I have had a great many emails about the potential alignment of shotgun and other firearms legislation.
The previous Government decided, before publishing a consultation in 2023, not to seek views on the recommendations to align shotgun and firearms legislation. This decision was based on the fact that shotguns are already subject to significant controls and have important uses in farming and leisure pursuits.
The current Government intends to issue a new consultation on aligning the controls on shotguns with those on other firearms and plans to publish it later this year.
It is undeniably important to uphold public safety, which is why shotguns are already subject to strict controls. They play a key role in helping farmers control vermin on their land and are also used in various rural pursuits. Therefore, I believe that additional controls on shotguns are unnecessary and would negatively impact their legitimate use. This change in policy is yet another example of the Government failing to recognise the needs of rural communities.
I hope they listen carefully to rural communities during the consultation, consider processes that may make the system more efficient, and ensure that the proposed restrictions do not place a significant burden on the vast majority of law-abiding shotgun owners.
