
Re: Ammunition reloading in your county
same old boys club
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/de ... B1%5D=billMr. J. O’Keeffe
Share
I have no difficulty with the section. The amendments are of a technical nature and I ask that they be considered.
Brendan Howlin
Mr. Howlin
Share
I have to start from a basis of ignorance. I do not understand what this is about, what "reloading ammunition" means, for example. It strikes me that it is a dangerous procedure. How many engage in this activity? Perhaps it is a regular occurrence, but it strikes me that there would be planning and health and safety issues involved. Is it necessary to provide for this in any way?
Michael McDowell
Mr. McDowell
Share
This arises from people coming to my Department and clinic. I had never heard of the phrase before and was not aware of the activity involved. If a person is an Olympics marksman, just as a billiards player chalk his or her cues, he or she will disassemble munitions to ensure the correct velocity or power. It is arcane in some respects but it does happen. Under the law, such a practice is illegal and regarded as the manufacturing of firearms. The people concerned have to test bench operations where they carry out these activities, all done in good faith. Specialised equipment is required. A person would not yank off the top of a bullet, shake out the powder and proceed in a crude way. It is a state-of-the-art process for the marksmen involved. They pointed out that technically what they were doing was illegal.
Mr. Howlin
Share
Am I misreading the amendment? I understood the purpose of this section was to allow firearms dealers to do this work.
Mr. McDowell
Share
No, it covers anybody who has a firearm certificate, which a person must have to carry out the work involved.
Mr. Howlin
Share
The new section 10A(1) reads: "A person (except a registered firearms dealer or the holder of a licence under this section) who reloads ammunition is guilty of an offence."
Mr. McDowell
Share
Yes, without a licence, it is an offence.
Mr. Howlin
Share
Could firearms dealers do this work?
Mr. McDowell
Share
If they have a firearm certificate, they can.
Mr. Howlin
Share
How many will be affected by this?
Mr. McDowell
Share
I cannot put a number on it, but I am sure it is——
Mr. Howlin
Share
Is the number entirely composed of competition marksmen, or are there others who may be reloading?
Mr. McDowell
Share
I do not know how many have firearms and for what purpose. The number who would dream of pulling apart a bullet and fiddling with the contents would be very small.
Mr. Howlin
Share
I hope so.
Mr. J. O’Keeffe
Share
They are high class shots who participate in competitions with a pistol.
Mr. McDowell
Share
By this definition an ordinary decent thug who wants to shoot somebody's head off will not reload cartridges. Only those who have a particular reason to do such as accuracy, muzzle velocity and related issues wish to have their ammunition at the peak of perfection.
Mr. J. O’Keeffe
Share
It is legitimate.
Mr. McDowell
Share
Yes, nobody who is bad-minded would be interested in this provision. If they were, they would be prosecuted for possession of firearms and ammunition.
Mr. J. O’Keeffe
Share
They would not be looking for a licence anyway.
Mr. McDowell
Share
Yes.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Share
Premises must be defined as being separate or distinct from living quarters. There should be a secure workshop. From the description of the Minister, I do not know where——
Mr. McDowell
Share
I will deal with those issues by way of regulations.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Share
Is there a section in the principal Act dealing with the repair of weaponry and associated matters?
Mr. McDowell
Share
We dealt with that matter in the previous section.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Share
This would not come under it; that is why I am asking.
Mr. McDowell
Share
This section relates specifically to ammunition. It deals with a quasi-manufacturing process for ammunition.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Share
Clearly, it has the same implications for the storage of equipment — the accelerant, gunpowder, etc.
Mr. McDowell
Share
If a person has a licence, a superintendent is entitled to apply conditions to it. I have no doubt these would be stringent.