Obligation of firearms dealers and brokers to report firearms to the Firearms Database

Under section 25 of the Firearms Act (1/1998), notice shall be made using the e-services referred to in section 119. A notice sent by email does not constitute e-services as referred to in section 119, and email does not implement electronic identification as required by law. Notices sent by email cannot be used to verify the identity of the sender or the right to make such notifications.

This means that sending a notice by email is not a lawful practice. A notice received by email is not considered to have been made in accordance with the law and so in that respect does not comply with the law.

In that section, you enter the serial number of the firearm or the number on the firearm component.

The categories are Firearm, Firearm component and deactivated weapon. 

For the lines in which you intend to report a firearm, select "Firearm" from the drop-down menu (or type) and "Firearm component" in the rows where you indicate licensed firearm components. When reporting a change to a deactivated firearm, select "Deactivated firearm".

The drop-down menu is to the right of the cell (a grey square with a triangle pointing down) when the cell is active.

Select from the drop-down menu (or type) which type of firearm or firearm component you are reporting in that row.

The types of weapons in the firearms database and on the form are: 

• Shotgun
• Rifle
• Small-calibre rifle
• Pistol
• Small-calibre pistol
• Revolver
• Small-calibre revolver
• Combination firearm
• Gas cartridge weapon
• Signalling pistol
• Black powder weapon
• Other firearm    
• Other firearm – Cannon
• Other firearm – Grenade launcher
• Other firearm – Mortar
• Other firearm – Missile/rocket launcher
• Other firearm – Submachine gun
• Other firearm – Assault rifle
• Other firearm – Machine gun
• Gas spray
• High-powered air gun

Firearm components are the: 

• Receiver 
• Upper receiver
• Lower receiver
• Bolt frame
• Barrel
• Slide
• Cartridge cylinder
• Cartridge chamber
• Breech blocking device
• Receiver of the bolt
• Breech block
• Silencer
• Loading device, short semi-automatic firearm
• Loading device, long semi-automatic firearm
• Part of an automatic firearm
• Bolt
• Barrel

Please ensure the spelling is correct if you enter this information on the form. If necessary, you can also copy text from the list above if the drop-down menu on the right side of the cells does not work for some reason.

In that section, you select the operating mode in accordance with the Firearms Act in which the relevant firearm operates. The mode of operation in the component part is not marked and the cell is left empty.

Firearm modes of operation are: 

• Single-shot
• Repeating
• Semi-automatic
• Automatic

The drop-down menu also includes an option ”Unknown” to describe the mode of operation.

Please ensure the spelling is correct if you enter this information on the form. If necessary, you can also copy text from the list above if the drop-down menu on the right side of the cells does not work for some reason.

If you do not use the drop-down menus on the form, or if they are not working, the field values must, as a rule, correspond to the spelling according to the Firearms Act. These values include the category of the item, the type of item and the mode of operation (except for firearm components for which no mode of operation is chosen).

The types of weapons in the firearms database and on the form are:  

• Shotgun
• Rifle
• Small-calibre rifle
• Pistol
• Small-calibre pistol
• Revolver
• Small-calibre revolver
• Combination firearm
• Gas cartridge weapon
• Signalling pistol
• Black powder weapon
• Other firearm    
• Other firearm – Cannon
• Other firearm – Grenade launcher
• Other firearm – Mortar
• Other firearm – Missile/rocket launcher
• Other firearm – Submachine gun
• Other firearm – Assault rifle
• Other firearm – Machine gun
• Gas spray
• High-powered air gun

Firearm components are the:

• Receiver 
• Upper receiver
• Lower receiver
• Bolt frame
• Barrel
• Slide
• Cartridge cylinder
• Cartridge chamber
• Breech blocking device
• Receiver of the bolt
• Breech block
• Silencer
• Loading device, short semi-automatic firearm
• Loading device, long semi-automatic firearm
• Part of an automatic firearm
• Bolt
• Barrel

Firearm modes of operation are: 

• Single-shot
• Repeating
• Semi-automatic
• Automatic

The drop-down menu also includes an option ”Unknown” to describe the mode of operation.

Please ensure the spelling is correct if you enter this information on the form. If necessary, you can also copy text from the list above if the drop-down menu on the right side of the cells does not work for some reason.

Write the receiver number as this is the actual firearm series number. You can add the numbers of other components to the “More information” section.

As a rule, you should write what is permanently marked on the weapon itself. This has generally been the policy used in firearms inspections because colours and e.g. stock designs may change during the lifecycle of the firearm.

More than one calibre section is used in combination firearms, for example, Otherwise, you put the firearm calibre in the first column reserved for that purpose. 

Report the calibre as it is marked on the firearm or firearm component by the manufacturer or stamped during C.I.P safety testing.

Your own business ID so that the database transfers the firearm to you. Form 1 does not have a place for the prior consent number, but you can provide this in the additional information field on the form. In addition, the "Y" must be marked under either Transfer to Finland or Import to Finland, depending on whether the firearm comes from within or outside of the EU.

In Form 1, it is either when you have acquired possession of the firearm/firearm component or manufactured it. 

