Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2025

[zambezi]

which will increase the number of referees required for a shotgun certificate to two, instead of one:

That seems fair enough.

But what is truly flying under the radar is the adoption of aspects of Project Titanium by an FLO near you...

Project Titanium — common sense safety or a step too far?

Our firearms law specialists Lachlan Nisbet and Jon Walters explore Project Titanium and how it may impact firearm and shotgun holders.

www.brabners.com

 

[Mungo]

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?

I’ve seen it happen.

Person was quite erratic and a heavy (irresponsible) drinker. He nominated a work friend, who agreed to save the friendship. But when the police talked to him, he was very frank with them about his concerns. Police were actually very pragmatic about it, and completely understood the delicate position the referee was in.

So they rejected the application, but said this was because the applicant lacked experience. Said ‘apply again in a year or two after you’ve done some training/DSC1/joined a club’. Knowing full well he’d lose interest - and he did.

Actually handled very well, and I suspect happens more often than we’re aware.

 

[timbrayford]

I’ve seen it happen.

Person was quite erratic and a heavy (irresponsible) drinker. He nominated a work friend, who agreed to save the friendship. But when the police talked to him, he was very frank with them about his concerns. Police were actually very pragmatic about it, and completely understood the delicate position the referee was in.

So they rejected the application, but said this was because the applicant lacked experience. Said ‘apply again in a year or two after you’ve done some training/DSC1/joined a club’. Knowing full well he’d lose interest - and he did.

Actually handled very well, and I suspect happens more often than we’re aware.

Didn't work in Plymouth

 

[AGR]

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.

True, but it caused some bad feeling anyway, imagine if I'd agreed then sabotaged his application.
To be fair (to me), I had no knowledge or experience of his gun handling.

 

[Bowland blades]

This his will make no impact on public safety imho ! Nobody knows if the applicant was refused by 100 possible on asking and don't many pay their GP ? Lets stop all this extra junk ! Why on earth myself having a shotgun licence from 13 year old ? and now looking over 60 before my next needs to do this for public saferty i do not see !
My medical history and the fact i am a FAC/ SGC holder is shown on the page of my Doctors screen when its opened up for crying out loud ( though i guess that in itself will at sometime change )

 

[Benelli m2]

I see that anyone renewing can still do it the same as now up until the 5th September
After that date 2 referees needed

 

[cjm1066]

In perhaps 20 providing references I have only been contacted 2x by the Police and both were very superficial enquiries to demonstrate I knew the applicant.

 

[Reddish]

I am not in the UK so not sure how things work there....if you obtain a certificate to possess shotguns, and give being in a clay target club as your reason for wanting one, can you then also use said shotgun(s) for game bird or rabbit shooting etc on private property?.

 

[Stevie/P]

You give the names of two referees in my experience only one of them gets contacted I suppose all forces are different again inconsistence’s

 

[weblyish]

I am not in the UK so not sure how things work there....if you obtain a certificate to possess shotguns, and give being in a clay target club as your reason for wanting one, can you then also use said shotgun(s) for game bird or rabbit shooting etc on private property?.

You do not (yet) need a reason for a shotgun certificate and can just apply for one because you want it. And once you have it can use it for any lawful activity with no further action


In the case of rifles then yes you would be restricted to target shooting if that is all you had a reason for when you applied and you would need to apply for a variation to the conditions of your certificate if you subsequently wanted to use it for live quarry (you would need a specified target animal when applying but typically would get permission for all lawful quarry as well so could normally ask for rabbits but would get permission for any in season animals the calibre was suitable for)

 

[timbrayford]

You do not (yet) need a reason for a shotgun certificate and can just apply for one because you want it. And once you have it can use it for any lawful activity with no further action


In the case of rifles then yes you would be restricted to target shooting if that is all you had a reason for when you applied and you would need to apply for a variation to the conditions of your certificate if you subsequently wanted to use it for live quarry (you would need a specified target animal when applying but typically would get permission for all lawful quarry as well so could normally ask for rabbits but would get permission for any in season animals the calibre was suitable for)

Just imagine the aggravation that we can look forward to if/when shotguns move to s1.

