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

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November 26, 2025

If the Government moves Section 2 licensing (shotguns) to Section 1 (rifles) what could it mean for you?

The Home Office is planning to issue a consultation “before Christmas” on merging Section 2 licensing with Section 1.

While the Home Office has not revealed the questions they will be asking, merging the two sections could mean that shotguns and rifles are treated in the same way for firearms licensing.

The list further down the page gives the differences if shotguns are treated as rifles for licensing purposes.

What we are doing

BASC strongly opposes proposals to align Section 2 licensing with Section 1. Below is a brief outline of our work on this issue so far, and what comes next:

Following the Government’s announcement of its intention to consult, BASC briefed the All Party Parliamentary Group on Shooting and Conservation and organised a meeting between the group and the former Policing Minister, at which MPs stressed their opposition to the move.
BASC met the relevant officers from National Police Chiefs’ Council to discuss the issue and explain why the change would do nothing for public safety and further burden licensing departments.
BASC has briefed individual Labour MPs and Peers in parliament and at the Labour conference, and asked them to speak to ministers to point out the damage this could do to participation in shooting.
BASC met the new Policing Minister to brief her on the damage the change could do to shooting, with no gains for public safety.
BASC will be meeting civil servants with other shooting organisations to discuss the consultation and argue for unbiased questions in the consultation text.
When the consultation is published, BASC will issue a guide to responding and use every communication channel to urge those who shoot to take part.

The effect of moving Section 2 to Section 1

If shotguns were to be moved from Section 2 to Section 1, this would be the effect:

Justifying, before purchase, to the police, each shotgun owned – which the police may challenge by, for example, saying that there’s no need for another 12 bore, self-loading shotguns can only be used for clay pigeon shooting; 10 bores can only be used on the foreshore; new shooters must start with a 20 bore; clay shooters may not use shot over size 7.
Restrictive conditions – such as where and for what a shotgun can be used, such as, may only be used for clay pigeon shooting. If these conditions are unjustified the law does not allow them to be appealed.
Land inspections and restrictions on where a shotgun may be used, with the police potentially arguing that your nominated piece of land is unsuitable for the shotgun you wish to own.
Compulsory membership of clay grounds and other clubs, including a minimum use requirement which if not met, can mean the shotgun being removed from your certificate or your certificate being revoked.
No lending of shotguns as per the current 72 hour rule, which allows the loan of a shotgun to a certificate holder for that period of time.
No ability to transfer shotguns to another person’s certificate in the event of your certificate lapsing, or your suitability to own a shotgun being reviewed by the police.
Restricting the amount of shotgun cartridges that can be purchased and held, with compulsory security requirements – such as storing all cartridges in a locked cabinet.
Shotguns could only be lent to minors of 17 years old and above and the minimum age for a certificate would be 14. Under Section 2, those under 15 can use a shotgun under supervision. From 15 to 17, if they have a certificate, they can be lent a shotgun to use for 72 hours where they have permission to shoot. Under Section 2 there is no minimum age for a certificate.
No ability to retain family heirlooms and other shotguns that are not possessed for shooting purposes, which may be currently held on a Section 2 certificate.

What you can do

When the consultation is published please respond and urge all those you know who shoot to do so, too. Full details will be available on the BASC website in due course.