Reassurances given but work still to do following policing minister meeting

[Conor O'Gorman]

Last week, the Home Office minister responsible for firearms licensing addressed the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on shooting and conservation, of which BASC provides the secretariat.

In a packed room in Parliament, representatives from every major political party were present at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on shooting and conservation last week to hear what Dame Diana Johnson MP had to say and to question her plans for firearms licensing.

During the meeting, Dame Diana said she understood the need and benefits of firearms and shotgun ownership to the rural economy, farming, sport and local communities.

She said licensing fees were to be kept under constant review and would increase with inflation on a regular basis.

The policing minister said she was unaware of where the idea of banning keeping legally held firearms and shotguns at certificate holders’ homes had come from and did not intend to pursue such a policy.

She said that the government was about to set out its policy on sound moderators shortly. Furthermore, that a consultation would follow regarding moving section 2 firearms to section 1, following evidence and advice from other bodies.

Questions from the group included whether there was an agenda to limit firearms ownership. The Minister stated there was not.

More information from the meeting here:

Reassurances given but work still to do following policing minister meeting

The Home Office minister responsible for firearms licensing addressed the All Party Parliamentary Group on shooting and conservation.

basc.org.uk

 

[Merlyn]

Thank you, Conor. Nice to be up-to-date.

 

[tonyshooter]

Good update, and thank you to BASC for representing us.

 

[Chris Richardson]

hardly reassuring as two tier kier has already said in the past publicly he wants legally owned shotguns reducing

 

[Chris Richardson]

Sir Keir Starmer calls for greater control of gun laws after Euston shooting

Sir Keir Starmer has called for gun ownership laws to be tightened following a drive-by shooting at a church in his constituency.

www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

hardly reassuring as two tier kier has already said in the past publicly he wants legally owned shotguns reducing

That was a statement from 2023 when Labour was not in government and as per the OP, questions from the group included whether there was an agenda to limit firearms ownership. The Minister stated there was not.

Time will tell on that and further to the OP, the Policing Minister has today confirmed that "the Government has decided to remove sound moderators from the requirement to be licensed...".

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-06-17/hcws705

 

[trickie]

That was a statement from 2023 when Labour was not in government and as per the OP, questions from the group included whether there was an agenda to limit firearms ownership. The Minister stated there was not.

Time will tell on that and further to the OP, the Policing Minister has today confirmed that "the Government has decided to remove sound moderators from the requirement to be licensed...".

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-06-17/hcws705

That’s reads quite well. Of course the only problem Being
“ The public consultation also sought views on whether it would be appropriate to use a Legislative Reform Order, made under section 1 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006, if it were decided to deregulate sound moderators. Having given careful consideration to this, the Government’s view is that it would not be appropriate to use such an Order, given that this will require a change to the legal definition of a firearm set out in the Firearms Act 1968. The Government is therefore of the view that this change should be made through primary legislation, and we will therefore seek to make this change when Parliamentary time allows.”

That could take us well into the next parliament depending if the Government this it’s a quick fix or not.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

That’s reads quite well. Of course the only problem Being
“ The public consultation also sought views on whether it would be appropriate to use a Legislative Reform Order, made under section 1 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006, if it were decided to deregulate sound moderators. Having given careful consideration to this, the Government’s view is that it would not be appropriate to use such an Order, given that this will require a change to the legal definition of a firearm set out in the Firearms Act 1968. The Government is therefore of the view that this change should be made through primary legislation, and we will therefore seek to make this change when Parliamentary time allows.”

That could take us well into the next parliament depending if the Government this it’s a quick fix or not.

Yes, it could take some time. It's taken many years to get to this stage.

 

[nic531]

oh my god! millions of assassins will now have silencers so they can kill with a rifle from miles and miles away! I can imagine those headlines on :The lefty Liberal Vegan Daily Rag newsheet”

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

oh my god! millions of assassins will now have silencers so they can kill with a rifle from miles and miles away! I can imagine those headlines on :The lefty Liberal Vegan Daily Rag newsheet”

Interestingly there has been no such tabloid response. However, speaking of scaremongering all that speculation about the government having plans to ban the keeping of lawfully owned firearms and shotguns at certificate holders’ homes was complete and utter nonsense.

 

[Chris Richardson]

That was a statement from 2023 when Labour was not in government and as per the OP, questions from the group included whether there was an agenda to limit firearms ownership. The Minister stated there was not.

Time will tell on that and further to the OP, the Policing Minister has today confirmed that "the Government has decided to remove sound moderators from the requirement to be licensed...".

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-06-17/hcws705

I hope you’re right Connor I really do but the amount of u turns already demonstrated by this government makes me doubt that , I think the interview in 2023 makes kiers views on firearm ownership quite clear

 

[Chris Richardson]

Interestingly there has been no such tabloid response. However, speaking of scaremongering all that speculation about the government having plans to ban the keeping of lawfully owned firearms and shotguns at certificate holders’ homes was complete and utter nonsense.

Let’s see Connor as I said i admire your optimism but I think it may be misplaced with this government

 

[Apthorpe]

Any assurance made by a minister in this government is more likely than not to be the exact opposite of the truth. Even if it weren't, the civil service is allergic to doing anything at all which won't make the lives of citizens worse.

I would be astonished if it was really true that the Home Office didn't have any plan which involved banning keeping firearms at home. It's not current policy, but it's very likely to be a lie that no plans exist for such a thing.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

I would be astonished if it was really true that the Home Office didn't have any plan which involved banning keeping firearms at home. It's not current policy, but it's very likely to be a lie that no plans exist for such a thing.

That was a rumour started in the media and was total nonsense, just like the £400 licence fees rumour which was started in the media and was also nonsense.

 

[Apthorpe]

That was a rumour started in the media and was total nonsense, just like the £400 licence fees rumour which was started in the media and was also nonsense.

Possibly, but one would have to have absolute transparency and full visibility of all Home Office documentation and emails to be certain that it’s total nonsense.

As for the £400 licence fees rumour, you’re aware that the Countryside Alliance published that rumour?

 

[long_range_rob]

Possibly, but one would have to have absolute transparency and full visibility of all Home Office documentation and emails to be certain that it’s total nonsense.

As for the £400 licence fees rumour, you’re aware that the Countryside Alliance published that rumour?

It’s now standard to leak a massively inflated cost they was never intended so that when the tell you it’s “only” going to be £X you think you’re doing well. Cynical political stunt

 

[Apthorpe]

It’s now standard to leak a massively inflated cost they was never intended so that when the tell you it’s “only” going to be £X you think you’re doing well. Cynical political stunt

I believe that some forces were so inefficient as to effectively be costing that much, and therefore "full cost recovery" woukd have been a very large sum. Indon't think anyone spared a moment to pretend that we'd be doing well out, although one or two cretinous minor minsters or spokesthings made some silly, inapplicable comparisons to pretend it was good value.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Possibly, but one would have to have absolute transparency and full visibility of all Home Office documentation and emails to be certain that it’s total nonsense.

As for the £400 licence fees rumour, you’re aware that the Countryside Alliance published that rumour?

Yes I am aware of that, as is the rumour about plans to ban keeping firearms at home.

 

[Apthorpe]

Yes I am aware of that, as is the rumour about plans to ban keeping firearms at home.

Right. Is it helpful to characterise the Countryside Alliance as a media organisation publishing "total nonsense"? Particularly when there was, at a minimum, logical validity to it.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Right. Is it helpful to characterise the Countryside Alliance as a media organisation publishing "total nonsense"? Particularly when there was, at a minimum, logical validity to it.

I haven't, you have, with your questions.