So you do some clay shooting and get invited out on a rough shoot. No!no!no! say the FLD, you must send your SGC back to us to allow us to permit you to do this, we want proof of your experience, yes we know you've had a FAC for vermin shooting for the past 20 years, but that doesn't count, you'll be shooting amongst other people, after all you're not under the supervision of an R.O. under controlled range conditions etc. etc. and as its only an invite, you don't hold the shooting rights yourself, so after your day out you'll have to return your SGC to us for partial revocation.

Could this possibly happen? If my experience of asking my FAC to be conditioned for deer stalking was anything to go by absolutely it can.

 

[VSS]

Just imagine the aggravation that we can look forward to if/when shotguns move to s1.

So you do some clay shooting and get invited out on a rough shoot. No!no!no! say the FLD, you must send your SGC back to us to allow us to permit you to do this, we want proof of your experience, yes we know you've had a FAC for vermin shooting for the past 20 years, but that doesn't count, you'll be shooting amongst other people, after all you're not under the supervision of an R.O. under controlled range conditions etc. etc. and as its only an invite, you don't hold the shooting rights yourself, so after your day out you'll have to return your SGC to us for partial revocation.

Could this possibly happen? If my experience of asking my FAC to be conditioned for deer stalking was anything to go by absolutely it can.

As far as I am aware, no-one has suggested moving shotguns to Sec1.
I believe that what has been suggested is that the licensing of Sec2 firearms (ie, most shotguns) should be subjected to some further controls similar to those currently applied to Sec1.
(The most likely one, imo, being a requirement for "good reason").

 

[timbrayford]

W

As far as I am aware, no-one has suggested moving shotguns to Sec1.
I believe that what has been suggested is that the licensing of Sec2 firearms (ie, most shotguns) should be subjected to some further controls similar to those currently applied to Sec1.
(The most likely one, imo, being a requirement for "good reason").

We'll agree to differ!

 

[VSS]

W

We'll agree to differ!

That's beginning to sound like your stock response!

 

[timbrayford]

That's beginning to sound like your stock response!

Again, we'll agree to differ.

 

[LateStarter]

You give the names of two referees in my experience only one of them gets contacted I suppose all forces are different again inconsistence’s

On my recent grant both of my Referees were contacted and the FEO asked to speak to my wife on the phone too!
North Wales

 

[Heym SR20]

I don’t see that having two as opposed to just one for a shotgun certificate is anything to get worked up about. It makes no difference to anyone who has a coterminous certificate.

Nowadays referees seem to be much less onerous than in days of old when you had to complete a form and sign it. Nowadays it just a phone call.

What to do if you don’t think the individual is suitable, but you are asked to be a referee I think is a very difficult question especially if its a close friend or family member. I think you just have be frank and truthful with the applicant in the first place and say that unfortunately you will be unable to support his application.

 

[timbrayford]

I don’t see that having two as opposed to just one for a shotgun certificate is anything to get worked up about. It makes no difference to anyone who has a coterminous certificate.

Nowadays referees seem to be much less onerous than in days of old when you had to complete a form and sign it. Nowadays it just a phone call.

What to do if you don’t think the individual is suitable, but you are asked to be a referee I think is a very difficult question especially if its a close friend or family member. I think you just have be frank and truthful with the applicant in the first place and say that unfortunately you will be unable to support his application.

Don't think you can use family members?

 

[VSS]

Don't think you can use family members?

No you can't.

(And I hope you're not about to agree to differ....? )

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

As well as increasing the number of referees for a shotgun certificate from one to two people the Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2025 also requires applicants to declare all convictions and offences, with the exception of parking violations. The change means that, while you were not previously required to declare participation on a speed awareness course following a speeding offence, you will now have to do so.

The change comes into effect tomorrow, 5 August 2025, via the publication of a new firearms licensing application form. It will affect all applications in England, Wales and Scotland.

However, any applications that are received using the old form up until 5 September 2025 (or those which are already in progress) will be accepted as part of a grace period ahead of the change. From 5 September, only applications submitted using the old form will be accepted.

Changes to firearms licensing application process will not enhance public safety, says BASC

BASC says the Home Office is tinkering around the edges with firearms licensing without enhancing public safety.

basc.org.uk