Major shotgun law changes proposed – What UK gun owners need to know

The UK government is considering sweeping reforms to shotgun legislation that could significantly impact lawful gun owners across the country. These changes, while not yet law, are under serious consultation and have sparked alarm among rural communities, shooting sports enthusiasts and firearms professionals alike.

What’s being proposed?

Reclassification of shotguns

The most controversial proposal is to move shotguns from Section 2 to Section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968. Currently, you can hold multiple shotguns under a single certificate without needing to justify each one. Under the new rules, you’d need to provide a specific “good reason” for every shotgun you own – the same rules that apply to rifles.

One license per shotgun?

If reclassified, each shotgun would require its own separate license. That means more paperwork, higher costs and a potentially massive administrative burden for both applicants and police forces.

Stricter vetting – More referees

The proposal includes increasing the number of referees required for a shotgun certificate from one to two. This move is being positioned as a public safety enhancement.

Storage away from home

There are suggestions that shotguns may have to be stored outside the home, at secure facilities like gun shops or clubs. This has raised major concerns for farmers and pest controllers who rely on immediate access to their guns.

Police entry without a warrant

Perhaps most contentious of all is a proposal to allow police to enter certificate holders’ homes without a warrant, even without an immediate threat. Civil liberties groups and gun rights advocates are pushing back hard on this.

Why now?

These proposals are being driven by the government’s response to the tragic Plymouth shooting in 2021, in which a licensed shotgun owner killed five people. The tragedy exposed failures in the licensing system and has led to renewed calls for reform.

The rural response

Rural and countryside groups like the Countryside Alliance and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) have condemned the proposals. Many see them as a disproportionate response that punishes responsible gun owners while doing little to address real threats.

“These changes won’t make the public safer – they’ll just tie up resources and penalise law-abiding citizens,” said one NFU spokesperson.

What happens next?

These changes are not the law yet. The government is currently conducting a consultation process and accepting feedback from the public and relevant organisations.

Make your voice heard

If you’re a shotgun owner, collector or sport shooter, now is the time to speak up. Participate in the consultation. Contact your MP. Join the debate.

At Rightgun.uk, we’ll continue to monitor developments and advocate for fair, evidence-based firearms legislation that respects public safety and the rights of responsible owners.

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