(3)The licensing authority shall grant(a)a licence under section 3 where the licence is required(i)by a citizen of India in respect of a smooth bore gun having a barrel of not less than twenty inches in length to be used for protection or sport or in respect of a muzzle a loading gun to be used for bona fide crop protection:Provided that where having regard to the circumstances of any case, the licensing authority is satisfied that a muzzle loading gun will not be sufficient for crop protection, the licensing authority may grant a licence in respect of any other smooth bore gun as aforesaid for such protection, or(ii)in respect of a [firearm] [Substituted 'point 22 bore rifle or an air rifle' by Act No. 48 of 2019, dated 13.12.2019.] to be used for target practice by a member of a rifle club or rifle association licensed or recognised by the Central Government;(b)a licence under section 3 in any other case or a licence under section 4, section 5, section 6, section 10 or section 12, if the licensing authority is satisfied that the person by whom the licence is required has a good reason for obtaining the same.
