Police firearms licensing system ‘not fit for purpose’ as campaigners demand shotgun law reform
by Gun Control Network on 20-10-2026
Press Release: 20th October 2026
Gun Control Network (GCN) has strongly welcomed the landmark report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Service (HMICFRS), titled, An inspection of firearms licensing across police forces in England and Wales.
The Report declares that the current firearms licensing system across England and Wales is not fit for purpose and makes 23 key recommendations. GCN is placing a spotlight on Recommendation 5, a vital, long-overdue proposal: aligning shotgun licensing under Section 2 with the stricter rules governing Section 1 lethal firearms.
During the ten-year period leading to March 2025, shootings involving licensed shotguns resulted in the murder of at least 39 people, and in 2025 alone there were 44 suicides involving certificate holders, prompting coroners and others to call for changes in firearms legislation.
End a dangerous legal anomaly – put public safety first
For decades, shotguns have been subjected to a more lenient licensing regime than other lethal firearms based on the false historic assumption that they are less lethal. In reality, shotguns have been used in the overwhelming majority of domestic gun killings, mass shootings and gun suicides in Great Britain. Bringing shotguns under the same rigorous scrutiny removes an arbitrary legal double standard that puts families and communities at risk.
Addressing Opposition:
- Speculative forecasts and predictions of economic devastation to rural communities from the shooting lobby lack credible or independent evidence. The broader rural economy, alongside tourism and hospitality, is driven by diverse macroeconomic factors far beyond the shooting sector.
- Crucially, there is no evidence that responsible shotgun owners would choose to abandon their long-standing traditional rural way of life rather than accept new licensing requirements.
- Responsible shotgun owners who use weapons safely for work or lawful recreation would still retain their shotguns, but requiring a justification of each weapon would ensure greater accountability based on legitimate need, a principle that already applies to over 140,200 Section 1 firearms owners.
“This report is a complete vindication of what Gun Control Network has campaigned for over many years,” said a spokesperson for the charity. “For too long, women and families killed by licensed shotgun owners have fallen victim to legislation over half a century old, that treats shotguns as if they were somehow ‘less lethal’ than other lethal weapons. We urge the Home Secretary to act on this recommendation without delay in the interests of public safety.”