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Firearms Act 1968

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Firearms Act 1968 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 12 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

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  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part I Provisions as to Possession, Handling and Distribution of Weapons and Ammunition; Prevention of Crime and Measures to Protect Public Safety

    1. General restrictions on possession and handling of firearms and ammunition

      1. 1. Requirement of firearm certificate.

      2. 2. Requirement of certificate for possession of shot guns.

      3. 3. Business and other transactions with firearms and ammunition.

      4. 4. Conversion of weapons.

    2. Prohibition of certain weapons and control of arms traffic

      1. 5. Weapons subject to general prohibition.

      2. 5A.Exemptions from requirement of authority under s.5.

      3. 6. Power to prohibit movement of arms and ammunition.

    3. Special exemptions from sections 1 to 5

      1. 7. Police permit.

      2. 8. Authorised dealing with firearms.

      3. 9. Carriers, auctioneers, etc.

      4. 10. Slaughter of animals.

      5. 11. Sports, athletics and other approved activities.

      6. 12. Theatre and cinema.

      7. 13. Equipment for ships and aircraft.

      8. 14.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      9. 15. Holder of Northern Irish certificate.

    4. Prevention of crime and preservation of public safety

      1. 16. Possession of firearm with intent to injure.

      2. 16A. Possession of firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

      3. 17. Use of firearm to resist arrest.

      4. 18. Carrying firearm with criminal intent.

      5. 19. Carrying firearm in a public place.

      6. 19A. Having small-calibre pistol outside premises of licensed pistol club.

      7. 20. Trespassing with firearm.

      8. 21. Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime.

      9. 21A.Firing an air weapon beyond premises

      10. 22. Acquisition and possession of firearms by minors.

      11. 23. Exceptions from s. 22(4) and (5).

      12. 24. Supplying firearms to minors.

      13. 24A.Supplying imitation firearms to minors

      14. 25. Supplying firearm to person drunk or insane.

  3. Part II Firearm and Shot Gun Certificates; Registration of Firearms Dealers

    1. Grant, renewal, variation and revocation of firearm and shot gun certificates

      1. 26A. Applications for firearm certificates.

      2. 26B. Applications for shot gun certificates.

      3. 26. Application for, and grant of, certificates.

      4. 27. Special provisions about firearm certificates.

      5. 28.Special provisions about shot gun certificates.

      6. 28A. Certificates: supplementary.

      7. 29. Variation of firearm certificates.

      8. 30A. Revocation of firearm certificates.

      9. 30B. Partial revocation of firearm certificates.

      10. 30C. Revocation of shot gun certificates.

      11. 30D. Revocation of certificates: supplementary.

      12. 30. Revocation of certificates.

      13. 31. Certificate for prohibited weapon.

      14. 32. Fee for certificate and exemption from paying it in certain cases.

    2. Issue etc. in Great Britain of documents for European purposes.

      1. 32A. Documents for European purposes.

      2. 32B. Renewal of European firearms pass.

      3. 32C. Variation, endorsement etc. of European documents.

    3. Registration of firearms dealers

      1. 33. Police register.

      2. 34. Grounds for refusal of registration.

      3. 35. Fee for registration and renewal thereof.

      4. 36. Conditions of registration.

      5. 37. Registration of new place of business.

      6. 38. Removal from register of dealer’s name or place of business.

      7. 39. Offences in connection with registration.

    4. Supplementary

      1. 40. Compulsory register of transactions in firearms.

      2. 41. Exemption from s. 40 in case of trade in shot gun components.

      3. 42. Transactions with persons not registered dealers.

      4. 42A. Information as to transactions under visitors’ permits.

      5. 43. Power of Secretary of State to alter fees.

      6. 44. Appeals from police decisions under Part II.

      7. 45. Consequences where registered dealer convicted of offence.

  4. Part III Law Enforcement and Punishment of Offences

    1. 46. Power of search with warrant.

    2. 47. Powers of constables to stop and search.

    3. 48. Production of certificates.

    4. 49. Police powers in relation to arms traffic.

    5. 50. Special powers of arrest.

    6. 51. Prosecution and punishment of offences.

    7. 51A.Minimum sentence for certain offences under s. 5

    8. 52. Forfeiture and disposal of firearms; cancellation of certificate by convicting court.

  5. Part IV Miscellaneous and General

    1. 53. Rules for implementing this Act.

    2. 54. Application of Parts I and II to Crown servants.

    3. 55. Exercise of police functions.

    4. 56. Service of notices.

    5. 57. Interpretation.

    6. 58. Particular savings.

    7. 59. Repeals and general savings.

    8. 60. Short title, commencement and extent.

  6. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Offences to which section 17(2) applies

      1. 1.Offences under section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971....

      2. 2.Offences under any of the following provisions of the Offences...

      3. 2A.Offences under Part I of the Child Abduction Act 1984...

