How To Get Your Firearms License In Malta?
The Maltese Islands are home to one of the best examples to turn to if one wishes to see a case study where firearms laws are both liberal and respected. Malta boasts one of Europe’s most intriguing firearms subcultures boasting impressive collectors and sports shooters. Maltese law allows civilians to own the vast majority of firearm types that come to mind (with a few notable exceptions - see below) with the most common license issued being the Firearms License A.
So what are the basics to get your Firearms license A in Malta?
Make sure you are a legally registered Maltese resident or a Maltese National.
Make sure you have a clean Police conduct.
Join a legally registered sports shooting club.
Complete a Safety Course.
Submit your paperwork at your local District Police Station.
Wait for your date and pass a Police Exam.
FAQs:
How long does it take to get your Firearms license?
Answer: Irrespective of what club you join., the initial joining process should be straightforward and fast. However, given the snails-pace nature of the Maltese Beaurocratic Machine be prepared to wait a while once your letter of recommendation is submitted and your waiting for the date of your exam. From experience, we have seen that the vast majority of people are given a date within a month and a half to three months of applying for their exam.
What does a Maltese Firearms License A allow you to do?
Answer: A Maltese firearms license A allows for a sports shooter to keep and shoot (not carry or use for personal defence!) firearms both long and short with a magazine capacity of 10 rounds for rifles and 17 rounds for pistols. However, after one year of holding a license, one can apply for an A ‘special’ license which allows for larger, more standard-sized mags (30+ rounds).
What restrictions are there in Maltese firearms law?
There is a cap to how much ammunition one can keep and a firearms license A does not allow you to keep fully automatic weapons. Those are only available to holders of a collector’s license and do not permit collectors who own pre-1946 automatic weapons to fire them at ranges with a few exceptions granted for re-enactors. Other restricted items include suppressors, post-1946 fully automatic weapons obtained without specially granted film armourers licenses, subsonic ammo, tracers and armour piercing ammo and a few other items.
If you’re still interested and meet the requirements we can qualify you here at MERC Trading thanks to our partnership with ARES Shooting Academy and Firearms Club - Find out more here
