Regulation 7 Purchase or acquisition of firearms in other member States

At the beginning of Part V of the 1981 Order (miscellaneous and general), there shall be inserted the following Article—

“Purchase or acquisition of firearms in other member States

53A

(1)

Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), where—

(a)

a person who resides in Northern Ireland purchases or acquires a firearm in another member State; and

(b)

that firearm is a firearm which falls within category C for the purposes of Annex I to the European weapons directive,

he shall, within fourteen days from the transaction, send notice of the transaction to the Chief Constable.

(2)

A person shall not be required to give notice under paragraph (1) of a transaction under which he acquires a firearm on terms which—

(a)

restrict his possession of the firearm to the whole or a part of the period of a visit to the member State where the transaction takes place; and

(b)

preclude the removal of the firearm from that member State.

(3)

A person shall not be required to give notice under paragraph (1) of a transaction under which he purchases or acquires a firearm if he is the holder of a firearm certificate relating to that firearm and containing, in relation to that firearm, a condition that he may have the firearm in his possession only for the purpose of its being kept or exhibited as part of a collection.

(4)

A notice under paragraph (1) shall contain a description of the firearm (giving the identification number if any) and state the nature of the transaction and the name and address in Northern Ireland of the person giving the notice.

(5)

A notice under paragraph (1) which is sent from a place in Northern Ireland shall be sent by registered post or by the recorded delivery service and, in any other case, shall be sent in such manner as most closely corresponds to the use of registered post or the recorded delivery service.

(6)

A person who fails to comply with this Article shall be guilty of an offence.”.