(1)This Part provides for the licensing of pistol clubs and their premises and for the regulation of licensed pistol clubs.
(2)In this Act—
“licence” means a licence granted under section 21 below in respect of a pistol club and any premises of that club; and “licensed pistol club” shall be construed accordingly.
“licensed premises”, in relation to a licensed pistol club, means any premises which are specified in the club’s licence as being premises which may be used for the purpose of storing or using small-calibre pistols.
(1)No club shall allow any small-calibre pistol to be stored or used on any of its club premises in connection with target shooting, unless the club is a licensed pistol club.
(2)No licensed pistol club shall allow a small-calibre pistol to be stored or used on any of its club premises by any holder of a firearm certificate or visitor’s firearm permit subject to a condition that it is only to be used for target shooting, unless—
(a)the certificate or permit holder is a member of that club;
(b)the premises are specified in the club’s licence as premises at which small-calibre pistols may be stored and used;
(c)the premises are specified in the certificate or permit as the place where the pistol is to be kept.
(3)Subsection (2) above does not apply to—
(a)the storage on licensed premises of a licensed pistol club of a small-calibre pistol purchased or acquired by the responsible officer of that club for use only by members of the club in connection with target shooting;
(b)the use on licensed premises of a licensed pistol club of a small-calibre pistol by a member of the club who is permitted to have it in his possession by virtue of section 27(3) below; or
(c)the use of a pistol on the licensed premises of a licensed pistol club if the person using the pistol is authorised by a permit under section 13 above to have the pistol with him on those premises.
(4)If a small-calibre pistol is stored or used in contravention of subsection (1) or (2) above, the persons or any of the persons responsible for the management of the club commit an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both.
(5)In proceedings against any person for an offence under subsection (4) above, it shall be a defence for him to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.
(6)In this section “club premises” means premises which are occupied by and habitually used for the purposes of the club.