Antique Firearms Regulations 2020

Lord Bhatia Excerpts

Wednesday 6th January 2021 Grand Committee

[Lord Bhatia (Non-Afl) [V]]

My Lords, the use of antique firearms in criminal activity has risen in recent years. Antique firearms kept as ornaments are currently exempt from several provisions in firearms legislation. At present, there is no statutory definition of an antique firearm. For that reason, this instrument will better regulate the sale of such firearms and responds to concerns raised with the Government by law enforcement agencies about the increase in their use in criminal activities in recent years.

Section 58(2) of the 1968 Act exempts from most controls under that Act antique firearms

“sold, transferred, purchased … as a curiosity or ornament”.

This includes being able to possess them as a “curiosity or ornament” without needing a firearms certificate and trade in them without being registered with the police as a firearms dealer.

Recently, an increasing number of antique firearms have been recovered in criminal circumstances. There is obviously a need to regulate the sale and purchase of antique firearms; I welcome this initiative. There are also antique knives, swords, et cetera. Do the Government intend to regulate their sale and purchase?