FIREARMS BILL. [H.L.] (Hansard, 29 April 1920)

THE EARL OF ONSLOW
My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now resolve itself into Committee.

§ LORD STUART OF WORTLEY
My Lords, I did not detain the House on the Second Reading, as it was anxious at that time to proceed with other business. I am very glad, however, to see this Bill brought in. Your Lordships may have observed that it entirely abandons the whole of the existing legislation as regards the smaller firearms which are known by the name of pistols. Thereby we lose the benefit of that provision in the Pistols Act, 1911, under which it was illegal to sell a pistol 42 to a boy under eighteen. I quite recognise that you do not want to deny the use of a gun to a youth under eighteen, because it is teaching his young idea how to shoot. But none the less a pistol is a very dangerous weapon. It is very difficult to conceive what good reason anybody has for buying a pistol except for a military or some analogous purpose.
I should be glad if the noble Earl could see his way by some amendment in Committee or by circularising the police authorities to secure that in the administration of this Act it shall be made as difficult as possible for youths under eighteen to acquire these dangerous and mischievous weapons. The essence of the dangerousness of a pistol is that it is a weapon that can be concealed about the person without being taken to pieces or otherwise put out of action, but I should like the House to consider whether by definition or otherwise it is possible to draw a distinction, and if it is not possible to draw a distinction I hope that by administrative action the same securities will be given as were secured by the provision of the Act of 1911.

THE EARL OF ONSLOW
I am grateful to the noble Lord for raising this question, and I hope I shall be able to satisfy him on the points he has mentioned. I should draw attention to the fact that the police officer before he grants a firearm certificate will have to inquire whether there is good reason for the applicant to receive one. I may tell your Lordships, that, besides the two obvious conditions that the person must be of good character and not likely to use his weapon for unlawful purposes, it is the opinion of the Government that the applicant must make out a good prima facie case for acquiring firearms. It is difficult to see how a boy of under 18 years of age is likely to establish such a case for carrying a pistol. Speaking generally, it must be assumed that the ground on which a revolver will be applied for and on which the application will be granted is for the protection of the applicant's house. By Clause 13 it will be seen that power is given to the Secretary of State to make rules for regulating the manner in which chief officers of Police are to carry out their duties under the Act. This provision will enable the Secretary of State to prohibit the issue of a licence to a boy under the age of 18 except in the most exceptional circumstances. I think I may say that this is the action which it is contemplated will be 43 followed. I believe this will meet the case raised by the noble Lord where he suggested that administrative action should be taken to secure that the safety provided under the Pistols Act should not be contravened.