[F124 Supplying firearms to minors.E+W+S
(1)[F2It is an offence to sell or let on hire any firearm or ammunition to a person under the age of eighteen.]
(2)It is an offence—
(a)to make a gift of or lend any firearm or ammunition to which section 1 of this Act applies to a person under the age of fourteen; or
(b)to part with the possession of any such firearm or ammunition to a person under that age, except in circumstances where that person is entitled under section 11(1), (3) or (4) of this Act [F3or section 15 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988] to have possession thereof without holding a firearm certificate.
(3)It is an offence to make a gift of a shot gun or ammunition for a shot gun to a person under the age of fifteen.
(4)It is an offence—
(a)to make a gift of an air weapon or ammunition for an air weapon to a person under the age of [F4eighteen]; or
(b)to part with the possession of an air weapon or ammunition for an air weapon to a person under the age of [F4eighteen] except where [F5by virtue of section 23 of this Act the person is not prohibited from having it with him.] [F5the person holds an air weapon certificate granted under section 5 of the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 or the possession is otherwise in accordance with Part 1 of that Act.]
(5)In proceedings for an offence under any provision of this section it is a defence to prove that the person charged with the offence believed the other person to be of or over the age mentioned in that provision and had reasonable ground for the belief.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 24(1) substituted (1.10.2007) by Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (c. 38), ss. 33(4), 66(2); S.I. 2007/2180, art. 3(c)
F2S. 24(1) substituted (28.7.2010) by Firearms (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1759), regs. 1(2), 2(4)
F3Words inserted by Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (c. 45, SIF 51:1), s. 23(4)
F4Words in s. 24(4)(a)(b) substituted (1.10.2007) by Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (c. 38), ss. 33(5), 66(2); S.I. 2007/2180, art. 3(c)
F5Words in s. 24(4)(b) substituted (S.) (31.12.2016) by Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 (asp 10), s. 88(2), sch. 2 para. 1(6); S.S.I. 2016/130, art. 3(c)