PART IIFIREARM CERTIFICATES, ETC.

Firearm certificates

Grant of firearm certificate to young persons7

1

In this Article “young person” means a person under the age of 18 who has attained the age of 16.

2

The Chief Constable may grant a firearm certificate to a young person F1for the acquisition and possession, but not for the purchase, of a firearm and ammunition if—

a

each firearm to which it relates is—

i

an air gun to which paragraph (4) applies;

ii

a shotgun; or

iii

a .22 rimfire rifle that is to say of a calibre not exceeding 5.59 millimetres; F2. . .

b

the Chief Constable attaches a condition under Article 6(1) that the firearm and any ammunition for it to which the certificate relates are for the purpose of—

i

pest control; or

ii

the protection of livestock;

on agricultural land occupied by the holder or on which he works and also resides F3; F7...

c

the young person has produced with his application to the Chief Constable, the permission in writing of a parent or guardian to the acquisition and possession of the firearm and ammunition to which the application relates.F9and

d

the Chief Constable attaches a condition under Article 6(1) that arrangements must be in place for ensuring that a parent or guardian assumes responsibility for the secure storage of the firearm and ammunition to which the certificate relates.

3

The Chief Constable may grant a firearm certificate to a young person F4for the acquisition and possession, but not for the purchase, of a firearm and ammunition if—

a

each firearm to which it relates is—

i

an air gun to which paragraph (4) applies; or

ii

a shotgun; F8...

b

the Chief Constable attaches a condition under Article 6(1) that the holder shall have the firearm and any ammunition for it to which the certificate relates in his possession only—

i

for sporting purposes F6or for the purpose of pest control ; and

ii

F5during the period until he attains the age of 18 under the supervision of a person who has attained the age of 21 and has held a firearm certificate for a firearm of that type for at least three years. F10and

c

the Chief Constable attaches a condition under Article 6(1) that arrangements must be in place for ensuring that a person who has attained the age of 21 and has held a firearm certificate for a firearm of that type for at least three years assumes responsibility for the secure storage of the firearm and ammunition to which the certificate relates.

4

This paragraph applies to an air gun which is capable of discharging a missile so that the missile has, on being discharged, a kinetic energy in excess of one joule.