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Airgun law · World

Are Airguns Legal in Gambia?

Yes, but heavily regulated.

Legal in principle, but the compliance burden is high, often with firearm-grade steps for the airguns most people want.

Tier 2: Major Restrictions

Full firearms-licence regime for the airguns most enthusiasts would actually buy.

GM

The picture at a glance

Each measure below scores how restrictive Gambia is on that part of owning or transferring an airgun, from permissive (green) to firearm-level (red).

ClassificationTreated as firearm
Age rule18+
PossessionLicence required
Transfer / saleVariable
TransportVariable
AuthorityUnclear
Before you buy or sell
  • Articles having the appearance of lethal weapons are restricted unless licensed.
  • Import of firearms/ammunition requires licence.
  • No airgun-specific exemption surfaced.
  • Offences under the Act carry a fine of at least D100,000 and up to 20 years' imprisonment for an individual (s. 25(3), as amended 2008).

The rules in detail

Classification
Treated as firearm
The Gambia Arms and Ammunition Act (Cap. 21:01), s. 2, defines 'firearms' to include 'any air gun, air rifle or air pistol' (Act No. 24 of 1932, Act No. 12 of 2008). Airguns are firearms for import, transfer, transport and licensing; import is licence-only and through the Port of Banjul (ss. 6, 9).
Age rule
18+
18+ practical adult baseline; exact airgun-specific age rule unresolved.
Possession
Licence required
Firearm licence required: no person may bear or possess a firearm other than a flintlock or cap gun without a valid licence from the Inspector-General of Police in Form 9 (Arms and Ammunition Regulations, reg. 43(1)). This covers airguns.
Transfer / sale
Variable
Import requires licence from the prescribed authority; articles appearing as lethal weapons are restricted unless licensed.
Transport
Variable
Transport cased, unloaded, and documented. Public carry/display of realistic airguns is high-risk.
Authority
Unclear
National Arms and Ammunition Act; police/customs licensing framework.

Hunting with an airgun

Unresolved / verify locally.

Deer
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Turkey
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Small game
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Predators
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Other big game
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed

Import & travel

Energy threshold
No power threshold; all air guns, air rifles and air pistols are 'firearms' by statute
Caliber rule
No specific airgun caliber rule found.
Travel note
Appearance matters here. Realistic airguns may be treated as restricted even apart from projectile power.

Local & import notes

Visitor procedure
Do not import an airgun without written police/customs approval. The Gambia restricts firearms/ammunition and articles having the appearance of lethal weapons unless properly licensed.

Keep exploring

Open the interactive mapSee how this compares across the map and switch between legal and hunting views.→Ballistics toolkitCheck energy, velocity, and range for any airgun and load.→Ammo databaseBrowse 600+ pellets and slugs by caliber and weight.→

This is a plain-language summary compiled from primary statutes and official guidance. It isn't legal advice. Laws change and local rules vary, so verify the current rules with the relevant authority before buying, selling, or hunting.