Section 14: Cancellation or refusal to renew licence

14. Cancellation or refusal to renew licence (1) Subject to subsection (6), the Commissioner may cancel, or refuse to renew, a firearm licence— (a) where in his opinion, the person to whom a firearm licence has been granted— (i) had no sufficiently good reason at the time of his application for the grant of a firearm licence, to purchase, acquire or have in his possession the firearm in respect of which such firearm licence has been granted; or (ii) has, since the issue of the licence, for any of the reasons specified in section 6 (2), ceased to be a fit and proper person to be allowed to continue being in possession of the firearm in respect of which such firearm licence has been granted; (b) where he has reason to believe that the firearm licensee is of intemperate habits or is otherwise unfit to purchase, acquire or have in his possession a firearm; (c) where he considers it necessary to do so for the maintenance of public safety or public order. (2) In the case provided for in subsection (1) (b) or (c), the Commissioner may, instead of cancelling the licence, suspend such firearm licence for such period not exceeding one year as he thinks fit. [Issue 1] F14 – 8 Revised Laws of Mauritius (3) (a) Where a firearm licence is cancelled or suspended under this section, the Commissioner shall by notice in writing inform the firearm licensee of such cancellation or suspension. (b) The firearm licensee shall, within 48 hours of receipt of such notice, surrender to the Commissioner or such other police officer as the Commissioner may direct, the firearm licence and the firearm and ammunition in respect of which the licence has been granted. (4) Where the owner of such firearm and ammunition does not, within 3 years from the date of cancellation of the firearm licence or from the date of expiry of the period of suspension of such firearm licence, as the case may be, apply for its return and produce a firearm licence authorising him or some other person to be in possession of the firearm and ammunition, such firearm and ammunition shall become the property of the State and be disposed of in such manner as the Commissioner thinks fit. (5) Subsections (3) and (4) shall apply where the renewal of a firearm licence is refused under this section in the same manner as it applies to a cancellation of a licence. (6) Before cancelling or refusing to renew a firearm licence, the Commissioner shall, by notice, require, within such reasonable time as he may fix, the firearm licensee to show cause why his licence ought not to be cancelled, suspended, or renewed.