No evidence for change on shotgun licensing rules

Conor O’Gorman recaps on why we are facing plans for a Home Office consultation to merge shotgun and firearm licensing systems and what makes such changes unnecessary.

Firearms licensing is complex at the best of times. There are challenges and diverse opinions on all sides, both for those who administrate the licensing system (ie. the police) and for us, the shooting sector.

The forthcoming Home Office consultation on proposals to align Section 2 licensing rules – which currently apply to shotguns – with more stringent Section 1 certification (mainly rifles), is the latest in a long line of threats to shooting, its participants, its stakeholders and the countryside as a whole.

And talk of this consultation is not happening in isolation – there is another firearms survey launched by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) which we are asking our members to respond to; but more on that later.

For now, let’s bring you up to speed on the public consultation on proposals to move Section 2 to Section 1.

How did we get here?

Two years ago, the previous government (Conservative) sought views on recommendations for various changes to firearms law, based on several reports arising from the Plymouth and Isle of Skye shootings.

The recommendations included new police powers of entry, a review of certificate length, mandatory GP involvement in firearms licensing and a review of the referees system.

Introduced by Chris Philp MP, the Conservative Home Office minister at that time, the consultation outlined that the Government had made no decision on the recommendations it was seeking views on, except for a proposal to align shotgun and firearms legislation, which it had ruled out, stating: “the Government has decided not to proceed with the recommendations made to align shotgun and firearms legislation”, because they were “concerned that additional controls on shotguns are unnecessary and would have a negative impact on their legitimate use”.

A change in government

A change of government followed in 2024, and in February this year the outcome of the consultation was published. This revealed a potential U-turn: the Labour administration intended to issue a new consultation on “improving and aligning the controls on shotguns with other firearms”.

The plan for this new consultation was announced in February by the then Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson, who had already forced an increase in firearms licensing fees on us.

BASC recently met the Policing Minister Sarah Jones MP, who was receptive to our concerns about the current state of firearms licensing and how disastrous changing shotgun licensing rules would be.

The proposals could impact recreational shooters, but also farmers, gamekeepers and pest controllers who rely on shotguns for their livelihoods.

A recent Gun Trade Association survey estimates at least a 40 per cent decline in retail business if the proposals are implemented – with the impact on distributors, wholesalers and manufacturers compounding this. What’s more, by taking money out of the countryside, the Government would be damaging its own growth agenda.

What could moving Section 2 licensing to Section 1 mean for you?

Read our explanation of the differences if shotguns were treated as rifles for licensing purposes.

Do the right thing

It will be a test of the minister’s determination to resist the direction of travel and act on our concerns. The right thing for the Home Office to do now would be to shelve any consultation and focus instead on tackling fundamental issues with firearms licensing.

However, if the consultation goes ahead, then we need to respond in great numbers reminding the Home Office that there was no evidence supporting any change to the rules in 2023, and there is none now.

The vast majority of gun crimes are committed with illegally held firearms, meaning there is no evidential basis to support further legislation. The firearms licensing process must be predicated on evidence, not ideology.

What you can do to protect shooting

1. Write to the Policing Minister and your MP asking them to stop the Home Office consultation:

You can make a difference by writing to the Policing Minister and your MP today, explaining why aligning Section 2 certification with Section 1 would be damaging to shooting. Find the details you need to contact the Policing Minister, here. You can also find contact details to write to your own MP, here.

2. Read our guidance on the HMICFRS survey and respond:

As I briefly mentioned earlier, this survey seeks feedback on the firearms licensing system ahead of a forthcoming inspection of six firearms licensing departments in England and Wales. They specifically are looking for the views of those who have renewed their certificate or applied for a grant in the last two years. Take part in the survey here.

BASC will continue to brief MPs on the futility of this consultation and there will be a follow-up meeting with Home Office officials on 28 November.

Conor OGorman

Conor O’Gorman has worked in a variety of conservation, policy and campaigning roles at BASC over the last 20 years. A zoology graduate with a PhD awarded for grey partridge research, he has over 25 years’ experience in conservation and land management.