Firearms

North Yorkshire Police Firearms and Explosive Licensing Department

The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 affects the following:

• Possession of firearms in public place
  
• Air Weapons age limit
  
• Prohibition of self-contained gas cartridge system air weapons
  

Conventional air weapons, although not requiring to be held on certificate, are still subject to other legislation, particularly as to age regulations as follows:

Under 17

It is an offence to give an air weapon, or ammunition for it, to a person under 17 years of age. It is not an offence for that young person to receive it.

It is an offence for a person under 17 years of age to be in possession of an air weapon, or ammunition for it, except:

1. as a member of an approved club for target shooting
2. whilst at a shooting gallery when only air weapons or minitature rifles not exceeding .23 calibre are used
3. whilst shooting under supervision of a person aged 21 years or over, on private premises, including land, provided that missile is not fired beyond those premises

This effectively means that a person under 17 years of age must be supervised by someone over the age of 21 years at all times, even within their own home and garden. If a pellet is fired beyond their own property boundaries, the child and adult both commit offences.

It is an offence for a person under 17 years of age to be in possession of an air pistol in any public place except as at (1) and (2) above. A public place means any highway or place or premises at which,  at the material time, the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise.

You may not have an air gun in a public place without proper reason. An airgun is deemed as loaded if there is a pellet, dart or anything else in the gun or magazine, whether cocked or not.

For a security leaflet on how to store firearms, click here