Part I E+W+S Provisions as to Possession, Handling and Distribution of Weapons and Ammunition; Prevention of Crime and Measures to Protect Public Safety

Prevention of crime and preservation of public safety E+W+S

[F1 22 Acquisition and possession of firearms by minors. E+W+S

(1) [F2 It is an offence for a person under the age of eighteen to purchase or hire any firearm or ammunition.]

F3 (1A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) It is an offence for a person under the age of fourteen to have in his possession any firearm or ammunition to which section 1 of this Act applies, except in circumstances where under section 11(1), (3) or (4) of this Act [F4 or section 15 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988] he is entitled to have possession of it without holding a firearm certificate.

(3) It is an offence for a person under the age of fifteen to have with him an assembled shot gun except while under the supervision of a person of or over the age of twenty-one, or while the shot gun is so covered with a securely fastened gun cover that it cannot be fired.

(4) [F5 Subject to section 23 below, it is an offence for a person under the age of [F6 eighteen] to have with him an air weapon or ammunition for an air weapon.]

(5) F7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 22(1) substituted (1.10.2007) by Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (c. 38), ss. 33(2), s. 66(2); S.I. 2007/2180, art. 3(c)

F2 S. 22(1) substituted (28.7.2010) by Firearms (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1759), regs. 1(2), 2(3)

F3 S. 22(1A) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Law Enforcement and Security (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/742), regs. 1, 59(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F4 S. 22(2): Words inserted by Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (c. 45, SIF 51:1), s. 23(4) [Editorial Note: the amending section provides that the insertion is to be made after the words "of this Act". Those words appear twice in s. 22(2), but the sense of the subsection as amended seems to require that the insertion should be made after the second occurrence of those words.]

F5 S. 22(4) repealed (S.) (31.12.2016) by Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 (asp 10), s. 88(2), sch. 2 para. 1(4); S.S.I. 2016/130, art. 3(c)

F6 Word substituted (1.10.2007) by Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (c. 38), ss. 33(3), 66(2); S.I. 2007/2180, art. 3(c)

F7 S. 22(5) repealed (20.1.2004) by Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 (2003 c. 38), ss. 38(2)(b), 93, Sch. 3: S.I. 2003/3300, art. 2(c)(ii)