The Firearms Act 1968 is amended as set out in subsections (2) to (8).
In section 5 (which includes, in subsections (1) and (1A), offences of unauthorised possession etc of prohibited weapons and ammunition)—
After subsection (2) of that section there is inserted—
For subsection (3) of that section there is substituted—
In section 5A (exemptions from requirement of authority under section 5)—
In section 51A (minimum sentences for certain offences), in subsection (1A), before paragraph (a) there is inserted—
In Schedule 6 (prosecution and punishment of offences), in Part 1 (table of punishments) the words "or distributing" are omitted in the entries for—
In Part 1 of that Schedule, after the entry for section 5(1A)(b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) there is inserted—
In section 1 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 (extension of section 5 of the 1968 Act to prohibit certain small firearms etc), after subsection (7) there is inserted—