Air weapon legislation: Under the Firearms Act 1968, air weapons are classified as what?

• A. Prohibited weapons under the Firearms Act 1968
• B. Non-lethal sporting equipment
• C. Section 1 firearms
• D. Controlled under Violent Crime Reduction Act

Answer: (A)

Air weapons are treated as prohibited weapons under the Firearms Act 1968. This labeling signals that they’re subject to strict controls and typically require a firearms certificate to possess or acquire. The term “prohibited” reflects their potential to cause serious harm, and licensing is the mechanism that governs lawful use and possession. They aren’t simply “non-lethal sporting equipment,” and they aren’t automatically categorized as Section 1 firearms in this context. While the Violent Crime Reduction Act later introduced additional age and sale restrictions for air weapons, the fundamental classification relevant to the Firearms Act 1968 is that air weapons fall under the prohibited weapons category.