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Firearms Act 1996
23AApplication of Act to imitation firearms
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23A Application of Act to imitation firearms
(1) This Act applies to an imitation firearm in the same way as it applies
to a firearm, subject to the following:
(a) the registrar must not issue a licence for the possession or use of
an imitation firearm (except to a firearms dealer);
(b) the registrar may issue a permit for the possession or use of an
imitation firearm;
(c) an imitation firearm is not required to be registered.
(2) For the application of this Act to an imitation firearm—
(a) an imitation firearm that is an imitation of a pistol is taken to be
a pistol; and
(b) an imitation firearm that is an imitation of a prohibited firearm
is taken to be a prohibited firearm.
(3) In this Act:
imitation firearm—
(a) means something that, regardless of its colour, weight or
composition or the presence or absence of any moveable parts,
substantially duplicates in appearance a firearm but is not a
(b) includes something that the registrar declares to be an imitation
firearm under section 31.
(4) However, imitation firearm does not include—
(a) something that is produced and identified as a children’s toy; or
(b) something prescribed by regulation not to be an imitation
(c) something declared not to be an imitation firearm under
section 31.
Unregulated firearms Part 4