Gun Trade Insider (GTI):
Can you tell us about your involvement with the Gun Trade Association and what prompted you to join the GTA Council?
Sean O’Driscoll (SOD): I have been involved with the Gun Trade Association, on and off, for the past 30 years. Back in the 1990s I served on the Shooting Sports Trust, where we worked closely alongside the GTA on a number of initiatives.
At the time I was also running the trade magazine Tackle & Guns. I felt it was important not only to understand the work our trade organisations were undertaking, but also to give the GTA a platform to communicate directly with the industry through the magazine. The GTA was representing the interests of the trade, and I believed it was important that retailers, distributors and manufacturers understood the work being carried out on their behalf.
Joining the Council was a natural progression. Rather than simply reporting on the industry’s challenges, it gave me the opportunity to play a part in helping address them.
GTI:
How does your experience as Managing Director of John Rothery Wholesale inform the perspective you bring to the Council’s discussions and decisions?
SOD: As Managing Director of John Rothery Wholesale, I deal with the realities of the trade every single day. We work closely with manufacturers, retailers and distributors across the country, so we quickly become aware of the issues affecting the industry.
It also means that when I hear of political developments or proposed legislative changes, I can often take an early view on the likely impact they may have—not only on our own business but on the wider trade. That commercial perspective is useful during Council discussions because it helps ensure decisions are grounded in the practical realities faced by businesses throughout the supply chain.
GTI: What do you see as the most important issues currently facing the UK gun trade, and where can the GTA make the greatest difference for its members?
SOD: The UK gun trade is facing a number of significant challenges, many of which have the potential to affect every business in our sector.
The ongoing discussions around the distinction between Section 1 and Section 2 firearms, the transition away from lead ammunition, the introduction of a new national firearms licensing system, and the continued lack of police resources to process grant and renewal applications all create uncertainty for both the trade and certificate holders.
Alongside these regulatory issues, I believe one of our biggest challenges is public perception. Too many people who have no experience of shooting associate firearms solely with crime. They are often unaware of the positive contribution that shooting makes to the UK through conservation, wildlife management, rural employment, tourism and the wider economy. They also don’t appreciate the exceptionally high standards of responsibility demonstrated by the overwhelming majority of certificate holders.
John Rothery Wholesale managing director Sean O’Driscoll discusses his long-standing involvement with the Gun Trade Association, the pressures facing the sector and the role of the Shooting Industry Fund in protecting its future.
This is where I believe the GTA can make the greatest difference. It must continue to be a strong, credible and respected voice for the trade, engaging constructively with government, the police and other stakeholders. At the same time, we need to do far more to educate the public about the benefits of legitimate shooting and the professionalism of the businesses that support it.
The GTA should also play an increasingly proactive role in identifying potential issues before they become major problems. By working closely with organisations across the shooting community, we can help influence policy at an early stage rather than simply reacting once decisions have already been made.
Ultimately, I want the GTA to become an organisation that every business sees as essential. It should be a source of information, representation and practical support. Without a strong trade association, our industry simply doesn’t have a collective voice, and in today’s environment, that voice has never been more important.
GTI: You also lead the Shooting Industry Fund. What is the Fund designed to achieve and why is this work important to the future of the shooting industry?
SOD: The Shooting Industry Fund was established in the aftermath of the horrific Dunblane tragedy.
Initially, it was funded through a levy on every cartridge sold in the UK before moving to a voluntary contribution model supported by suppliers, retailers, publishers and other businesses connected with the shooting industry.
I remember being surprised at the time that, although many companies supported the initiative, some of the larger businesses chose not to contribute.
The purpose of the Fund was simple. If the industry ever faced another major challenge, we would have the resources available to fund professional political lobbying, research or other work needed to protect the interests of shooting and those whose livelihoods depend upon it.
That objective remains just as relevant today.
GTI: How does the Fund decide which projects or initiatives to support, and can you highlight any recent work that demonstrates its impact?
SOD: The Shooting Industry Fund invites applications for support. Every request is considered carefully by the Directors, who assess whether it fits the original purpose for which the Fund was established.
If a proposal demonstrates a clear benefit to the wider shooting industry and falls within those objectives, it will be considered favourably.
A recent example is the Section 1 and Section 2 firearms consultation. The British Shooting Sports Council requested financial support to fund political lobbying on behalf of the industry. The Directors agreed that this met the Fund’s objectives, and support was provided.
Early indications suggest that this has been money well spent, demonstrating exactly why the Fund exists.
It is important to understand that the Shooting Industry Fund and the Gun Trade Association are two separate organisations. Although much of the original funding came from GTA members, contributions also came from businesses outside the Association. It is not the GTA’s money—it belongs to the industry.
While some GTA Directors also serve as Directors of the Shooting Industry Fund, the organisations have separate responsibilities. The GTA, like any other organisation, may apply for funding, and any request is judged against the same criteria as every other application.
GTI: Looking ahead, what would you like the GTA and the Shooting Industry Fund to achieve over the next few years, both for businesses within the trade and the wider shooting community?
SOD: For the GTA, success means becoming an organisation that every business in the trade sees as essential. It should be recognised as the authoritative voice of the industry, providing genuine value to its members while representing their interests with government, regulators and other stakeholders.
For the Shooting Industry Fund, I hope it continues to support projects that protect the future of shooting through sensible lobbying, research and strategic initiatives. The industry has shown that, by working together, it can achieve far more than any individual business acting alone.
Ultimately, we all want the same thing: a strong, responsible and sustainable shooting industry that is well represented, well understood and able to thrive for generations to come.