The Arms Act, 1878

( ACT NO. XI OF 1878 )

1♣An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to Arms, Ammunition and Military Stores.
  Preamble
 
WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law relating to arms, ammunition and military stores; It is enacted as follows:-
 

CONTENTS

SECTIONS

1. Short title Local extent

Savings

2. Commencement

3. [Repealed]

4. Interpretation-clause

4. Interpretation-clause

5. Unlicensed manufacture, conversion and sale prohibited

6. Unlicensed importation and exportation prohibited

Importation and exportation of arms and ammunition for private use

7. Sanction of Government required to warehousing of arms, etc.

8. [Repealed]

9. [Repealed]

10. Power to prohibit transport

Transshipment of arms

11. Power to establish searching stations

12. Arrest of persons conveying arms, etc., under suspicious circumstances

Procedure where arrest made by person not Magistrate or Police-officer

13. Prohibition of going armed without license

14. Unlicensed possession of fire-arms, etc.

15. Possession of arms of any description without license prohibited in certain places

16. In certain cases arms to be deposited at police-stations or with licensed dealers

17. Power to make rules as to licenses

17A. Restriction on movement with arms

18. Canceling and suspension of license

19A. For breaches of sections 6, 13, 14 and 15 in respect of certain arms

19. For breach of sections 5, 6, 10, 13 to 17

20. For secret breaches of sections 5, 6, 10, 14 and 15

For concealing arms, etc.

20A. Enhanced punishment in certain cases

21. For breach of license

22. For knowingly purchasing arms, etc., from unlicensed person For delivering arms, etc., to person not authorized to possess them

23. Penalty for breach of rule

24. Power to confiscate.

25. Search and seizure by Magistrate

26. Seizure and detention by Government

27. Power to exempt

28. Information to be given regarding offences

29. [Omitted]

30. Searches in the case of offences against section 19, clause (f), how conducted

30A. Opinion of arms and ammunition expert not necessary

30B. Time limit for completion of investigation

31. Operation of other laws not barred

32. Power to take census of fire-arms

33. Notice and limitation of proceedings