Moderator reforms leave Scotland’s airgunners behind

The Government’s announcement to remove sound moderators from firearms licensing controls has raised questions for airgun shooters, especially in Scotland, where different rules apply.

Currently, air rifles under 12 ft/lb require no licensing in England and Wales, but Scotland licenses all air weapons above 1 joule – including their moderators.

Sound moderators will be freed from red tape in England and Wales “when parliamentary time allows”, confirmed Dame Diana Johnson MP. The announcement followed 19,000 consultation responses, with 94% supporting the change.

At present in England and Wales, the law creates confusion: buying a moderator for an unlicensed .22 air rifle is fine, but fitting that same moderator to a .22 LR firearm without a police variation constitutes a firearms offence. Shooters have welcomed the planned reforms as long‑overdue common sense.

But the position is different north of the border. Under Scotland’s Air Weapons and Licensing Act 2015, sound moderators remain explicitly defined as air weapons, meaning they’ll still require licensing even after the firearms reforms come into force elsewhere.

This leaves a two‑tier system, with unlicensed airgun moderators in England and Wales but continued licensing for Scottish airgun shooters. The Scottish Government has said it is reviewing whether changes are needed, but for now, many shooters feel they have been left behind.

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