Dunblane Massacre Resource Page

FIREARMS ACT, 1934

An Act to amend the Firearms Act, 1920, as to the age of persons who may purchase firearms or to whom firearms may be sold; and to alter the definition of firearms in the said Act.
[17th May 1934]

Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

• 1.-
  1.   The following subsections shall be substituted for subsection (1) of section three of the Firearms Act, 1920, that is to say,-

     "(1A) A person under the age of seventeen years shall not purchase or hire a firearm or ammunition, and a person shall not sell or let for hire a firearm or ammunition to any person whom he knows or has reasonable ground for believing to be under the age of seventeen years.

     (1B) A person under the age of fourteen years shall not have in his possession, use or carry a firearm or ammunition, and a person shall not give, lend, transfer or part with the possession of a firearm or ammunition to a person whom he knows or has reasonable ground for believing to be under the age of fourteen years."

  2.   Notwithstanding anything in the proviso to the definition of the expression "firearm" contained in subsection (1) of section twelve of the said Act, a smooth bore shot gun or air gun or air rifle and ammunition therfor shall if the gun or rifle is a lethal weapon be deemed to be a firearm and ammunition for the purpose of subsection (1A) of the said section three; and accordingly the said proviso shall be amended by inserting after the words "provisions of this Act other than" the words "those of subsection (1A) of section three or".
  3.   Subsection (2) of section twelve of the said Act shall be amended by inserting after the words "provisions of this Act" the words "(other than those of subsection (1A) of section three)."
• 2.-
  1.   This Act may be cited as the Firearms Act, 1934.
  2.   This Act shall not extend to Northern Ireland.