Film Locations Glossary
Firearms permit
What is a firearms permit?
Also called weapons permit.
A firearms permit is the authorization to have weapons, blanks, or replicas at a location, normally requiring a licensed armourer, police notification, and often an officer in attendance.
Conditions cover storage, transport, who may handle what, and neighbor and public notification, since a blank round in a residential street generates emergency calls. Lead times are long and the requirements are not negotiable on the day.
Example
Blanks fired in a residential street require a licensed armourer, police notification, an officer present, and a notification letter to every address within earshot. Skip the letter and the first shot generates emergency calls.
Figures are illustrative, chosen to show the mechanics rather than to quote market rates.
Where you'll see it
Arranged well ahead with the police and the armourer, with conditions that are not negotiable on the day.
Common mistake
Notifying the police and skipping the neighbors. A blank round in a residential street without a letter to every address within earshot generates emergency calls.
Related questions
- What is required to use firearms on location?
- A licensed armourer, police notification and often attendance, secure storage and transport, and conditions on who may handle what.
- Do blanks and replicas need a permit?
- In most jurisdictions yes. They look and sound real to the public and to responding officers, which is the reason the notification requirement exists.