Amendments proposed to the Violent Crime Reduction Bill - continued	House of Commons
back to previous text

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

260

Clause     30,     page     32,     line     12,     after 'Britain', insert 'for the purposes of sale or distribution'.

   

Hazel Blears

301

Clause     30,     page     32,     line     12,     at end insert—

    '()   Subsection (1) has effect subject to the defences in section (Specific defences applying to the offence under s. 30).'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

55

Clause     30,     page     32,     line     13,     leave out 'may' and insert 'shall'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

262

Clause     30,     page     32,     line     13,     after 'regulations', insert ', following proper consultation and consideration with a working group consisting of a wide spread of expert practitioners,'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

263

Clause     30,     page     32,     line     15,     after '(1)', insert 'with the burden of proving that a person does not fall within one of these exemptions lying with the prosecution'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

54

Clause     30,     page     32,     line     17,     at end insert—

'(c)	provide that the manufacture, modification or sale of an item for the purpose of display for educational or cultural purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of subsection (1)(c).'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

265

Clause     30,     page     32,     line     17,     at end insert—

'(c)	provide that the manufacture, modification, sale or bringing into the United Kingdom of a realistic imitation firearm or component part for the purpose of display only for educational, cultural or theatrical purposes shall be exempt from the offence under subsection (1); and

(d)	provide that the manufacture, modification, sale or bringing into the United Kingdom of a realistic imitation firearm or component part for the purposes listed in Schedule ( ) be exempt from the offence under subsection (1).'.

   

Hazel Blears

302

Clause     30,     page     33,     line     1,     leave out subsections (8) and (9) and insert—

    '(8)   In this section "realistic imitation firearm" has the meaning given by section (Meaning of "realistic imitation firearm").'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

264

Clause     30,     page     33,     line     14,     at end insert—

    '(9A)   In relation to subsections (2), (3) and (8), the following should be included in the exceptions and exemptions from what constitutes a realistic imitation firearm—

(a)	deactivated firearms,

(b)	deactivated weapons manufactured before 1983,

(c)	deactivated weapons of .50" calibre and over,

(d)	large machine guns, armoured vehicles and field guns and military equipment where the deactivated weaponry is intrinsic to the equipment,

(e)	realistic imitation firearms used in security dog training and security guard training,

(f)	realistic imitation firearms used in hunt dog training,

(g)	realistic and deactivated firearms used by educators, colleges and schools,

(h)	reproduction components for weapons of .50" calibre and over,

(i)	starting pistols,

(j)	weapons intended for use in "Airsoft" with a muzzle energy of less that 4 joules including BB guns, air guns and paint balls,

(k)	realistic imitation firearms for use in theatre, cinema, museums, castles and historic houses, television and sporting events,

(l)	parts of weapons required in relation to the weapons listed in paragraphs (a) to (k),

(m)	specialist suppliers and armourers relating to the weapons listed in paragraphs (a) to (k).'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

266

Clause     30,     page     33,     line     14,     at end insert—

    '(9A)   For the purposes of this Act, "imitation firearm" means anything which has the appearance of being a firearm whether or not it is capable of discharging any shot, bullet or other missile which is capable of being mistaken for a firearm for which either a certificate under section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968, or the authority of the Secretary of State under section 5(1) of the Firearms Act 1968 would be required.'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

267

Clause     30,     page     33,     line     14,     at end insert—

    '(9A)   The definition of "imitation firearm" in section 57(4) of the Firearms Act 1968 means anything which has the appearance of being a firearm whether or not it is capable of discharging any shot, bullet or other missile which is capable of being mistaken for a firearm for which either a certificate under section 1 of this Act, or the authority of the Secretary of State under section 5 of this Act would be required.'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

268

Clause     30,     page     33,     line     14,     at end insert—

    '(9A)   When assessing whether an imitation firearm is a realistic imitation firearm for the purposes of subsections (8) and (9) above, the test should be an objective one.'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

269

Clause     30,     page     33,     line     14,     at end insert—

    '(9A)   Nothing in this section shall apply to an antique firearm which is sold, transferred, purchased, acquired or possessed as a curiosity or ornament.'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

270

Clause     30,     page     33,     line     14,     at end insert—

    '(9A)   Nothing in this section shall apply to a firearm of antique appearance that fires black powder.'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

271

Clause     30,     page     33,     line     14,     at end insert—

    '(9A)   The Secretary of State shall provide for payment of compensation in respect of loss suffered or costs incurred in consequence of the exercise of power conferred by or under this section.'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

272

Clause     30,     page     33,     line     14,     at end insert—

    '(9A)   Nothing in this section shall prevent a person legally handling, holding or picking up a realistic imitation firearm.'.

   

Mr Jonathan Djanogly

308

Clause     30,     page     33,     line     14,     at end insert—

    '(10)   It shall be a defence for any person charged in respect of any conduct of his relating to an imitation firearm to which this section applies—

(a)	with an offence under subsection (1) above; or

(b)	with an offence under section 50(2) or (3) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (improper importation),

to prove that the the conduct in question was for the purposes of making the imitation firearm available to a museum or gallery.

    (11)   In this section "museum or gallery" includes any institution which has as its purpose, or one of its purposes, the preservation, display and interpretation of material of historical, artistic or scientific interest and gives the public access to it.

    (12)   It shall be a defence for any person charged in respect of any conduct of his relating to an imitation firearm to which this section applies—

(a)	with an offence under subsection (1) above; or

(b)	with an offence under section 50(2) or (3) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979,

to prove that his conduct was for the purposes of making available an imitation firearm to persons in the service of Her Majesty for the purposes of ceremonial functions carried out by the authority of a Royal Warrant.

    (13)   It shall be a defence for any person charged in respect of any conduct of his relating to an imitation firearm to which this section applies—

(a)	with an offence under subsection (1) above; or

(b)	with an offence under section 50(2) or (3) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979,

to prove that his conduct was for the purposes of making the imitation firearm available to persons—

(c)	taking part in a theatrical performance or in a rehearsal for such a performance, or

(d)	taking part in the production of a cinematograph or television film or a wireless telegraphic broadcast, or

(e)	taking part in a historical re-enactment or the commemoration of historical events.'.

---

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

297

Clause     31,     page     33,     line     16,     leave out subsection (1) and insert—

    '(1)   If the Secretary of State is satisfied that any imitation firearm, or type, model or class of imitation firearm, will create a danger to public safety, he may by regulations, made after consulting such persons or bodies appearing to him to represent those trading in, or using, imitation firearms as he shall consider appropriate, prohibit—

(a)	the manufacture of such imitation firearms;

(b)	the modification of firearms or imitation firearms so that they become such imitation firearms;

(c)	the sale of such imitation firearms; and

(d)	the bringing into Great Britain of such imitation firearms,

unless the imitation firearms conform to such specifications and conditions as may be set out in the regulations.'.

   

Mr Humfrey Malins
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
Mr Mark Prisk

277

Clause     31,     page     33,     line     16,     after 'requiring', insert 'realistic'.

Prepared 25 Oct 2005