Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2025

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Elshad

Well-Known Member
I noticed this statutory instrument which seems to have gone unnoticed and published on 22 July, coming into force on 5 August, which will increase the number of referees required for a shotgun certificate to two, instead of one:

The Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2025

These Rules make amendments to the Firearms Rules 1998 (S.I. 1998/1941).
www.legislation.gov.uk www.legislation.gov.uk

Has there been any discussion of this? Seems to have flown in under the radar…
 
I don’t necessarily see a problem either in this change or for the applicant, it’ll just place more burden on firearms licensing departments which will no doubt cause issues and delays in some geographical areas which is less than ideal.
 
Elshad said:
I noticed this statutory instrument which seems to have gone unnoticed and published on 22 July, coming into force on 5 August, which will increase the number of referees required for a shotgun certificate to two, instead of one:

The Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2025

These Rules make amendments to the Firearms Rules 1998 (S.I. 1998/1941).
www.legislation.gov.uk www.legislation.gov.uk

Has there been any discussion of this? Seems to have flown in under the radar…
Click to expand...
With a coterminous cert they are the same.
 
timbrayford said:
Got to ask, do you know of anyone who has nominated a referee that they know is opposed to them having a gun? If not isn't it all rather pointless?
Click to expand...
Applicants will choose people who they know will give them a glowing reference. It’s probably fair to say some referees will lie to favour their friend in hopefully rare cases. There’s little the government can do about that. However there have been red flags raised by reference checks where the referee wasn’t as helpful as the applicant had hoped so it isn’t totally pointless. And in some cases the referee are deemed not suitable to provide the details too during checks.
 
purdeydog said:
Applicants will choose people who they know will give them a glowing reference. It’s probably fair to say some referees will lie to favour their friend in hopefully rare cases. There’s little the government can do about that. However there have been red flags raised by reference checks where the referee wasn’t as helpful as the applicant had hoped so it isn’t totally pointless. And in some cases the referee are deemed not suitable to provide the details too during checks.
Click to expand...
To my mind a reference from a shooting club or employer (if employed in shooting) would be far more valid
 
Recently had a visit from FEO as wife’s Shotgun Cert was being renewed and we recently moved house. FEO did mention this but also stated that rules will be changing in regards to nominated land to shoot on and the reason for having Shotgun as same as Firearms Certificate .
 
Jon P said:
Recently had a visit from FEO as wife’s Shotgun Cert was being renewed and we recently moved house. FEO did mention this but also stated that rules will be changing in regards to nominated land to shoot on and the reason for having Shotgun as same as Firearms Certificate .
Click to expand...
And until, if, they change, carry on as usual.
 
Sgc Alignment with FAC was a recommendation coming out of the Plymouth tragedy inquest, if I’m not mistaken. It appears this is happening in part though amendments to existing legislation. concern may heighten if changes to sgc Aline with FAC, insofar as having to hold good reason for each shotgun (and by extension ammunition for each), becomes part of section 2 alignment……
 
My referees and nominated landowner weren't even contacted for my renewal, so nominate anyone!
I have actually refused to be a referee for a chap I didn't quite trust.
 
Jon P said:
Recently had a visit from FEO as wife’s Shotgun Cert was being renewed and we recently moved house. FEO did mention this but also stated that rules will be changing in regards to nominated land to shoot on and the reason for having Shotgun as same as Firearms Certificate .
Click to expand...

The shooting orgs should be all over this, but then again how much land do you need for a 9mm garden gun, get your shotgun certificate then go buy a 12gauge.

Big difference between an FAC where each firearm must be justified to that of a shotgun certificate where your FEO is suggesting you must have land to have a certificate.

As far as I know to make SGC cert like an FAC was dropped, think of the extra work on the FLD.

More rubbish from the mouth of an FEO trying to make up the law.
 
Liveonce said:
The shooting orgs should be all over this, but then again how much land do you need for a 9mm garden gun, get your shotgun certificate then go buy a 12gauge.

Big difference between an FAC where each firearm must be justified to that of a shotgun certificate where your FEO is suggesting you must have land to have a certificate.

As far as I know to make SGC cert like an FAC was dropped, think of the extra work on the FLD.

More rubbish from the mouth of an FEO trying to make up the law.
Click to expand...
Shooting orgs seem to be obsessed with placing more restrictions on the shooting community, I've no faith in them whatsoever.
 
AGR said:
I have actually refused to be a referee for a chap I didn't quite trust.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you should have been a referee for him. Then you could have expressed your concerns to the FEO and let them decide.
You'll feel bad if he does something wrong now, especially if it causes a restriction on your (our) shooting activities.
 
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