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Arms Bill

Preliminary provisions - Interpretation

9: Meaning of restricted firearm

You could also call this:

"What is a restricted firearm in New Zealand law?"

Illustration for Arms Bill

The proposed law says a restricted firearm is a certain type of gun. You need to know what types of guns are restricted. This includes semi-automatic firearms, except for some special cases. The proposed law also says some pump-action shotguns and rifles are restricted. You can find out more about these guns in the proposed law. Some guns can be added to the restricted list by Order in Council under section 362. A restricted firearm can also include parts of a gun. You can check the proposed law to see what parts are included. The law explains what a specified semi-automatic firearm is, and who can have a semi-automatic pistol.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1533536.

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Topics:
Crime and justice > Police and safety
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Part 1Preliminary provisions
Interpretation

9Meaning of restricted firearm

  1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, restricted firearm—

  2. means a firearm that is one of the following types:
    1. a semi-automatic firearm, other than—
      1. a specified semi-automatic firearm:
        1. a semi-automatic shotgun with a non-detachable tubular magazine or magazines that are capable of holding no more than 5 cartridges commensurate with that firearm’s chamber size:
          1. a small semi-automatic pistol:
            1. a semi-automatic pistol (not being a small semi-automatic pistol) in the possession or under the control of a person referred to in subsection (3):
            2. a pump-action shotgun that is capable of being used with a detachable magazine:
              1. a pump-action shotgun that has a non-detachable tubular magazine or magazines that are capable of holding more than 5 cartridges commensurate with that firearm’s chamber size:
                1. a centrefire pump-action rifle that is capable of being used with a detachable magazine:
                  1. a centrefire pump-action rifle that has 1 or more non-detachable magazines (tubular or otherwise) that are capable of holding more than 10 cartridges commensurate with that firearm’s chamber size; and
                  2. includes any other firearm declared by Order in Council made under section 362 to be a restricted firearm for the purposes of this Act; and
                    1. also includes a major firearm part of a firearm described in paragraph (a) or (b).

                      1. In subsection (1)(a)(i)(A), specified semi-automatic firearm means a semi-automatic firearm—

                      2. that is capable of firing only 0.22 calibre or lower rimfire cartridges; and
                        1. that has a magazine, whether or not detachable or otherwise externally fed, that is capable of holding no more than 10 cartridges commensurate with the firearm’s chamber size; and
                          1. that does not have a lower receiver that is able to be attached to a centrefire upper receiver so as to result in a firearm that is able to function.

                            1. For the purposes of subsection (1)(a)(i)(D), the person is a firearms licence holder—

                            2. whose licence bears an endorsement permitting them to possess a semi-automatic pistol in the capacity described in section 183(4), (5), (6), or (7); and
                              1. who has been issued with—
                                1. a permit to import the pistol; or
                                  1. a permit to possess the pistol.