Airgunners urged to oppose shotgun and firearms licence merger

Consultation warning for all shooters

Airgunners are being urged to respond to a forthcoming government consultation on merging shotgun and firearms licensing systems, with warnings that failure to act could devastate gun shops and the wider trade infrastructure serving all shooting disciplines.

Currently, a Section 2 certificate allows shotgun owners to own multiple shotguns without proving good reason. Proposed changes would require police approval for every shotgun, land inspections, and justification for owning multiples of the same calibre. Under 14s would also be severely restricted from using shotguns.

.

Gun trade warns of major economic impact

Though targeting shotgun holders, the changes would severely hit the trade. The Gun Trade Association (GTA) estimates a 40% decline in retail business, with knock-on effects across the supply chain. BASC estimates up to a third of shooters could leave the sport, based on previous licensing law impacts.

Many gun shops rely on custom from shooters across all disciplines. GTA chief executive Stephen Jolly warned: “This change, if implemented, would represent one of the most significant and damaging shifts to the trade, to shooting and countryside industries in decades.”

.

Shooters urged to unite and respond

Campaigners are calling for shooters to unite. The grassroots campaign, Support Our Sport UK, founded by competitive clay shooter Claire Bagehot, has attracted almost 4,000 members since November. Bagehot warned: “If we’re not all together, [the Government is] going to pick apart the whole lot because it’s easier to pick on smaller groups and dismantle them.”

A Home Office spokesperson said it is “right to look at the differences in the controls” as “shotguns are no less lethal than other firearms,” aiming for greater alignment to address misuse is expected to begin its consultation in January.