A licence would be needed for a type of air rifle, the fire power of which is equivalent to that of a small-bore rifle.

The newspaper Turun Sanomat reports the Ministry is worried about the proliferation of small arms.

The calibre of larger guns on sale is nine millimetres, which is equivalent to that of arms carried by the police. The Ministry says one alternative would be make all guns with a calibre of over 4.5 subject to licence.

At present a licence is not required for an air gun if the purchaser is at least eighteen years of age.