Pistols

[Billybluerocket]

I'm just wondering whats the rules on pistol ownership. I know I need to be a member of my local range, but not much else. Must I have a monitored alarm on my house? Do I have to attend the range a certain amount of days per year , take part in competitions, take out insurance that kind of thing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Firearms United]

Hi Billy and welcome to the forum.

Yes, membership of a range is necessary. A monitored alarm isn't necessary if you have 5 unrestricted firearms or less.

As a .22lr pistol is unrestricted it isn't necessary to have a monitored alarm if it is the only gun you have, but if you have more than 3 unrestricted firearms you do need to have an alarm in the place the gun is kept. Which can be unmonitored.

The legislation for firearms storage is laid out here:

https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/200 ... e/en/print

[Billybluerocket]

Thanks for the reply. Would you know do I have to take part in competitions take out insurance of any kind and use the range a minimum amount of days per year/ month? To keep my license if I go ahead with my application?

[Firearms United]

When you join the range you will be insured to use the gun there, so don't need to worry about that.

At the moment there is no legalisation that states a minimum number of days that need to be spent on the range to keep your licence. But your Super could make that a condition on your licence.

For competitions, the Gardai will want to know what the purpose for getting the gun is, for a pistol this will be to compete in competitions. There is no minimum amount of competitions or range attendence in law, but the super can request attendance records from the range and if you aren't attending the range, you will likely face problems renewing the licence. That being said, I have never had the Gardai check my range attendance although I am on the range every week.

[Firearms United]

It will strengthen your application if you put down that you want it to take part in competitions. In theory you could just shoot targets on your own on the range outside of competitions and not compete. And when/if the Gardai check range attendance they will see a record of you here using your gun.

But I would recommend competing. It's great fun. There is a competition called Bullseye 360 on the first Saturday of every month in the Midlands that is very beginner friendly. Also the NASRPC run competitions throughout the year in different ranges. Check them out on Facebook as well.

[Simon J]

HIya
The clubs might set a minimum attendance requirement per year to satisfy their local AGS that people are attending or that it is an active membership. As we don't have gun clubs in every parish in Ireland ,it isn't a very hard and enforceable rule, as many people have to commute some distances to attend and might not be able to attend regularly. Life regularly gets in the way of shooing. By and large, if you pitch up between 2 to 4 times a year that is satisfactory for most clubs.

[Billybluerocket]

Thanks again. That all sounds good. I was thinking I'd make the range once to twice a month. But as you say 'life" so was worried if it was any less the whole process may be in vain. Down the line I'd probably have an interest in a competition here and there but initially it would be improving my shooting. I already have two safes in the house one big one small, I would assume I could store a pistol together with my long gun?
Sorry lots of questions!!!

[Firearms United]

Thanks again. That all sounds good. I was thinking I'd make the range once to twice a month. But as you say 'life" so was worried if it was any less the whole process may be in vain. Down the line I'd probably have an interest in a competition here and there but initially it would be improving my shooting. I already have two safes in the house one big one small, I would assume I could store a pistol together with my long gun?
Sorry lots of questions!!!

Shouldn't be any problem storing it with the rifles. I have mine in my safe with the rifles and it was no issue with the Garda that inspected my safe.

And don't worry about the questions. That's what the forum is here for

[Billybluerocket]

Nice one. I'll have to give my local range a call and see about checking it out.

[Firearms United]

Nice one. I'll have to give my local range a call and see about checking it out.

Cool, let us know how you get on.