Home office guidance is just guidance and not law. The firearms act and amendments makes no reference to calibre / capacity or type. There is no legal requirement to restrict any handgun for HD. I have met many people licensed for HD and the assortment of firearms held is wide, restricted / unrestricted / revolver / semi auto etc. Once the applicant has proved good reason, the choice of firearm is entirely the choice of the applicant, many on SD may not agree with certain types, but it is up to the user to decide what is suitable for their particular situation, just as when you require a deer rifle, the calibre is up to the applicant and can not be dictated by the authorising constabulary, other than the legal minimum required. it is a complete postcode lottery of how your constabulary apply Firearms Guidance.
As regards the "info" warning us of the impending removal of all semi autos, first Unless there is a change in law that has to go through both houses of parliament, no firearms dept., FLO or other can make such a statement.
Revocation can only happen if someone breaks the conditions of their licence, breaks the law, looses cause for good reason, (such as not stalking any more), or if the GOVERNMENT change the law following consultation, open debate and a vote.
It is not the first time rumours have spread through the "trade", various things have been muted in the past and never materialised.
I can remember the days before the "reclassification" of handguns (they have never been completely banned in the UK). When the law was changed, it was recognised at the time that compensation was required as "innocent" members of the public were being forced to give up a very safe hobby, same as when self loading centre fire rifles were reclassified. In both circumstances most were compensated, unfortunately some were not.
Now considering the amount of semi automatic pistols that are used for dispatch, (you'd be surprised how many are out there), many are held for professional purposes. Any forced surrender by the government would require compensation, as before.
I do have a vested interest in this topic, part of my business is the provision of Humane Dispatch and we already hold semi automatic pistols under different constabularies. The one area I would agree on, is that all FAC holders are seen by the Police as "potential dangers" and that the current way of thinking amongst Chief Officers is to "remove any perceived risk or responsibility", hence what appears to be a concerted effort to remove firearms from private ownership.
What I disagree with is the manner in which this is being done. If CC's don't like the public owning firearms, then they should campaign for a change in the law, led by evidence and democratic debate and not hound law abiding members of the public. As we are all aware, extra restrictions are already being discussed (.50's etc.),and no matter what your chosen shooting is, clays, game, targets, stalking, vermin etc., unless all stand together, you can be certain we will be more restrictions.
I always thought Police are members of the public paid to uphold laws made in parliament for the good governance of the country and not to make it up as it suits them!!
Tin hat on!!
