In this article, Priya Venkatesan of Tamil Nadu National Law School discusses How to get permission/license for starting a shooting range.

Shooting is popular, yet a dangerous sport. The nature of the sport makes safety a primary requirement. Shooting at a place other than a range is not only dangerous but also against the law. Specific places with special technical and safety arrangements called shooting ranges are made for this sport. In India, one needs a licence while dealing with firearms. A licence is required to even start a shooting range where these firearms are used. This article deals with how one can obtain such a license.

Types of shooting ranges

Indoor shooting range

An enclosed range with baffles around, indoor shooting ranges have become more common in recent times. Development and lack of open spaces have given way to various shooting ranges in an enclosed area. These ranges have sound absorbing technologies along with padded walls and specific places where one has to shoot. Such ranges have to be well ventilated to prevent people inside the premises from choking due to lead. These ranges are not suitable for long distance shooting. The need for outdoor ranges is hence recognised.

Outdoor shooting range

Such ranges are generally located in a valley or an open area far from the city. Outdoor range requires a lot more area than the indoor range. The safety and technical requirements of outdoor ranges differ from that of indoor ranges. A safety wall is to be constructed behind the target line so that the missed shots and other distorted shots hit that wall. There is always an exposure to led and noise which exposes people to health hazards.

Licence for shooting ranges

Arms Rules, 2016 under Arms Act, 1959 talks about the requirement of such licence for holding a shooting range under rule 38. Arms Rules 2016, replaced Arms rules 1962. In July 2016, the Government, by a notification released the new Arms Rules, 2016. Where in 1962, the rules did not address any requirement for license to hold a shooting range, in 2016, it was made a requirement.

According to rule 38, a license is required to start a shooting range. Application for such a license, demands technical and safety standards, as set by the central government in place. The central government will set the standards by a general or specific notification. As of date, no such notification is out. One exception to this would be indoor ranges up to ten meters used for target practice of air pistols and air rifles.

Requirements for a shooting range owner:

• Safety and technical standards are to be met.
• Owner of the range should have financial arrangements. Such financial requirement is to meet any injury or damage claims requiring third party insurance covers or mandatory bank guarantees or bond requirements. The exception to this would be ranges owned and operated by the military, Central Armed Police Forces and State Police Departments. These ranges cover their own risks as per their internal guidelines.
• The shooting range is to only possess the quantity of arms as allowed in the license or the quantity fixed by the central government.
• The shooting range is also to have an inventory to be properly maintained. Such inventory is to record ammunitions acquired for the usage by the range and registered members of that range.

Inspection

• Sports Authority of India, National Rifle Association of India, State Sports Authority and State Rifle Association have ranges affiliated to them. Therefore, these bodies are to inspect the ranges affiliated to them, at regular intervals to ensure strict adherence of safety standards and norms laid down for shooting ranges.
• The licensing authority is to check the ranges under its jurisdiction at regular intervals to ensure adherence to technical and security conditions applicable to such ranges.

Rule 38 also says that practical training of safe handling of arms and its testing can be done only in a range with a license under form V of the rule. (Attached in the end)

Certifying bodies:

In a notification released in the Gazette of India on 4th August 2014, various certifying bodies of different entities were defined. The table in that notification is attached below.

According to this table, the certifying body of a shooting range would be Sports Authority of India, Sports authority of the state government, National Rifle Association of India.

Conclusion

A license can be therefore acquired by fulfilling the necessary conditions. The range should be safe and should meet the conditions. In the present day world, licence for a place where shooting can be practiced as a sport has become a necessity. Keeping in mind the legal usage of gun, for recreational and sports purposes, such a licence was introduced in 2016.