Failures in firearms licensing highlighted in Commons debate
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP has called for urgent reform after firearms licensing failures were exposed in a House of Commons debate.
Changes to firearms licensing application process will not enhance public safety, says BASC
newBASC says the Home Office is tinkering around the edges with firearms licensing without enhancing public safety.
The Home Office tabled the Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2025, increasing the number of referees for a shotgun certificate from one to two people. It also requires applicants to now declare all convictions and offences, with the exception of parking violations. The change means that, while you were not previously required to declare participation on a speed awareness course following a speeding offence, you will now have to do so.
The change comes into effect tomorrow, 5 August 2025, via the publication of a new firearms licensing application form. It will affect all applications in England, Wales and Scotland.
However, any applications that are received using the old form up until 5 September 2025 (or those which are already in progress) will be accepted as part of a grace period ahead of the change. From 5 September, only applications submitted using the new form will be accepted.
No gains for public safety
BASC director of firearms Bill Harriman said that efforts would be better spent persuading doctors to add a marker to the medical records of any patient that is a certificate holder.
He said: “If the Home Office really wanted to improve public safety, it would make it mandatory for general practitioners to add a marker to the medical records of any patient who is a certificate holder. The marker allows GPs to identify a person as the owner of firearms and, if necessary, alert the police if the patient develops a condition which makes possession of firearms dangerous.
“In 2023 the Department of Health rolled out an IT upgrade to allow GPs to add the marker. Two years later, the Home Office and the Department of Health are unable to say how many GPs have downloaded the update. In its recent response to the firearms consultation, the Home Office ruled out making markers mandatory despite overwhelming support for this from respondents such as the police and those who shoot.
Bill Harriman added: “It is not in the interests of those who shoot that the wrong people should have guns. BASC works for an effective and efficient system of firearms licensing that protects public safety. The number of referees or disclosure of motoring offences will make no difference, but ensuring that the physical and medical health of certificate holders is monitored would be the greatest gain for public safety.”
Share
Changes to firearms legislation must be evidence-based, BASC tells Home Office
BASC has submitted its response to the “most important firearms licensing consultation in 35 years”.
Silence on firearms licensing fees speaks volumes
The majority of police forces in England and Wales have failed to confirm that fee increases will be used to fund firearms licensing departments.
