Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997

The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 was introduced in the United Kingdom by the Conservative government of John Major, in response to the Dunblane school massacre and the recommendations of the Cullen Report that followed it.[1]

Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997
Long titleAn Act to amend the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1992; to make provision in relation to the licensing and regulation of pistol clubs; to make further provision for regulating the possession of, and transactions relating to, firearms and ammunition; and for connected purposes.
Citation5
Territorial extent England and Wales
Scotland
Dates
Royal assent27 February 1997
Other legislation
Amended byFirearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997
Relates toFirearms Act 1968; Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988; Firearms (Amendment) Act 1992
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

It effectively banned the private possession of all handguns other than those chambered for .22 rimfire cartridges in Great Britain (not Northern Ireland) by making them subject to Section 5 (Prohibited Weapons) of the Firearms Acts. It also made it illegal to tranquilize a human.[2]

Tony Blair's Labour Government followed later in the year with the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997 which banned .22 handguns.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Firearms-Control Legislation and Policy: Great Britain". Law Library of Congress. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Dart guns" (PDF). BSAVA GUIDE TO THE USE OF VETERINARY MEDICINES. Retrieved 11 June 2023.

External links edit