I have a reply from my MP
Christopher - does this suggested the letter was generated by AI?
Thank you for reaching out to me regarding the government's consultation on aligning shotgun licensing with that of high-powered firearms. I appreciate the time taken to share your concerns about the potential impact on rural communities, local businesses, and wildlife conservation.
The government has announced plans to consult on aligning the controls on shotguns with those for other firearms. This decision follows incidents involving lawfully held shotguns, such as the tragic events in Keyham and on the Isle of Skye. The aim is to assess whether changes are necessary to better protect the public.
I understand your concerns about the potential administrative burden on police firearms licensing units and the financial implications for certificate holders. The government acknowledges that shotguns are already subject to significant controls and have important uses in farming and leisure pursuits. Therefore, any proposed changes will be carefully considered to ensure they are proportionate and do not unduly impact legitimate shotgun owners.
Regarding the creation of a single, centralised firearms licensing body, the government is aware of the challenges posed by the current system involving multiple licensing authorities. While there is no immediate plan to establish a centralised body akin to the DVLA or DBS, the government is committed to improving the efficiency and consistency of the firearms licensing process. This includes exploring options for digitisation and better information sharing among authorities.
I will ensure that the Minister for Policing, Sarah Jones MP, is made aware of your concerns and the points you have raised. Your input is invaluable in shaping policies that balance public safety with the rights and traditions of responsible firearm owners.
Thank you once again for contacting me on this important issue.
Yours sincerely,
Lee Barron MP
Corby and East Northamptonshire
Dear Mr Barron
Your Government is proposing the alignment of shotgun and firearm controls, superficially it may appear beneficial?
The Shooting Sports are very popular in Northamptonshire with clubs at Kibworth, Kettering, Weldon and Oundle and many more with syndicate shoots spread across your constituency, I know you have visited one and seen the benefits to biodiversity they produce. Across Northamptonshire there are 2,504 Firearm Certificates and 9,600 Shotgun Certificates, administered by the Police, who are struggling to cope, they only process 80% within 4 months, according to the National Police Chiefs' Council. My last renewal took 407 days and they backdated my certificate. The last government recognised this problem and via the Policing and Crime Act 2017 changed the law so if you apply in time certificates are automatically extended by 8 weeks, what other license needs that sort of legislation?
Naturally, when firearms are used wrongly demands for changes to the law are made. The National College of Policing reported there was a serious failure at a national level by the Government, Home Office and the National College of Policing to implement the recommendation from Lord Cullen’s Report in 1996 arising out of the fatal shootings in Dunblane. Lord Cullen recommended providing training for FEOs this was endorsed by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of the Constabulary’s Targeting the Risk Report in 2015 recommending for an accredited training regime for Firearms Enquiry Officers, again not implemented.
The more Plymouth/Keyham shooting was the result of the Police returning a shotgun to an unsuitable individual. The police’s licensing department, was described by the coroner as “a chaotic shambles”. As a risk the fatalities involving legally held guns are already extraordinarily rare – around 1 in 15 million annually. This figure is far below the Health and Safety Executive’s intervention threshold of 1 in a million.
The main difference between the 2 systems is that a “Reason for Ownership” is required for a Firearm, hence individual guns are licensed, with “good reason” scrutinised for each one. Hence if I want to change my rifle from a 308 to a 30/06 a variation is required with the Police scrutinising a process that is comparable with changing my car from a Ford to a Vaxuxhall. The car analogy is relevant as if we changed cars the log book records the change in ownership on a nationally based system, firearms records are spread across the different constabulary and so complex to administer.
The public safety test is already identical for Firearms and Shotguns, combining the systems delivers no new safety benefit – only more bureaucracy. Perhaps a few less guns will be in some gun cabinets, who does that benefit, 1x gun used wrongly is enough.
While the Police will divert more resources to administer the law abiding with a total of 643,162 certificates issued in England and Wales in 2024. If improvement to firearms licensing are required the earlier recommendations should perhaps be implemented as a priority?
