asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that many people, who were the possessors of sporting rifles before the emergency, were obliged by the authorities to surrender these rifles after the outbreak of the war; if he is also aware that all owners of such guns were not required to surrender them; and if he will state the reasons for the apparent discrimination against certain persons in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Surrender of Sporting Rifles.
In July, 1940, authority to requisition rifles under Article 40 of the Emergency Powers Order, 1939, was delegated to officers of the Gárda Síochána not below the rank of superintendent, and those officers were instructed to requisition, for the use of the Local Security Force and the Local Defence Force, all rifles held by persons who were not members of the Local Security Force or the Local Defence Force. So far as I am aware, this instruction was carried out impartially.