Home Office Consultation on Statutory Firearms Licensing

If the government approves these proposals, this could result in:

• A potential loss of tens of thousands of firearms owners over the next five years with serious knock-on impacts on businesses
• The creation of a multi-million pound medical record checks industry funded by the shooting community with no benefit to that community or to public safety.
• Mandatory GP involvement in firearms licensing being rolled out nationwide with no safeguards in place to protect applicants from GPs refusing to take part or charging extortionate fees.
• Police interviewing applicants’ neighbours on their suitability to own guns thereby putting certificate holders at risk.
• Police seeking credit or other financial tests on applicants and considering debt as a factor in decision making.

The Home Office proposals are neither evidence-led nor fit for purpose. The proposals will encourage police forces in England, Wales and Scotland to continue to make up their own rules and this will be largely to the disadvantage of firearm owners. Existing and prospective firearms owners will be treated poorly and will be regarded as people who may be dealt with in any way that the police or doctors wish.