MPs oppose plans to change shotgun licensing rules

A Westminster Hall debate on 23 February 2026, triggered by a petition signed by more than 120,000 people, produced unanimous cross‑party opposition to proposals that would align shotgun licensing with the stricter regime for rifles. According to BASC, “not a single MP spoke in favour of merging shotgun and firearms licensing”, with 24 MPs arguing that the current system remains fit for purpose and that the proposed merger would not improve public safety.

MPs repeatedly questioned whether merging Section 1 and Section 2 licensing would deliver any measurable safety benefit. Many warned that the change risked overwhelming already stretched police firearms licensing units. BASC notes that several MPs “raised concerns that merging Section 2 and Section 1 would only place further strain on already-overstretched police firearms licensing departments.”

A number of MPs echoed BASC’s long‑standing call for a single firearms licensing authority for England and Wales, arguing that centralisation could improve consistency without imposing unnecessary burdens on lawful owners.

The public gallery was filled with BASC members, reflecting what the organisation described as “the depth of anger within the shooting community.” MPs across the chamber reported being inundated with correspondence ahead of the debate, citing widespread concern among farmers, land managers, gamekeepers, and rural businesses.

Key contributions from MPs

Several MPs delivered pointed critiques of the proposals:

• Julie Minns (Labour, Carlisle) warned that the plans represented “a far-reaching regulatory shift with consequences that may not have yet been fully understood,” adding that constituents’ concerns were not about resisting safety but about whether a larger, more congested system would “overwhelm the very departments responsible for ensuring public safety.”

• Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru, Ceredigion Preseli) argued the changes were “disproportionate, and will not actually realise the stated objective the Government has for them.”

• Dave Doogan (SNP, Angus and Perthshire Glens) highlighted the scale of public opposition, noting the 121,000 petition signatures and stating that people objected to “a vast increase in the bureaucratic burden, which will deliver no significant increase in public safety.”

• Robbie Moore (Conservative, Keighley and Ilkley) emphasised the speed and scale of the petition and relayed concerns from farmers, land managers, pest controllers, and shooting participants, saying “it is widely recognised that firearms licensing is effective at protecting public safety.”

• Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat, Glastonbury and Somerton) stressed that any tightening of gun controls must be evidence‑based, adding that current checks for Section 1 and Section 2 are already “rigorous and identical,” and warning that the proposed merger “poses a real risk to all the communities, both culturally and economically.”

MPs repeatedly underlined the importance of shooting to rural economies and land management, arguing that any reform must be grounded in evidence and common sense. BASC expressed gratitude to MPs who spoke in defence of responsible shooting and to members who made their views known ahead of the debate.