Antigua and Barbuda. 1973 ‘General Provisions as to Grant and Issue of Licences: Certificates and Permits.’ Laws of Antigua and Barbuda, Chapter 171, The Firearms Act [Act with amendments to 1989]; Part II (Section 17). St John's: Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda. 1 May

Relevant contents

General Provisions as to Grant and Issue of Licences: Certificates and Permits

17. (1) Subject to this section and to sections 16 and 23 the grant of any licence, certificate or permit shall be in the discretion of the Commissioner of Police.

(2) No licence, certificate or permit shall be granted in relation to any prohibited weapon.

[According to Section 2 of this Act, "prohibited weapon" means -
(a) any artillery or automatic firearm;
(b) any grenade, bomb or other like missile; or
(c) any weapon of whatever description or design which is adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas or other thing]

(3) No licence, certificate or permit other than a Firearm Disposal Permit shall be granted to, or held by a restricted person except with the prior permission of the Governor-General.

(4) A Firearm Import Permit, a Firearm User's Licence or a Firearm User's (Employee's) Certificate shall be granted by the Commissioner of Police only if he is satisfied that the applicant has a good reason for importing, purchasing,
acquiring or having in his possession the firearm or ammunition in respect of which the application is made, and can be permitted to have in his possession that firearm or ammunition without danger to the public safety or to the peace; so however, that such a permit, certificate or licence shall not be granted to a person whom the Commissioner of Police has reason to believe to be of intemperate habits or unsound mind, or to be for any reason unfit to be entrusted with such a firearm or ammunition.

(5) A licence, certificate or permit shall not be issued to any person until the appropriate fee has been paid.

(6) A licence, certificate or permit shall remain in force for the period specified therein unless sooner revoked or otherwise terminated.

**(7) A person is eligible to hold a licence, certificate or permit only if the person has successfully completed a Firearms Safety course as given by an instructor who is designated by the Commissioner of Police, and passes the test as administered by the instructor.

**(8) A person is not eligible to hold a licence, certificate or permit if -
(a) it is desirable, in the interest of the safety of that or any other person, that the person not possess a firearm, a prohibited weapon, or a restrictive weapon;
(b) he has been treated for a mental illness, whether in a hospital, mental institute, psychiatric clinic or otherwise or whether or not the person was confined to such a hospital, institute or clinic outside Antigua and Barbuda that was associated with violence or threatened or attempted violence on the part of the person against any person;
(c) he has a history of behaviour that includes violence or threatened violence or attempted violence on the part of the person against any person.

**(9) In determining whether a person is eligible to hold a licence, certificate or permit under subsection (1) the Commissioner of Police shall have regard to whether the person, within the previous five (5) years -
(a) has been convicted or discharged of -
i) an offence under this Act;
ii) an offence in the commission of which violence against another person was used, threatened or attempted;
iii) an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act, Cap. 283.

[** Sections (7), (8) and (9) were added by section 8 of the Law Revision (Miscellaneous) (Amendments) Act 1999]

Last accessed at:
http://www.laws.gov.ag/acts/chapters/cap-171.pdf