Firearms Act 1937

4 Exemptions from holding a certificate

(1) The following provisions of this section shall have effect notwithstanding anything in section one of this Act.

(2) A person carrying on the business of a firearms dealer and registered as such, or a servant of such a person, may, without holding a firearm certificate (in this section referred to as a " certificate ") purchase, acquire or have in his possession a firearm or ammunition in the ordinary course of that business.

(3) A person carrying on the business of an auctioneer, carrier or warehouseman, or a servant of such a person, may, without holding a certificate, have in his possession a firearm or ammunition in the ordinary course of that business.

(4) A person licensed under section three of the [23 & 24 Geo. 5. c. 39.] Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933, or section two of the [18 & 19 Geo. 5. c. 29.] Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act, 1928, may, without holding a certificate, have in his possession a slaughtering instrument and ammunition therefor in any slaughter house or knacker's yard in which he is employed.

(5) The proprietor of a slaughter house or knacker's yard or a person appointed by him to take charge of slaughtering instruments and ammunition therefor for the purpose of storing them in safe custody at that slaughter house or knacker's yard may, without holding a certificate, have in his possession a slaughtering instrument or ammunition therefor for that purpose.

(6) Any person may, without holding a certificate,

(a) have in his possession a firearm or ammunition on board a ship, or a signalling apparatus or ammunition therefor on board an aircraft or at an aerodrome, as part of the equipment of the ship, aircraft or aerodrome; and

(b) remove a signalling apparatus or ammunition therefor, being part of the equipment of an aircraft, from one aircraft to another at an aerodrome, or from or to an aircraft at an aerodrome to or from a place appointed for the storage thereof in safe custody at that aerodrome, and keep any such apparatus or ammunition at such a place; and

(c) if he has obtained from an officer of police a permit for the purpose in the prescribed form, remove a firearm from or to a ship, or a signalling apparatus from or to an aircraft or aerodrome, to or from such place and for such purpose as may be specified in the permit.

(7) A person carrying a firearm or ammunition belonging to another person holding a certificate may, without himself holding a certificate, have in his possession that firearm or ammunition under instructions from and for the use of that other person for sporting purposes only.

(8) A member of a rifle club or miniature rifle club or cadet corps approved by a Secretary of State may, without holding a certificate, have in his possession a firearm and ammunition when engaged as such a member in, or in connection with, drill or target practice.

(9) A 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 may, without-holding a certificate, purchase, acquire or have in his possession such miniature rifles and ammunition suitable therefor; and any person may, without holding a certificate, use any such rifle and ammunition at such a range or gallery.

(10) A person taking part in a theatrical performance or any rehearsal thereof, or in the production of a cinematograph film, may, without holding a certificate, have a firearm in his possession during and for the purpose of the performance, rehearsal or production.

(11) Any person may, without holding a certificate, have a firearm in his possession at an athletic meeting for the purpose of starting races at that meeting.

(12) A person who has obtained from the chief officer of police for the area in which he resides a permit for the purpose in the prescribed form may, without holding a certificate, have in his possession a firearm and ammunition in accordance with the terms of the permit.

(13) If any person makes any statement which he knows to be false for the purpose of procuring, whether for himself or any other person, the grant of a permit under this section, he shall for each offence be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds, or to both such imprisonment and fine.