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Firearms Bill
[As brought from the Commons]
CONTENTS
[As brought from the Commons]

A

bill

to

Make provision about the regulation of certain rifle ranges and shooting galleries; to make provision for an offence in relation to the possession of component parts of ammunition; and for connected purposes.

B e it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Miniature rifle ranges and shooting galleries

(1)

The Firearms Act 1968 is amended as follows.

(2)

In section 11 (use of firearms for sports, athletics and other approved
activities), for subsection (4) substitute—


“(3A)

Subsection (4) applies to a person at a relevant rifle range or shooting
gallery who is not the operator of the range or gallery.


(4)

The person may, without holding a certificate, have in their
possession—


(a)

a miniature rifle, and


(b)

ammunition for a miniature rifle,


provided by the operator of the range or gallery.


(4A)

In this section—


miniature rifle
means a rifle chambered for .22 rim-fire
cartridges;


operator
means the person conducting or carrying on the
relevant rifle range or shooting gallery;


relevant rifle range or shooting gallery
means a rifle range or
shooting gallery at which no firearms are used other than air
weapons or miniature rifles.”

(3)

In section 23(2)(b) (use of weapons or ammunition at shooting gallery), for
“miniature rifles not exceeding .23 inch calibre” substitute “rifles chambered
for .22 rim-fire cartridges”.

2 Possessing component parts of ammunition with intent to manufacture


In the Firearms Act 1968, after section 3 insert—


“3A
Possessing component parts of ammunition with intent to manufacture


(1)

A person commits an offence if—


(a)

the person has in their possession any component parts of
ammunition (see subsection (2) ),


(b)

the person intends to manufacture ammunition to which section
1 applies using those parts, and


(c)

were the person to do so—


(i)

possession of the ammunition by the person would
constitute an offence under section 1, or


(ii)

the manufacture or possession of the ammunition by
the person would constitute an offence under section
3. 


(2)

For the purposes of this section the component parts of ammunition
are—


(a)

bullet;


(b)

cartridge case;


(c)

primer;


(d)

propellant.


(3)

A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—


(a)

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding 5 years or a fine (or both);


(b)

on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’
court or a fine (or both);


(c)

on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the
statutory maximum (or both).”

3 Extent, commencement and short title

(1)

An amendment made by this Act has the same extent as the provision
amended.

(2)

Subject to that, this Act extends to England and Wales and Scotland.

(3)

Sections 1 and 2 come into force on such day or days as the Secretary of State
may by regulations made by statutory instrument appoint.

(4)

Regulations under subsection (3) may—

(a)

make transitional, transitory or saving provision;

(b)

make different provision for different purposes.

(5)

This section comes into force on the day on which this Act is passed.

(6)

This Act may be cited as the Firearms Act 2023.

Firearms Bill
[As brought from the Commons]

A

bill

to

Make provision about the regulation of certain rifle ranges and shooting galleries; to make provision for an offence in relation to the possession of component parts of ammunition; and for connected purposes.

Brought from the Commons on

Ordered to be Printed, .

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