      4. 3.Offences under such of the provisions of section 4 of...

      5. 4.Theft, burglary, blackmail and any offence under section 12(1) (taking...

      6. 5.Offences under section 51(1) of the Police Act 1964 or...

      7. 5A.An offence under section 90(1) of the Criminal Justice Act...

      8. 5B.An offence under section 13(1) of the Criminal Justice and...

      9. 5C.An offence under paragraph 4 of Schedule 11 to the...

      10. 6.Offences under any of the following provisions of the Sexual...

      11. 7.. . . . . . . . . ....

      12. 8.Aiding or abetting the commission of any offence specified in...

      13. 9.Attempting to commit any offence so specified, . . ....

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Offences to which sections 17(2) and 18 apply in Scotland

      1. Common Law Offences

        1. 1.Abduction.

        2. 2.Administration of drugs with intent to enable or assist the...

        3. 3.Assault.

        4. 4.Housebreaking with intent to steal.

        5. 5.Malicious mischief.

        6. 6.Mobbing and rioting.

        7. 7.Perverting the course of justice.

        8. 8.Prison breaking and breaking into prison to rescue prisoners.

        9. 9.Rape.

        10. 10.Robbery.

        11. 11.Theft.

        12. 12.Use of threats with intent to extort money or property....

        13. 13.Wilful fireraising and culpable and reckless fireraising.

      2. Statutory Offences

        1. 13A.Offences against section 57 of the Civil Government (Scotland) Act...

        2. 13B.An offence under paragraph 4 of Schedule 11 to the...

        3. 14.Offences against such of the provisions of section 4 of...

        4. 15.Offences against the third and fourth paragraphs of section 7...

        5. 16.Offences against sections 2, 3 or 4 of the Explosive...

        6. 17.Offences against section 175 of the Road Traffic Act 1972....

        7. 18.Offences against section 41 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967....

      3. Attempts

        1. 19.Attempt to commit any of the offences mentioned in this...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      Jurisdiction and Procedure on application under section 21(6)

      1. Part I Application to the Crown Court (England and Wales)

        1. 1.. . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 2.Notice of the application, signed by the applicant or by...

        3. 3.On receiving notice of the application the appropriate officer of...

        4. 4.The applicant may at any time, not less than two...

        5. 5.The chief officer of police may appear and be heard...

        6. 6.The court may from time to time adjourn the hearing...

        7. 7.On the determination of the application, the court may make...

      2. Part II Application to Sheriff (Scotland)

        1. 8.The application shall be made to the sheriff within whose...

        2. 9.Not less than twenty-one days’ notice of the application shall...

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      Particulars to be Entered by Firearms Dealer in Register of Transactions

      1. 1.The quantities and description of firearms and ammunition manufactured and...

      2. 2.The quantities and description of firearms and ammunition purchased or...

      3. 3.The quantities and description of firearms and ammunition accepted for...

      4. 4.The quantities and description of firearms and ammunition sold or...

      5. 5.The quantities and description of firearms and ammunition in possession...

      6. PART 1 PARTICULARS RELATING TO FIREARMS (OTHER THAN AIR WEAPONS) AND AMMUNITION

      7. PART 2 PARTICULARS RELATING TO AIR WEAPONS

        1. Note: in this Part “air weapon” includes any component of, or accessory to, an air weapon.

          1. 1.The quantities and description of air weapons purchased or acquired...

          2. 2.The quantities and description of air weapons sold or transferred...

          3. 3.The quantities and description of air weapons in possession for...

    5. SCHEDULE 5

      Provisions as to Appeals under s. 44 of this Act

      1. Part I Courts with Jurisdiction to entertain Appeal

      2. Part II Procedural provisions for appeal to the Crown Court

        1. 1.Notice of an appeal, signed by the appellant or by...

        2. 2.A notice of appeal shall be given within twenty-one days...

        3. 3.On receiving notice of an appeal the appropriate officer of...

        4. 4.An appellant may at any time, not less than two...

        5. 5.The chief officer of police may appear and be heard...

        6. 6.. . . . . . . . . ....

        7. 7.On the hearing of an appeal the court may either...

        8. 8.. . . . . . . . . ....

      3. Part III Appeals in Scotland

    6. SCHEDULE 6

      Prosecution and Punishment of Offences

      1. Part I Table of Punishments

      2. Part II Supplementary Provisions as to Trial and Punishment of offences

        1. 1.. . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 2.In the case of an offence against section 6(3) or...

        3. 3.(1) Where in England or Wales a person who has...

        4. 4.Where a person commits an offence under section 17(1) of...

        5. 5.If on the trial of a person for an offence...

        6. 6.The punishment to which a person is liable for an...

        7. 7.The court by which a person is convicted of an...

        8. 8.The court by which a person is convicted of an...

        9. 9.The court by which a person is convicted of an...

    7. SCHEDULE 7.

      Repeals

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