§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ban the sale of R-44 Magnum handguns to those without a Class 1 firearms licence. [116097]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeLong barrelled firearms of this kind are already subject to Section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968. Anyone wishing to purchase such a firearm must obtain a firearm certificate from his local police. The police will issue a certificate if they are satisfied that the applicant has a good reason to wish to possess such a firearm and can be trusted to keep and use it without danger to public safety or to the peace. Simple possession of a Section 1 firearm without authority is a serious criminal offence carrying a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
Registered firearms dealers are required to keep detailed records of their purchase and sale of firearms. It is itself a criminal offence to transfer a firearm to an unauthorised person, carrying a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.