PART IIN.I.FIREARM CERTIFICATES, ETC.

Firearm certificatesN.I.

Grant of firearm certificate to young personsN.I.

7.—(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; F4...

(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.][F5and

(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 [F6for 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; F7...

(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 [F8or for the purpose of pest control] ; and

(ii)[F9during 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.

F2Word in art. 7(2)(a) omitted (28.7.2010) by virtue of Firearms (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1759), reg. 5(2)(b)(i)

F3Art. 7(2)(c) and preceding word inserted (28.7.2010) by Firearms (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1759), reg. 5(2)(b)(ii)

F8Words in art. 7(3)(b)(i) inserted (13.5.2016) by Justice Act (NorthernIreland) 2016 (c. 21), s. 61(1), Sch. 5 para. 2(1)

F9Words in art. 7(3)(b)(ii) substituted (28.7.2010) by Firearms (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1759), reg. 5(2)(c)