Conditions of grant and use of licences

(1) Subject to this Act, every licence under this Act shall be granted by the Commissioner of Police. (2) No licence shall be granted– (a) to any person under the age of twenty-one years; (b) to any person who has been convicted of any crime of violence to the person or of any crime against the public peace within three years immediately preceding the date of his application, except for some special reason shown; (c) to any person who at the time of his application for a gun licence is already in possession of any firearm, except for some special reason shown; (d) to any person who, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Police, is not a fit and proper person to hold any such licence; (e) to any person who is unable to show any reasonable ground why a licence should be issued to him; (f) in respect of any firearm which in the opinion of the Commissioner of Police is of such a dangerous kind as to be unsafe in the possession of any person; or (g) to any person who has had his previous firearm lost or stolen, and it appears to the Commissioner of after due investigation that the loss or theft of the fire- arm was due to the negligence or fault of such (2A) Notwithstanding sub-section (2)(a), and subject to the requirements under this Act, a person of at least sixteen years of age may be granted a Farmer’s Gun Licence under section 3(2)(d). (2B) A person who at the commencement of the Firearms (Amendment) (No.2) Act, 2010– (a) is under the age of twenty-one; 22 (b) on his next birthday will not be at the age of twenty-one; and (c) is the holder of a licence other than a Farmer’s shall continue to hold such licence up to the date of expiration of such licence. (3) Any person aggrieved by the refusal of the Commissioner of Police to grant him a licence may, by petition in writing to the Minister, pray that the Commissioner of Police be directed to grant him a licence, and the Minister may after such enquiry as he may think fit– (a) grant the prayer and direct the Commissioner of Police to grant such licence; or (b) decline to interfere with the decision of the Commissioner of Police. (4) No gun-dealer’s licence shall be issued to any person unless the Commissioner of Police is satisfied that the place in the premises where that person proposes to keep the firearms or ammunition is reasonably secure from theft or other crimes against property. (5) Every gun-dealer’s licence shall clearly state the maximum number and quantity of firearms and ammunition to be kept. (6) Every gun-dealer who keeps firearms and ammunition at any premises other than the premises described in the licence, or in any place in such premises other than the place approved by the Commissioner of Police, or keeps any firearms or ammunition in excess of the number and quantity specified in his licence commits an offence, and his licence shall be forfeited. 23