Prohibition of possession, use, etc. of certain firearms

(1) Subject to section 33, no person, including a gun- dealer, shall own, keep, carry, use or have in his possession any firearm or ammunition or other equipment or material of the descriptions set out in Schedule III. (2) A gun licence or gun-dealer’s licence granted to any person in respect of any firearm of the description mentioned in sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have been cancelled on and from the date of commencement of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 2002, and such person shall surrender such firearm to the Commissioner within one month of such commencement. (3) Any person who contravenes the provisions of this section commits an offence and shall be sentenced to imprisonment as follows– (a) upon summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to seven years; (b) upon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term which shall not be 40 less than five years but which may extend to ten years. (4) Where any firearm or ammunition is surrendered to the Commissioner sub-section (2), a reasonable compensation therefor, based on the market value of such firearm, shall be paid to the owner within a reasonable time, Provided that subject to the directions of the Minister, to be given on the advice of Cabinet, no compensation shall be payable if such firearm was being kept contrary to the provisions of this Act or of any other law.