Yours sincerely
C********
Christopher - does this suggested the letter was generated by AI?
Thank you for reaching out to me regarding the government's consultation on aligning shotgun licensing with that of high-powered firearms. I appreciate the time taken to share your concerns about the potential impact on rural communities, local businesses, and wildlife conservation.
The government has announced plans to consult on aligning the controls on shotguns with those for other firearms. This decision follows incidents involving lawfully held shotguns, such as the tragic events in Keyham and on the Isle of Skye. The aim is to assess whether changes are necessary to better protect the public.
I understand your concerns about the potential administrative burden on police firearms licensing units and the financial implications for certificate holders. The government acknowledges that shotguns are already subject to significant controls and have important uses in farming and leisure pursuits. Therefore, any proposed changes will be carefully considered to ensure they are proportionate and do not unduly impact legitimate shotgun owners.
Regarding the creation of a single, centralised firearms licensing body, the government is aware of the challenges posed by the current system involving multiple licensing authorities. While there is no immediate plan to establish a centralised body akin to the DVLA or DBS, the government is committed to improving the efficiency and consistency of the firearms licensing process. This includes exploring options for digitisation and better information sharing among authorities.
I will ensure that the Minister for Policing, Sarah Jones MP, is made aware of your concerns and the points you have raised. Your input is invaluable in shaping policies that balance public safety with the rights and traditions of responsible firearm owners.
Thank you once again for contacting me on this important issue.
Yours sincerely,
Lee Barron MP
Corby and East Northamptonshire
Dear Mr Barron
Your Government is proposing the alignment of shotgun and firearm controls, superficially it may appear beneficial?
The Shooting Sports are very popular in Northamptonshire with clubs at Kibworth, Kettering, Weldon and Oundle and many more with syndicate shoots spread across your constituency, I know you have visited one and seen the benefits to biodiversity they produce. Across Northamptonshire there are 2,504 Firearm Certificates and 9,600 Shotgun Certificates, administered by the Police, who are struggling to cope, they only process 80% within 4 months, according to the National Police Chiefs' Council. My last renewal took 407 days and they backdated my certificate. The last government recognised this problem and via the Policing and Crime Act 2017 changed the law so if you apply in time certificates are automatically extended by 8 weeks, what other license needs that sort of legislation?
Naturally, when firearms are used wrongly demands for changes to the law are made. The National College of Policing reported there was a serious failure at a national level by the Government, Home Office and the National College of Policing to implement the recommendation from Lord Cullen’s Report in 1996 arising out of the fatal shootings in Dunblane. Lord Cullen recommended providing training for FEOs this was endorsed by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of the Constabulary’s Targeting the Risk Report in 2015 recommending for an accredited training regime for Firearms Enquiry Officers, again not implemented.
The more Plymouth/Keyham shooting was the result of the Police returning a shotgun to an unsuitable individual. The police’s licensing department, was described by the coroner as “a chaotic shambles”. As a risk the fatalities involving legally held guns are already extraordinarily rare – around 1 in 15 million annually. This figure is far below the Health and Safety Executive’s intervention threshold of 1 in a million.
The main difference between the 2 systems is that a “Reason for Ownership” is required for a Firearm, hence individual guns are licensed, with “good reason” scrutinised for each one. Hence if I want to change my rifle from a 308 to a 30/06 a variation is required with the Police scrutinising a process that is comparable with changing my car from a Ford to a Vaxuxhall. The car analogy is relevant as if we changed cars the log book records the change in ownership on a nationally based system, firearms records are spread across the different constabulary and so complex to administer.
The public safety test is already identical for Firearms and Shotguns, combining the systems delivers no new safety benefit – only more bureaucracy. Perhaps a few less guns will be in some gun cabinets, who does that benefit, 1x gun used wrongly is enough.
While the Police will divert more resources to administer the law abiding with a total of 643,162 certificates issued in England and Wales in 2024. If improvement to firearms licensing are required the earlier recommendations should perhaps be implemented as a priority?
Yours sincerely
C********
