dATE OF DECISION 14 OCT 2005

 

IS  A  MAGAZINE A MAJOR COMPONENT OF A WEAPON?  

 

There is a push to establish large capacity magazines for center fire and bolt action rifles to be unlawful, by deeming them to be major components of a weapon.

Are these magazines presently considered to be major components of a firearm? What is a major component of a weapon?

The Guild  doesn't want its member to suffer any unpleasant surprises and so wrote to the WLB and put the question directly to them. Our intention was to obtain a specific advice from a person responsible for the administration of the law, such that our members, being so advised, can reasonably determine in good faith whether the law applies to their individual circumstance.

What follows, is their response. We publish it here, in its entirety, so that you can be aware of their ruling, and order your affairs accordingly.

Here's the gist of it:

"There are firearms which will not function without a magazine in place. Therefore the magazine would be a major component part as defined as the firearm would be considered inoperable without it."

As to whether and in what circumstances a magazine (or other part) becomes a major component part of a weapon, the example of a firearm which cannot function without the part in place certainly clarifies the issue.

We advise you to keep a copy of this letter in your files. 

   

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