SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 11Amendments relating to firearms

Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006

I115

1

Amend paragraph 4 (manufacture, import and sale of realistic imitation firearms) as follows.

2

After sub-paragraph (2) insert—

2A

The Department of Justice may by regulations—

a

provide for exceptions and exemptions from the offence under sub-paragraph (1)(a), (b) or (c); and

b

provide for it to be a defence in proceedings for such an offence to show the matters specified or described in the regulations.

3

In sub-paragraph (3) for “(1)” substitute “(1)(d)”.

4

In sub-paragraph (4)—

a

for “(3)” substitute “(2A) or (3)”; and

b

in paragraph (c) after “as” insert “the Department of Justice or (as the case may be)”.

5

After sub-paragraph (4) insert—

4A

The power of the Department of Justice to make regulations under sub-paragraph (2A) shall be exercisable by statutory rule for the purposes of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979252.

4B

That power includes power—

a

to make different provision for different cases;

b

to make provision subject to such exemptions and exceptions as the Department of Justice thinks fit; and

c

to make such incidental, supplemental, consequential and transitional provision as the Department of Justice thinks fit.

4C

Regulations under sub-paragraph (2A) shall be subject to negative resolution (within the meaning of section 41(6) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954253).