The storage of air weapons in relation to under 18s
Published 20 July 2023
© Crown copyright 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/circular-0052023-the-firearms-air-weapons-england-and-wales-rules-2023/the-storage-of-air-weapons-in-relation-to-under-18s
1. This circular sets out changes to the Firearms Rules 1998 which will take effect from 31 July 2023, and introduce changes relating to:
- The storage of air weapons
2. Section 53 of the Firearms Act 1968 gives the Secretary of State a power to make rules prescribing the form of certificates and other things that need prescribing under the Act. The rules made under section 53 are the Firearms Rules 1998 (“the Firearms Rules”).
3. Section 24ZA(1) of the Firearms Act 1968 states that a person must take “reasonable precautions to prevent any person under the age of eighteen from having an air weapon with him”.
4. The Firearms (Air Weapons) (England and Wales) Rules 2023 provides clarification in respect to section 24ZA(1) of the Firearms Act 1968, so that the ‘reasonable precautions’ a person must take “to prevent any person under the age of eighteen from having an air weapon with him” must include storing an air weapon when it is not in use or being cleaned, repaired, tested or in transit:
- securely to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, access to the air weapon by a person under the age of eighteen;
- out of sight of a person under the age of eighteen; and
- separately from compatible ammunition.