HC Deb 09 August 1920 vol 133 cc71-3

(2) (b) a firearm certificate in respect of firearms or ammunition to be used solely for target practice or drill by the members of a rifle club or miniature rifle club or cadet corps approved for the purpose by a Secretary of State may be granted to any responsible officer of the club or corps without payment of any fee.

(3) A firearm certificate shall be in the prescribed form and shall specify the nature and number of the firearms to which it relates, and, as respects ammunition, the quantities authorised to be purchased and to be held at any one time thereunder, and the certificate may on the application of the holder thereof be varied from time to time by the chief officer of police by whom it was granted.

(4) Any person aggrieved by a refusal of a chief officer of police to grant him a firearm certificate, or to vary such a certificate, may appeal in accordance with rules made by the Lord Chancellor to a court of summary jurisdiction acting for the petty sessional division in which the applicant resides.

(8) If any person purchases, has in his possession, uses, or carries a firearm or ammunition without holding a firearm certificate or otherwise than as authorised by such a certificate or, in the case of ammunition, in quantities in excess of those so authorised, or fails to comply with any condition subject to which the certificate is granted, he shall be liable in respect of each offence on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds, or to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a term not exceeding three months, or to both such imprisonment and fine:

Provided that no offence under this Section shall be deemed to be committed— (e) in the case of any member of a rifle club or miniature rifle club or cadet corps approved by a Secretary of State, by using or carrying a firearm or ammunition or in connection with drill or target practice; or (f) in the case of an officer of the Post Office acting in the course of his duties; or (g) in the case of a person carrying a firearm or ammunition belonging to a person holding a certificate under this Act, by having in his possession such firearm or ammunition by order of such certificated person, and for the use of such certificated person only for sporting purposes; or (h) in the case of any person carrying on the business of butcher, slaughterman, knacker, of other person engaged in the business of the humane slaughter of animals for food or other purposes, by purchasing or having in his possession or using any humane killer for the purpose of such business. (9) Nothing in this Section shall relieve any person using or carrying a firearm from the obligation to take out a gun licence.

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir J. Baird)

I beg to move, in Sub-section (2, b), to leave out the words "or miniature rifle club."

The object of the Amendment is to give effect to an undertaking I gave in Committee excluding miniature rifles. It is to be taken in conjunction with an Amendment coming further on.

Amendment agreed to.

Sir J. BAIRD

I beg to move, in Subsection (3), to leave out the words "by whom it was granted," and to insert instead thereof the words, "of the district in which the holder is for the time being residing."

That makes it easier for a man who is moving about the country, and possibly finds himself in a district different from that in which he got his certificate. In that case he would apply to the chief police officer in the district.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made:

In Sub-section (4), leave out the word "applicant" ["in which the applicant resides"], and insert instead thereof the word "appellant."

In Sub-section (8, e), leave out the word "by" ["by using or carrying a firearm or ammunition"], and insert instead thereof the words, "having in his possession."

After the word "ammunition," insert the words, "when engaged as such member in."

In Sub-section (8, f), after the word "office" ["officer of the Post Office"], insert the words, "by having in his possession, using or carrying a firearm or ammunition when."

In Sub-section (8, g), leave out the words, "by order of such certificated person," and insert instead thereof the words, "under instructions from."—[Sir J. Baird.]

Sir J. BAIRD

I beg to move, at the end of Sub-section (8), to insert a new paragraph— (i) in the case of any person conducting or carrying on a miniature rifle range (whether for a rifle club or otherwise) or shooting gallery at which no firearms are used other than miniature rifles not exceeding 23 calibre, by purchasing, having in his possession, using, or carrying such miniature rifles or ammunition suitable therefor; or, in the case of any person, by using at such miniature rifle range or shooting gallery any such rifle or ammunition. The object of this is quite clear. It is to exempt miniature rifle ranges, and especially galleries, from the operation of the Act.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: After the words last added, add the words (j) in the case of a person who hits been refused the grant of a firearms certificate by a chief officer of police or whose firearms certificate has been revoked by having in his possession a firearm or ammunition pending disposal thereof by him, provided that he has obtained from the chief officer of police a permit in the prescribed form for that purpose."—[Captain Bowyer.]