Firearms Act 1968 (UK)
Definition
The primary UK statute governing firearms. Section 1 requires a Firearm Certificate (FAC) for most firearms; section 2 requires a Shotgun Certificate; section 5 lists absolutely prohibited weapons. Handguns added to section 5 by the Firearms (Amendment) Acts 1997 after the Dunblane massacre.
- Jurisdiction
- United Kingdom
- Section 1
- Firearm Certificate required for most firearms
- Section 2
- Shotgun Certificate required
- Section 5
- Lists absolutely prohibited weapons
- Key amendment
- Firearms (Amendment) Acts 1997 added handguns to section 5
Common questions
What prompted the 1997 amendment adding handguns to section 5?+
The amendment followed the Dunblane massacre, after which Parliament moved handguns from certificated ownership into the absolutely prohibited category, meaning private possession is barred outright rather than merely licensed.
How does a Firearm Certificate differ from a Shotgun Certificate?+
A Firearm Certificate under section 1 is weapon-specific, naming each firearm and the quantity of ammunition the holder may possess, and requires a demonstrated good reason for each one. A Shotgun Certificate under section 2 is less restrictive and does not limit ammunition quantity or tie the certificate to named guns.
Related terms
- Arms Trade Treaty 2013 (ATT)
- The first legally binding global instrument governing the international trade in conventional arms. In force 24 December 2014; 113 state parties as...
- Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act 1993
- US federal statute establishing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) administered by the FBI. Requires FFLs to conduct a NICS...
- DC V. Heller (2008)
- US Supreme Court decision (554 US 570) holding that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms for...
- eTrace (ATF)
- ATF's electronic firearms trace system. Allows domestic and (via bilateral agreements and iARMS) international law enforcement agencies to submit serial-number trace requests...
- Gun Control Act 1968 (GCA)
- US federal statute establishing the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) system for commercial sales, the Form 4473 record, and the prohibited-person categories under...
- INTERPOL iARMS
- INTERPOL's Illicit Arms Records and tracing Management System. Multilateral database enabling law enforcement in INTERPOL member countries to trace recovered or seized...
- National Firearms Act 1934 (NFA)
- US federal statute governing machine guns, short-barrelled rifles, suppressors, destructive devices, and other NFA items. Requires registration on the NFRTR and a...
- R V. Bentham (2005)
- House of Lords decision (2005 UKHL 18) holding that a component of a section 5 firearm must be a manufactured artefact. A...
- UN Programme of Action (UN POA 2001)
- Non-binding political commitment by UN member states to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Sets...