Firearms Law

Here is the information from the Firearms certificate Act:

There is no minimum age for the issue of a shot gun certificate.

A firearm certificate may be granted to any person aged 17 years or older in their own name and they may then purchase any guns and ammunition specified on that certificate.

A firearm certificate may be granted to any person aged between 14 and 17 years of age, but they may not themselves purchase any guns or ammunition.

No person under 14 may be granted a firearm certificate, or use firearms other than on an approved range or shooting gallery, such as at a fairground (where the maximum calibre allowed is .23 inch).

The minimum age to purchase airguns and any ammunition for them, is 18.

It is an offence under section 21 of the Firearms Act of 1968 as amended, for anyone convicted of a criminal offence, to handle, possess, or shoot a firearm and ammunition (this includes Air Guns). If the sentence was for more than three years the prohibition is for life; if less than three years the prohibition is for 5 years (Note: it is the sentence, not the time served, which is the determining factor).