Section 24 – Firearms Act

Section 24 – Supplying firearms to minors

It is an offence to sell or let on hire any firearm or ammunition to a person under the age of seventeen.

It is an offence—
(a) to make a gift of or lend any firearm or ammunition to which section 1 of this Act applies to a person under the age of fourteen; or
(b) to part with the possession of any such firearm or ammunition to a person under that age, except in circumstances where that person is entitled under section 11(1), (3) or (4) of this Act [F1 or section 15 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988] to have possession thereof without holding a firearm certificate.

It is an offence to make a gift of a shot gun or ammunition for a shot gun to a person under the age of fifteen.

It is an offence—
(a) to make a gift of an air weapon or ammunition for an air weapon to a person under the age of [F2 seventeen] ; or
(b) to part with the possession of an air weapon or ammunition for an air weapon to a person under [F3 the age of seventeen] except where by virtue of section 23 of this Act the person is not prohibited from having it with him.

In proceedings for an offence under any provision of this section it is a defence to prove that the person charged with the offence believed the other person to be of or over the age mentioned in that provision and had reasonable ground for the belief.
Annotations:
Amendments (Textual)
F1 Words inserted by Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (c. 45, SIF 51:1), s. 23(4)
F2 Word in s. 24(4)(a) substituted (20.1.2004) by Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 (2003 c. 38), ss. 38(4)(a), 93; S.I. 2003/3300, art. 2
F3 Words in s. 24(4)(b) substituted (20.1.2004) by Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 (2003 c. 38), ss. 38(4)(b), 93; S.I. 2003/3300, art. 2

CAN A YOUNG PERSON…

Purchase an firearm or ammunition:

UNDER 18 – Yes (except air rifle, air gun or air pistol)

UNDER 17 – No

UNDER 15 – No

UNDER 14 – No

Possess a Section 1 Firearm:

UNDER 18 – Yes

UNDER 17 – Yes

UNDER 15 – Yes

UNDER 14 – No (See exemptions 1,2 & 3 below)

Receive a Section 1 firearm as a gift:

UNDER 18 – Yes

UNDER 17 – Yes

UNDER 15 – Yes

UNDER 14 – No

Possess an assemble shotgun:

UNDER 18 – Yes

UNDER 17 – Yes

UNDER 15 – No (See exemptions 4 & 5 below)

UNDER 14 – No (See exemptions 4 & 5 below)

Receive a shotgun as a gift:

UNDER 18 – Yes

UNDER 17 – Yes

UNDER 15 – No

UNDER 14 – No

Possess an Air Weapon:

UNDER 18 – No (See exemptions 2,3,4 & 6 below)

UNDER 17 – No (See exemptions 2,3,4 & 6 below)

UNDER 15 – No (See exemptions 2,3,4 & 6 below)

UNDER 14 – No (See exemptions 2,3 & 4 below)

Receive an air weapon as a gift;

UNDER 18 – No

UNDER 17 – No

UNDER 15 – No

UNDER 14 – No

Possess an air weapon in a public place:

UNDER 18 – No (See exemptions 2 & 4 below)

UNDER 17 – No (See exemptions 2 & 4 below)

UNDER 15 – No (See exemptions 2 & 4 below)

UNDER 14 – No (See exemptions 2 & 4 below)

Exemptions:
(1) If only carrying on behalf of a certificate holder for sporting purposes.
(2) When part of an approved club or cadet corps.
(3) On a Miniature Rifle Range.
(4) Under the supervision of someone over 21 years old.
(5) When firearm is in a secure gun cover.
(6) Unless on private property with permission of the land owner. It is an offence for someone under this exemption to fire any missile beyond the boundary of the premises unless with permission of the adjacent land owner.