitors’ permits.
43 Power of Secretary of State to alter fees.
44 Appeals from police decisions under Part II.
45 Consequences where registered dealer convicted of offence.
Part III Law Enforcement and Punishment of Offences
46 Power of search with warrant.
47 Powers of constables to stop and search.
48 Production of certificates.
49 Police powers in relation to arms traffic.
50 Special powers of arrest.
51 Prosecution and punishment of offences.
51AMinimum sentence for certain offences under s. 5
52 Forfeiture and disposal of firearms; cancellation of certificate by convicting court.
Part IV Miscellaneous and General
53 Rules for implementing this Act.
54 Application of Parts I and II to Crown servants.
55 Exercise of police functions.
56 Service of notices.
57 Interpretation.
58 Particular savings.
59 Repeals and general savings.
60 Short title, commencement and extent.
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1 Offences to which section 17(2) applies
1Offences under section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971....
2Offences under any of the following provisions of the Offences...
2AOffences under Part I of the Child Abduction Act 1984...
3Offences under such of the provisions of section 4 of...
4Theft, burglary, blackmail and any offence under section 12(1) (taking...
5Offences under section 51(1) of the Police Act 1964 or...
5AAn offence under section 90(1) of the Criminal Justice Act...
5BAn offence under section 13(1) of the Criminal Justice and...
5CAn offence under paragraph 4 of Schedule 11 to the...
6Offences under any of the following provisions of the Sexual...
7. . . . . . . . . ....
8Aiding or abetting the commission of any offence specified in...
9Attempting to commit any offence so specified, . . ....
SCHEDULE 2 Offences to which sections 17(2) and 18 apply in Scotland
Common Law Offences
1Abduction.
2Administration of drugs with intent to enable or assist the...
3Assault.
4Housebreaking with intent to steal.
5Malicious mischief.
6Mobbing and rioting.
7Perverting the course of justice.
8Prison breaking and breaking into prison to rescue prisoners.
9Rape.
10Robbery.
11Theft.
12Use of threats with intent to extort money or property....
13Wilful fireraising and culpable and reckless fireraising.
Statutory Offences
13AOffences against section 57 of the Civil Government (Scotland) Act...
13BAn offence under paragraph 4 of Schedule 11 to the...
14Offences against such of the provisions of section 4 of...
15Offences against the third and fourth paragraphs of section 7...
16Offences against sections 2, 3 or 4 of the Explosive...
17Offences against section 175 of the Road Traffic Act 1972....
18Offences against section 41 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967....
Attempts
19Attempt to commit any of the offences mentioned in this...
SCHEDULE 3 Jurisdiction and Procedure on application under section 21(6)
Part I Application to the Crown Court (England and Wales)
1. . . . . . . . . ....
2Notice of the application, signed by the applicant or by...
3On receiving notice of the application the appropriate officer of...
4The applicant may at any time, not less than two...
5The chief officer of police may appear and be heard...
6The court may from time to time adjourn the hearing...
7On the determination of the application, the court may make...
Part II Application to Sheriff (Scotland)
8The application shall be made to the sheriff within whose...
9Not less than twenty-one days’ notice of the application shall...
SCHEDULE 4 Particulars to be Entered by Firearms Dealer in Register of Transactions
1The quantities and description of firearms and ammunition manufactured and...
2The quantities and description of firearms and ammunition purchased or...
3The quantities and description of firearms and ammunition accepted for...
4The quantities and description of firearms and ammunition sold or...
5The quantities and description of firearms and ammunition in possession...
PART 1PARTICULARS RELATING TO FIREARMS (OTHER THAN AIR WEAPONS) AND AMMUNITION
PART 2PARTICULARS RELATING TO AIR WEAPONS
Note: in this Part “air weapon” includes any component of, or accessory to, an air weapon.
1The quantities and description of air weapons purchased or acquired...
2The quantities and description of air weapons sold or transferred...
3The quantities and description of air weapons in possession for...
SCHEDULE 5 Provisions as to Appeals under s. 44 of this Act
Part I Courts with Jurisdiction to entertain Appeal
Part II Procedural provisions for appeal to the Crown Court
1Notice of an appeal, signed by the appellant or by...
2A notice of appeal shall be given within twenty-one days...
3On receiving notice of an appeal the appropriate officer of...
4An appellant may at any time, not less than two...
5The chief officer of police may appear and be heard...
6. . . . . . . . . ....
7On the hearing of an appeal the court may either...
8. . . . . . . . . ....
Part III Appeals in Scotland
SCHEDULE 6 Prosecution and Punishment of Offences
Part I Table of Punishments
Part IISupplementary Provisions as to Trial and Punishment of offences
1. . . . . . . . . ....
2In the case of an offence against section 6(3) or...
3(1) Where in England or Wales a person who has...
4Where a person commits an offence under section 17(1) of...
5If on the trial of a person for an offence...
6The punishment to which a person is liable for an...
7The court by which a person is convicted of an...
8The court by which a person is convicted of an...
9The court by which a person is convicted of an...
SCHEDULE 7. Repeals

Firearms Act 1968

1968 c. 27

An Act to consolidate the Firearms Acts 1937 and 1965, the Air Guns and Shot Guns, etc. , Act 1962, Part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 and certain enactments amending the Firearms Act 1937.

Annotations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1

Act extended by S.I. 1972/971, Sch. 1

C2

Act extended with modifications by Firearms Act 1982 (c. 31, SIF 51:1), s. 1(2)

C4

By Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39: 1), s. 101(1), Sch. 12 para. 23; S.I. 1991/2208, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 it is provided (14.10.1991) that in relation to any time before the commencement of S. 70 of that 1991 Act (which came into force on 1.10.1992 by S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2) references in any enactment amended by that 1991 Act to youth courts shall be construed as references to juvenile courts.