New Zealand Acts

ARMS ACT 1983 - SECT 20

20 Restriction on possession of non-prohibited firearms

1 Except as provided in this Act or as otherwise provided in regulations made under this Act, no person shall have a non-prohibited firearm in his possession unless he is of or over the age of 16 years and is the holder of a firearms licence.

2 The holding of a firearms licence shall not in itself entitle any person to have a pistol or restricted weapon in that person's possession.

3 A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year, or to a fine not exceeding $15,000, if the person, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1).

History: Section 20 heading: replaced, on 25 June 2020, by section 35(1) of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).   Section 20(1): amended, on 25 June 2020, by section 35(2) of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).     Section 20(2): substituted, on 1 May 1993, by section 7 of the Arms Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 95).     Section 20(2): amended, on 25 June 2020, by section 35(3) of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).     Section 20(2): amended, on 12 April 2019, by section 25 of the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 12).     Section 20(3): replaced, on 25 June 2020, by section 35(4) of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).