Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006

33 Age limits for purchase etc. of air weapons

(1) The 1968 Act is amended as follows.

(2) For section 22(1) (acquisition and possession of firearms by minors) substitute—

“(1) It is an offence—

(a) for a person under the age of eighteen to purchase or hire an air weapon or ammunition for an air weapon;

(b) for a person under the age of seventeen to purchase or hire a firearm or ammunition of any other description.”

(3) In subsection (4) of that section, for “seventeen” substitute “eighteen”.

(4) For section 24(1) (supplying firearms to minors) substitute—

“(1) It is an offence—

(a) to sell or let on hire an air weapon or ammunition for an air weapon to a person under the age of eighteen;

(b) to sell or let on hire a firearm or ammunition of any other description to a person under the age of seventeen.”

(5) In subsection (4) of that section in paragraphs (a) and (b), for “seventeen” substitute “eighteen”.

(6) In the table in Part 1 of Schedule 6 (punishment)—

(a) in the entry for section 22(1), in the second column, at the end insert “or person under 18 acquiring air weapon”;

(b) in the entry for section 22(4), in the second column, for “17” substitute “18”;

(c) in the entry for section 24(1), in the second column, at the end insert “or an air weapon to a person under 18”;

(d) in the entry for section 24(4), in the second column, for “17” substitute “18”.