COPIED

MPS OPPOSE PLANS TO MERGE LICENSING

FULL STORY: PAGE 04

MPs from across Parliament voiced strong opposition to proposals to align shotgun and firearms licensing during a Westminster Hall debate on 23 February, prompted by a petition that attracted more than 120,000 signatures.

During the debate, no MP spoke in favour of merging the two licensing regimes. Instead, 24 MPs contributed against the proposal, raising concerns over its potential impact on public safety, police resources and rural communities.

This article appears in Apr-26

Go to Page View
This article appears in...
Apr-26
Go to Page View
GOVERNMENT TABLES AMENDMENT TO DEREGULATE SOUND MODERATORS
The Government has tabled its own amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would remove sound moderators from their current classification as Section 1 firearms.
MPS OPPOSE PLANS TO MERGE LICENSING
FULL STORY: PAGE 04 MPs from across Parliament
GOVERNMENT BEGINS PROCESS FOR LEAD RESTRICTIONS
FULL STORY: PAGE 06 The government has taken
3 LEGGED THING APPOINTS RANGE RIGHT AS UK DISTRIBUTOR
FULL STORY: PAGE 14 British engineering brand 3
GOOD NEWS AT LAST
With the Labour government in power, it has
THE NEWS IN NUMBERS
12 million pound investment from Edgar Brothers into
MPS OPPOSE PLANS TO MERGE SHOTGUN AND FIREARMS LICENSING
MPs from across Parliament voiced strong opposition to
REQUIREMENT TO NOTIFY POLICE OF DEACTIVATED FIREARMS REMOVED
The requirement to notify police of the possession
EDGAR BROTHERS INVESTS £12 MILLION IN NEW UK HEADQUARTERS AND DEFENCE MANUFACTURING CENTRE
Edgar Brothers has announced a £12 million investment
GOVERNMENT BEGINS LEGISLATIVE PROCESS FOR LEAD AMMUNITION RESTRICTIONS
The government has taken the next step toward
VICKERS MG COLLECTION TO HOST MAJOR EXHIBITION AT BISLEY
The Vickers MG Collection & Research Association has
GTA IN DIALOGUE WITH PARCELFORCE OVER SYSTEM TRANSITION
The Gun Trade Association (GTA) has written to
BSA RIFLES STOLEN DURING TRANSIT IN ESSEX
BSA Guns UK Ltd has reported the theft
SPARTAN PRECISION EQUIPMENT APPOINTS HUNTER OUTDOOR COMMUNICATIONS
Spartan Precision Equipment, the UK-based manufacturer of rifle
SCHMEISSER STEEL CHALLENGE SELLS OUT IN RECORD TIME
The Schmeisser Steel Challenge will return to Silverstone
EDGAR BROTHERS APPOINTS CONNAH BAKER AS MULTI-BRAND AMBASSADOR
Edgar Brothers has announced the appointment of Connah
NRA MOURNS THE PASSING OF FORMER CHAIRMAN ROBIN PIZER
The National Rifle Association (NRA) has announced the
STEELFOOT LAUNCHES CRITICAL BLEED CONTROL TRAINING AT BISLEY
Steelfoot Firearms & Ammunition has announced the launch
SPORTSMATCH UNVEILS NEW WEBSITE WITH “FIND MY MOUNT” TOOL
UK-based scope mount manufacturer Sportsmatch has launched a
PARD UK UNVEILS NEW NIGHT STALKER 4K 2.0 AHEAD OF MAY LAUNCH
New digital scope featuring integrated LRF and 70mm lens set to lead a wider 2026 product rollout
3 LEGGED THING APPOINTS RANGE RIGHT AS UK DISTRIBUTOR
British engineering brand 3 Legged Thing has appointed
GUN TRADE JOBS
MEA OPUS - SECURE YOUR PERFECT FUTURE POSITION
INSIDE D & B MILITARIA
Few businesses in the UK gun trade occupy a niche as clearly defined as D & B Militaria Ltd. Operating at the intersection of history, engineering and regulation, the Surrey-based company has built a reputation over nearly three decades as the country’s leading specialist in deactivated firearms, militaria and hard-to-source items.
DUNBLANE, 30 YEARS ON: THE LESSONS LICENSING MUST NOT IGNORE
As the 30-year anniversary of the Dunblane tragedy is marked, Chris Downs argues that the central lesson has often been misunderstood. Drawing on evidence from the Cullen Inquiry and his experience in firearms licensing, he suggests the failure was not a lack of legislation but a failure to act on the powers and information already available.
SELECTING A RIFLE SCOPE
Rifle scopes tend to be a polarizing subject. Why? Because of the vast price differences, you could spend anything from 100GBP to 5000GBP. On first inspection the cheaper options seem to do everything the expensive ones can so why not save yourself some money? Well maybe you can and you will be happy with the result, it really depends on context, explains Paul Bradley.
NEW LAW ON SOUND MODERATORS AND FLASH SUPPRESSORS
Parliament’s decision to reclassify sound moderators is a rare piece of good news for the trade and the shooting community, as specialist firearms solicitor Laura Saunsbury explains.
THE GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW 2026: WHAT THE NUMBERS MEAN FOR THE TRADE
Thirty thousand people through the doors. A 20% increase on 2025. Record online ticket sales across the five-year ticketing series. If Time Well Spent Group needed proof that their acquisition of the British Shooting Show was well-timed and they could make an impact in just a month before the show went live, the 2026 event supplied it in abundance.
THREE DECADES IN THE GUN TRADE
From publishing some of the industry’s most influential magazines and launching its only dedicated trade show to leading one of the UK’s best-known wholesalers, Sean O’Driscoll has experienced the gun trade from multiple perspectives. The managing director of John Rothery Wholesale reflects on brand building, supplier relationships, industry challenges and what the next five years may hold for the trade.
DRIVING INNOVATION
We talk to Elite Optical’s marketing manager Andy Gowan to discuss everything from the rise of high-end digital optics to his brand’s efforts to strengthen its market position in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven sector.
GUNMAKERS TRUST INVESTS IN THE FUTURE OF BRITISH GUNMAKING
The Gunmakers Trust is continuing its efforts to safeguard traditional British gunmaking skills through a bursary scheme designed to support apprentices across the UK. By providing financial assistance to employers and trainees, the Trust aims to ensure that specialist craft skills developed over centuries remain part of the modern gun trade.
IWA 2026 REINFORCES ITS VALUE FOR UK TRADE
IWA OutdoorClassics 2026 once again demonstrated its importance as a key meeting point for the UK shooting trade, with a strong presence from both exhibitors and visitors using the show to strengthen relationships, assess new products and plan for the year ahead.
SGC AT IWA 2026
As the first quarter show season wraps up, the SGC team delivers a high-energy roundup of the standout launches from this year’s IWA event. Renowned for its strong attendance and strictly trade-only access, this flagship B2B showcase once again proved the perfect arena to get hands-on with cutting-edge products and to spot the trends set to define 2026/27.
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
ACROSS THE POND LIPSEY’S BREAKS GROUND ON NEW
Looking for back issues?
Browse the Archive >

Previous Article Next Article
Apr-26
CONTENTS
Page 2
PAGE VIEW