Firearms Component parts
Section 57(1)(b) of the 1968 Act provides that the definition of "firearm" includes "any component part of such a lethal or prohibited weapon". Whenever the legislation refers to a firearm, therefore, it also refers to a component part of a firearm. This means that the component parts of rifles, for example, must be included as a separate entry on a firearm certificate.25 Failure to do so constitutes an offence under section 1 of the 1968 Act.
	However, the legislation does not define the term "component part" and while Home Office guidance provides advice on what constitutes a component part, the courts have decided that the meaning of this term is a question of fact for the jury.
	The Government believes that this has created a lack of clarity. For example, for a person lawfully in possession of a rifle and wishing to possess a spare firing pin, there is currently ambiguity over whether it must be included as a separate entry on his or her firearm certificate. The reforms seek to make clear that only those items listed below will be a component part.
	Section 125 gives effect to the following Law Commission recommendations (at paragraphs 3.20, 3.28 and 3.44 of its report):
	"that the term "component part" in the Firearms Act 1968 be defined as:
	(1) The barrel, chamber, cylinder;
	(2) Frame, body or receivers;
	(3) Breech block, bolt or other mechanism for containing the charge at the rear of the chamber.
	"that the Secretary of State be given the power to amend the statutory list of component parts by way of statutory instrument, subject to the affirmative resolution procedure"; and
	"that legislation be enacted to clarify that a component part shall remain classified as such so long as it is capable of fulfilling its function as part of a lethal barrelled weapon".