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Air Cartridge Weapons
BAN
ON SELF CONTAINED GAS CARTRIDGE WEAPONS
- What it means for you -
From
20 January 2004, under the provisions of the Anti-social
Behaviour Act 2003, it will be an offence to manufacture,
sell, purchase, transfer or acquire any air weapon that
uses a self-contained gas cartridge system.
Anyone
who already owns one of these weapons must obtain a
firearm certificate for it from the police. Applications
for firearm certificates must be made before 30 April
2004.
As
an alternative, existing owners can hand their weapon
into the police for disposal. Again, this must be done
before 30 April 2004.
From
30 April 2004 it will be an offence, punishable by a
minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 10 years imprisonment,
to possess a self-contained gas cartridge weapon without
the necessary firearm certificate.
The
ban applies to any air rifle, air gun or air pistol
that uses, or is designed or adapted for use with, a
self-contained gas cartridge system. It does not apply
to weapons that use a Co2 bulb system because Co2 bulbs
do not contain a projectile and are therefore not self-contained.
If
you own a self-contained gas cartridge weapon on 20
January 2004, you can apply to keep it on a firearm
certificate. You must apply before 30 April 2004. Application
forms can be obtained from local police firearm licensing
offices.
If
you do not wish to keep your weapon, you can hand it
in at any police station. You will not be able to sell
it or give it away. Compensation will not be paid for
any weapon handed in.
Contact
your local police firearm licensing department. The
police must be satisfied that an applicant is fit to
be entrusted with the gun, will not represent a danger
to public safety or to the peace and is not a prohibited
person. (Someone who has received a term of imprisonment
of 3 years or more can never possess firearms, and someone
who has received a term of imprisonment between 3 months
and 3 years cannot possess firearms until 5 years after
their release.)
Because
self-contained gas cartridge weapons are not currently
subject to certification and are often used for informal
shooting pursuits, you will be exempt from the usual
requirement to demonstrate a good reason for wanting
to keep your weapon when you apply.
However
you will need to put in place appropriate security measures
to prevent unauthorised access to your weapon. The level
of security required will be the same as for other weapons
held on a firearm certificate.
The
precise arrangements are for the police to determine
based on the level of risk involved in each case. They
will take into account factors such as local crime rates
and location of the property.
A
new firearm certificate costs £50 (variation of
an existing certificate costs £26). You will also
need to meet the cost of any security measures required.
Anyone
who manufactures, sells, purchases, transfers or acquires
a self-contained gas cartridge weapon on or after 20
January 2004 will commit an offence under the Firearms
Act 1968. You will be liable for a maximum of 10 years
imprisonment and will soon be liable for the new minimum
sentence of 5 years.
Anyone
who is found in possession of a self-contained gas cartridge
weapon on or after 30 April 2004 without it being entered
on a valid firearm certificate will also commit an offence
under the Firearms Act 1968 and will be liable for the
same penalty.
If
you have applied for a firearm certificate before 30
April 2004 but your application is outstanding or is
the subject of an appeal, you will not be liable for
prosecution.
Retailers
will not be able to trade in self-contained gas cartridge
weapons from 20 January 2004 although you may continue
to hold existing stock until 30 April 2004. If you wish
to sell the weapons abroad or to provide a repair service,
you must apply to the Home Office for the Secretary
of State’s authority under section 5 of the Firearms
Act 1968 and to register with the police as a firearms
dealer. Applications must be submitted before 30 April
2004.
Home Office ... more
info
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