What's the deal with deactivated firearms?

IrishLass2023

A friend of mine has wanted an original FN FAL for years now and seeing as getting a working one is near impossible in this country I figured I could get him a deactivated one for Christmas to thank him for all the help he's giving me over the past few years. I found a reasonably priced one from a website in the Netherlands and figured I might as well.

Looking into it I'm a tad bit confused, it states you can own them if they are EU spec and have an EU deactivation certificate but it requires an import license, does this mean I have to go to a firearms dealer and get them to import it for me or can I get an import certificate myself and just ship it over from the NL? And would it be the same form you would use for a functional firearm?

Also is there any rules about transferring them once they're in the country?

otmmyboy2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058319775/whats-the-deal-with-deactivated-firearms

Lovely(and unusual) thoughtful gift!

You have 2 options, import with a dealer or with yourself.

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/c9331-import-firearms/?referrer=http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/eu_individuals_importing

Whoever is possessing the deact will also need an authorisation from your district superintendent stating you are allowed to possess the deact.

Just give your district office a call and they'll sort you out.

Thing is I don't believe you can apply for an authorisation for another person, ie your giftee.

So if you got an authorisation you could give it to him but he couldn't keep it til he gets the authorisation.

Or you could do the dealer route and gift it to him in the shop, and have it stay in the shop til he gets the authorisation.

You might mention your intention when talking to your district's office as they may have a better option, or let you get an authorisation for your friend maybe?

otmmyboy2

Also bear in mind, an eu spec deact FAL is essentially welded shut, will not cock and fire, etc.

A fully working one is now impossible to get(as of the 1st August), but a straight pull version(shoots, but needs to be worked like a bolt action to reload it after each shot) would be a possibility (assuming your friend has a good reason to licence one such as collection, hunting, target shooting, etc).

A live firearm would complicate the application process too, and the simplest method would be to import via a dealer and have your friend licence it once it arrives.

A third, and admittedly distant third, option would be to get an airsoft replica FAL, which while obviously not original would be a nice wall hanger and doesn't require any licencing or import permit once it is under 1 joule of energy.

Just some more options to consider.

IrishLass2023

Oh perfect, I'll give the DO a call and see what I can sort out.

I find it kind of amusing that you need authorization to posses what is basically a decoration.

I've looked into an airsoft version and surprisingly they're roughly the same cost as a deactivated one, I might consider one if the superintendent wont give the authorization but it wouldn't be the same as an original.

If I get the authorization and import certificate can I just ship it to my house or do I have to ship it to a dealer first?

otmmyboy2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121290092#Comment_121290092

It is rather silly overall when you think about it, but our firearms laws are all about control and deterrence rather than sense ;)

True, the airsoft is rather expensive and a distant third option, but at least it is licence free and still a decent wall hanger.

Yup, if you get the authorisation and import permit (in that order, you'll need to send a copy of the authorisation with the import application for the DoJ to verify) you can get the deact shipped to your door, no issue at all.