1.  This Order may be cited as the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1988.

2.  In this Order “the Act” means the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988.

3.  Subject to article 4 below, the provisions of the Act specified in the Schedule to this Order shall come into force on 1st February 1989.

4.—(1) Sections 1(2) and 7(1) of the Act (which relate, respectively, to prohibited weapons and to the conversion of a prohibited weapon) shall not have effect—

(a) until 1st May 1989 in relation to the possession, sale or transfer of a firearm by a person who immediately before 1st February 1989 has the firearm lawfully in his possession otherwise than as a registered firearms dealer; and

(b) until 1st November 1989 in relation to the possession, purchase, acquisition, sale or transfer of a firearm by a registered firearms dealer.

(2) In paragraph (1) above “transfer” does not include letting on hire.

Douglas Hurd

One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State

Home Office

19th December 1988