Firearms Act 1964

Number 1 of 1964

FIREARMS ACT 1964

REVISED

Updated to 27 December 2021

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Firearms Act 1964. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 (50/2021), enacted 23 December 2021, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 777 of 2021), made 21 December 2021, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number 1 of 1964

FIREARMS ACT 1964

REVISED

Updated to 27 December 2021

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section
1.	Interpretation.
2.	Extension of Principal Act to airguns. (Repealed)
3.	Temporary prohibition of game shooting.
4.	Temporary custody of firearms by Garda Síochána in interests of public safety.
5.	Contravention of orders under sections 3 and 4.
6.	Provisions in relation to orders under sections 3 and 4.
7.	Disposal of certain firearms and ammunition in the possession of the Garda Síochána.
8.	Disposal of firearms in certain circumstances.
9.	Renewal of firearm certificate.
10.	Period of validity of firearm certificate granted by Minister. (Repealed)
11.	Change of firearm to which firearm certificate relates.
12.	Limited use of shot-gun. (Repealed)
13.	Sale of firearms by auctioneers.
14.	Amendment of section 1 of Principal Act.
15.	Amendment of section 2 of Principal Act.
16.	Amendment of section 3 of Principal Act.
17.	Amendment of section 8 of Principal Act.
18.	Amendment of section 9 of Principal Act.
19.	Amendment of section 10 of Principal Act.
20.	Amendment of section 16 of Principal Act.
21.	Amendment of section 17 of Principal Act.
22.	Amendment of section 21 of Principal Act.
23.	Amendment of section 24 of Principal Act.
24.	Onus of proof.
25.	Extension of sections 23 and 28 of Larceny Act, 1916.
26.	Possession of firearm while taking vehicle without authority.
27.	Prohibition of use of firearms to resist arrest or aid escape.
27A.	Possession of firearm or ammunition in suspicious circumstances.
27B.	Carrying firearm with criminal intent.
27C.	Provisions relating to minimum sentences under Firearms Acts 1925 to 2006.
28.	Repeals.
29.	Short title and collective citation.

Acts Referred to
Firearms Act, 1925	1925, No. 17.
Police (Property) Act, 1897	1897, c. 30.
Larceny Act, 1916	1916, c. 50.
Road Traffic Act, 1961	1961, No. 24.
Criminal Justice Act, 1960	1960, No. 27.

Number 1 of 1964

FIREARMS ACT 1964

REVISED

Updated to 27 December 2021

AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE FIREARMS ACT, 1925. [28th January, 1964.]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:—

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text):

Application of Act extended (9.12.1993) by European Communities (Acquisition and Possession of Weapons and Ammunition) Regulations 1993 (S.I. No. 362 of 1993), regs. 8 and 13(1).

Provisions of Firearms Acts and other Statutes.

8. The provisions of the Firearms Acts and other relevant statutes, including provisions relating to powers of the Garda Síochána and Customs Officers, shall extend to a European Firearms Pass or other document to which these Regulations relate and a reference in those enactments to a firearm certificate shall, where the context so admits, include reference to any such document.

...

Offences.

13. (1) A person who contravenes any provision of these Regulations shall, without prejudice to any liability under the Firearms Acts, be guilty of an offence under these Regulations.

...

Editorial Notes:

Previous affecting provisions: definition of firearm extended (1.01.1991) by Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 (12/1990), s. 4(1), S.I. No. 313 of 1990. Definition replaced (1.08.2006) by Firearms Act 1925 (17/1925), s. 1, as inserted (1.08.2006) by Criminal Justice Act 2006 (26/2006), s. 26, S.I. No. 390 of 2006.

Offences under collectively cited Firearms Act 1925 to 1971 designated scheduled offences for the purposes of Part V of the Offences against the State Act 1939 (No. 13 of 1939) (30.05.1972) by Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) Order 1972 (S.I. No. 142 of 1972).

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Firearms Act 1964