FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT EXACTLY IS AN EU DECO WEAPON/DEACTIVATED WEAPON?
Deactivated weapons, or deactivated weapons, as they are also called, are real firearms, which have been destroyed internally to such an extent that they will never be able to work again.
IS EVERYONE ALLOWED TO HAVE A DEACTIVATED WEAPON IN THEIR POSSESSION?
Anyone aged 18 or over may hang or put such a weapon on the wall at home, office, or mancave.
Going outside openly with such a deactivated weapon is a crime. Transportation is allowed, but only properly packed and not readily available. So a pistol or revolver in the glove compartment is not allowed and is punishable, and walking around with it on the street or in a supermarket, for example, will get you a heavy penalty. A handgun In your inside pocket does not fall under "properly packaged" and will get you a criminal record.
HOW TO DISABLE A WEAPON?
Deactivation, such as the disabling of pistols, revolvers, carbines, rifles and automatic weapons, must be done according to strict European guidelines and should only be done by a recognised weapons expert.
The art for the gunsmith is to deactivate the firearm as beautifully as possible, with the prescribed destructions not, or as little as possible, visible on the outside of the weapon.
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN DEACTIVATING A FIREARM, FOR EXAMPLE?
There are different guidelines for each type of weapon. The firing pin will have to be removed or shortened. The firing pin hole will have to be widened and welded shut, making it difficult to reinsert a new firing pin. The barrel will be milled open over a prescribed length, making it impossible for the bullet to be fired from the barrel ever again. The chamber, which is the part where the cartridge is inserted, will be cut at an angle, so that a sharp can never again be fired without difficulty. The barrel will be fitted with hard steel pins, which will never allow a bullet to leave the barrel. The trigger mechanism must be destroyed so that the hammer or firing pin can never again ignite a cartridge. The original weapon could be taken apart in parts. With an eu-deco weapon, the barrel will have to be permanently attached to the weapon so that changing the barrel is no longer possible. For those who want to know about this in detail, they can read about it in the
European Directive (COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2018/337).
It is an offence to possess a sharp-shooting firearm manufactured after 1870 if it is not licensed. Deactivating firearms can only be done with registered firearms. Upon deactivation, the firearm number which is on the firearm will be removed from the file of registered firearms. If grandpa's firearm is not in this police register, which is called Verona, it is an illegal firearm and the possessor is in violation. Deactivating this family heirloom with memory is not possible.
I HAVE AN AIRSOFT GUN AND AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE NABV, OR ANY OTHER AIRSOFT ASSOCIATION. THEREFORE, TO LEGALLY OWN IT, I WANT TO HAVE IT DEACTIVATED. IS THIS POSSIBLE?
The EU deco regulation covers only firearms and not firearms-like devices. Airsoft weapons, as they are called, are not weapons within the meaning of the law. Officially, it is called an airsoft device. It is banned because it bears a telling
resemblance to a firearm. Possessing it, without being a member of any aforementioned club is a crime. Having this device deactivated is of course technically quite possible, but legally not.
I HAVE AN OLD PUMP SHOTGUN. AN AIR GUN AND SHOOTS PRETTY HARD. CAN I HAVE THIS DISABLED?
Having a heavy air rifle disabled is technically always possible, but it is not required by law. Air guns, no matter how heavy, are exempt. This means that anyone aged 18 and above can own it. However, there are regulations and guidelines for use.
A FRIEND OF MINE RECENTLY BOUGHT AN ALARM/GAS GUN IN GERMANY AND IT LOOKS 100% LIKE AN ORIGINAL WEAPON. THIS IS ILLEGAL, HE KNOWS, BUT HE WOULD LIKE TO LEGALISE IT BY HAVING IT DEACTIVATED. IS THAT POSSIBLE?
According to European directives, the deactivation or disabling of firearms is only allowed for legal firearms. A legal firearm has a weapon number on it that appears on the owner's permit or register. These types of weapons do not have a unique registration number and are illegal in the Netherlands. Deactivation according to the EU DECO regulation is therefore impossible.
I HAVE A COMPETITION WEAPON WITH WHICH I BECAME A CHAMPION. IT IS A FIREARM AND IS OBVIOUSLY ON MY PERMIT. IT IS WORN OUT AND THE GUN SHOP WON'T GIVE ANYTHING FOR IT. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE IT OFF MY PERMIT AND PUT IT ON A STAND ON THE TABLE AS A MEMENTO. CAN MY MATCH WEAPON BE DEACTIVATED?
Yes, This is a registered firearm. We can deactivate this firearm according to EU DECO guidelines, have it properly stamped and provide it with a corresponding EU DECO certificate, so that anyone aged 18 and over can hang it on the wall in their home, or put it in a stand on a cupboard or table.
I'M LOOKING FOR A REPLICA FIREARM. DO YOU SELL THOSE TOO?
A replica gun is a weapon that usually cannot shoot, yet is strictly prohibited in the Netherlands. It is banned because they resemble real weapons. I can hear you thinking right away, but don't EU DECO weapons do that too? That is quite true, but it is precisely for those kinds of real but deactivated weapons that European Regulation 2015/2403 came into force from 8 April 2016. To summarise: A plastic water pistol that resembles a real gun is prohibited. However, possession of the same gun, but as an EU DECO, is allowed for persons aged 18 and above.
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