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Updated to 23 October 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 506 of 2025)

All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.

Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990
No. 12 of 1990

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Ss. 1, 2 12 June 1990 Commenced on enactment
Ss. 3-8 1 January 1991 Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 (Part II) (Commencement) Order 1990 (S.I. No. 313 of 1990), art. 2
Ss. 9-18 12 June 1990 Commenced on enactment

Amendments and other effects

How AffectedAffecting Provision
Act, Part II (ss. 3-8A)  included in collectively cited Firearms Acts S. 3(1)
Application of collectively cited Firearms Acts extended S.I. No. 362 of 1993, regs. 2, 8, 13
S. 4 repealed 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 63(a)
S. 6(1) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 19, 26, sch. 1 ref. 16
S. 6(1) amended 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 63(b)
S. 6(2) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 19, 26, sch. 1 ref. 16
S. 7 provision relating to bail 16/1997, ss. 1, 13(2), sch. paras. 16, 29, 30, sch. as substituted by 29/2007, s. 17(b)
S. 7(1) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 19, 26, sch. 1 ref. 16
S. 7(3) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 19, 26, sch. 1 ref. 16
S. 7(4) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 19, 26, sch. 1 ref. 16
S. 7(6)(a) amended 26/2006, s. 64, schedule 1. See 12/1990, s. 8A
S. 7(6)(b) amended 26/2006, s. 64, schedule 1. See 12/1990, s. 8A
S. 7(8) amended 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 63(c)
S. 8 provision relating to bail 16/1997, ss. 1, 13(2), sch. paras. 16, 29, 30, sch. as substituted by 29/2007, s. 17(b)
S. 8(a) amended 26/2006, s. 64, schedule 1. See 12/1990, s. 8A
S. 8(b) amended 26/2006, s. 64, schedule 1. See 12/1990, s. 8A
S. 8A inserted 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 64
S. 9 provision relating to bail 16/1997, ss. 1, 13(2), sch. paras. 16, 29, 30, sch. as substituted by 29/2007, s. 17(b)
S.9(7)(a) substituted 28/2009, ss. 1(3), 39
S.9(7)(a) amended 26/2006, s. 64, schedule 1. See 12/1990, s. 8A
S. 9(7)(b) amended 30/2024, ss. 1(2), 24(a)(i)
  26/2006, s. 64, schedule 1. See 12/1990, s. 8A
S. 9(7)(c) inserted 30/2024, ss. 1(2), 24(a)(ii)
S.9A - 9I inserted 28/2009, ss. 1(3), 40
S. 9B(1) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 19, 26, sch. 1 ref. 16
S. 9B(5) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 19, 26, sch. 1 ref. 16
S. 10 provision relating to bail 16/1997, ss. 1, 13(2), sch. paras. 16, 29, 30, sch. as substituted by 29/2007, s. 17(b)
S. 10(3)(a) amended 26/2006, s. 64, schedule 1. See 12/1990, s. 8A
S. 10(3)(b) amended 30/2024, ss. 1(2), 24(b)
S. 11 provision relating to bail 16/1997, ss. 1, 13(2), sch. paras. 16, 29, 30, sch. as substituted by 29/2007, s. 17(b)
S. 11(a) amended 26/2006, s. 64, schedule 1. See 12/1990, s. 8A
S. 11(b) amended 30/2024, ss. 1(2), 24(c)
S. 12 provision relating to bail 16/1997, ss. 1, 13(2), sch. paras. 16, 29, 30, sch. as substituted by 29/2007, s. 17(b)
S.12 application extended S. I. No. 66 of 1991, reg. 2
S. 12(3)(a) amended 26/2006, s. 64, schedule 1. See 12/1990, s. 8A
S. 12(3)(b) amended 30/2024, ss. 1(2), 24(d)
  26/2006, s. 64, schedule 1. See 12/1990, s. 8A
S. 12A inserted 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 65
S. 12A provision relating to bail 16/1997, ss. 1, 13(2), sch. paras. 16, 29, 30, sch. as substituted by 29/2007, s. 17(b)
S. 12A(9A) inserted 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 40(a)
S. 12A(10) amended 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 40(b)
S. 12A(12), (13) deleted with retrospective application 36/2021, ss. 7(b), 10, 11(2)
S. 12A(13)(b) amended 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 40(c)
S. 12A(14) amended with retrospective application 36/2021, ss. 7(c), 10, 11(2)
S. 15 form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 34, rl. 5, forms 34.11, 34.12, schedule B
S.16 substituted 28/2009, ss. 1(3), 41
S. 16A inserted 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 174

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 12 Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 338 of 2009)
S. 12(4) Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1991 (S.I. No. 66 of 1991)