In Form 2, the transaction date is the date on which you have handed over, received or converted or transferred or exported from Finland the firearm/firearm component. 

Use Form 2 to notify when you receive or hand over firearms or firearm components that are already in the database. (NB! See next Q&A)

Use Form 1 to submit a notice when a firearm or firearm component has arrived in Finland (or when it has been manufactured). In this case, the weapon is formed in your name in the firearms database.

When you hand over the firearm, report it on Form 2.

Use Form 2 to also submit a notice when you yourself receive a weapon from a dealer, private person, etc. that is already in the database or when you hand it over to others, for example, to another firearms dealer and broker.

So basically, you use Form 1 only when

• the firearm appears in Finland by an importer
• the firearm is manufactured by a firearms dealer and broker.

Yes. Select ”Handing over (permanent)” in the Transaction section.

Yes. Select ”Receipt (permanent)” in the Transaction section and the date is the date on which you received the firearm or firearm component.

The most important thing is to submit notices when a firearm moves into or out of your company's name. The Firearms Act does not require the reporting of firearms or firearm components by location.

However, reporting is recommended due to the exact location of the items. So if you wish, you can use Form 2 and enter the location in the More information section.

These functions are helpful functions where, for example, types of weapons, etc. are a quick menu. If these don't work, the person providing the information should be more careful with the spelling.

Firearm modes of operations are:

• Single-shot
• Repeating
• Semi-automatic
• Automatic

Use the drop-down menu that appears when you activate that cell in an Excel form.

The drop-down menu also includes an option ”Unknown” to describe the mode of operation.

Under section 25 of the Firearms Act in force, a notice of the manufacture of a firearm component, including a silencer, must be submitted to the firearms database within 10 days. This can be done on Form 1.

Notice of handing over a silencer under section 89 does not need to be submitted to a police department, but the notification obligation under section 25 of the Firearms Act also applies to them. Use e-services to submit the notice.

Use Form 2 to report it and put the transaction as "Receipt (temporary)". The recipient will be your own business ID. In the More information field, enter the information required by section 12 of the Firearms Decree (145/1998) and the entry that the firearm has been entered into a commission account.

When you return a firearm or firearm component to a customer, you normally use Form 2 to submit a notice of handing it over. In this case, enter your own business ID as the person handing over the item. Enter the information required by section 12 of the Firearms Decree (145/1998) in the More information field.

If you sell a firearm or firearm component from a commission account, the following actions depend on how you and the original owner of the firearm arrange the matter (whether they are the person handing over the firearm or whether the firearm passes through your company's accounts).

Use Form 2 to report it and set the transaction to "Receipt (temporary)". Enter your own business ID as the recipient. In the More information field, enter the information required by section 12 of the Firearms Decree and the fact that the firearm has been taken into storage.

When you return a firearm or firearm component to a customer, you normally use Form 2 to submit a notice of handing it over. In this case, enter your own business ID as the person handing over the item. Enter the information required by section 12 of the Firearms Decree (145/1998) in the More information field.

Please note! You do not need to submit a notice if the firearm or firearm component is stored for less than 10 days.

Use Form 2 to report it and set the transaction to "Receipt (temporary)". Enter your own business ID as the recipient. In the More information field, enter the information required by section 12 of the Firearms Decree and the fact that the firearm has been taken for repair, conversion or commercial modification, etc. depending on the commission.

When you return a firearm or firearm component to a customer, you normally use Form 2 to submit a notice of handing it over. In this case, enter your own business ID as the person handing over the item. Enter the information required by section 12 of the Firearms Decree (145/1998) in the More information field.

If you have modified a firearm, you should also use Form 2 to report this and select “Notice of modification” as the change

Use Form 2 to report it and put ”Transfer from Finland EU” or ”Export from Finland” as the transaction. In addition, provide the transfer/export licence number and other information required.

Where the transfer or export is temporary, to a manufacturer for warranty service for example, and the firearm is to be returned as such, report this in the "More information" field. When the firearm returns, you submit a notice of receipt using the same form and use the More information field to clarify the matter if necessary. 

Naturally, all other transfer or export licences referred to in the Firearms Act must also be in order.

Use Form 1 to report the manufacture and enter information in the More information field about the firearm components that you have used in the manufacture of the firearm, including information identifying the components.

Report all the firearm components referred to in the Firearms Act, i.e. you report the barrel and breech blocking device.

If the replacement kit includes other firearm components, such as a part considered to be a receiver, you must also report this.

Use Form 2 to report the handing over. Select “Handing over (permanent)” as the transaction.

Enter the firearm identification data in the columns provided. In the O column (Permit number), enter the number of the firearms permit entitling you to acquire and add the buyer's other information in the columns provided.

When reporting receipt in the case of temporary receipt, e.g. for repair, conversion or similar temporary receipt of a firearm, please use Form 2. Select "Receipt (temporary)" as the transaction. When returning the firearm to the customer, you normally submit a report of handing over on Form 2.

You do not need to submit a notice if the firearm or firearm component is in your possession for fewer than 10 days before it is returned.

However, it is always advisable to submit a notice if the return date is uncertain. This ensures that the 10-day notice period does not accidentally expire.