Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997

The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 (c. 5) was an act of the Parliament o of the United Kingdom introduced 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]

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.

Citation1997 c. 5

Territorial extent

• England and Wales
• Scotland

^[b]

Royal assent27 February 1997

Quick facts Long title, Citation ...

Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997^[a]

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An 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.
Citation	1997 c. 5
Territorial extent	England and Wales Scotland [b]
Dates
Royal assent	27 February 1997
Commencement	various[c]
Other legislation
Amends	Firearms Act 1968 Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 Firearms (Amendment) Act 1992
Amended by	Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997 Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc. ) Order 1999 Firearms (Electronic Communications) Order 2011 Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 Firearms Regulations 2015 Policing and Crime Act 2017
Relates to	Firearms 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Text of statute as originally enacted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.

Close

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.