FIREARMS OFFICER STORED SURRENDERED GUNS AT HOMEA Firearms Enquiry Officer has admitted taking surrendered guns home, raising fresh concerns about the integrity of firearms licensing at a time when the Government is proposing sweeping reforms to the system.

FIREARMS LICENSING: A SYSTEM UNDER STRAIN BUT NOT BEYOND REPAIRFULL STORY: PAGE 12 Martin Parker, head of

THE LATEST ON NATIONAL TRAINING FOR FIREARMS LICENSINGFULL STORY: PAGE 14 Speaking at the National

NON-LEAD FUTURE WILL RESHAPE GUN OWNERSHIP, WARNS AUCTION HOUSE OPERATORFULL STORY: PAGE 10 Simon Reinhold, head of

COUNSEL’S CORNERPAGE 20 An examination of the Home Office’s

BALLISTIC BREAKDOWNPAGE 24 Paul Bradley cuts through bore-care myths,

DIGITAL FIREPOWERPAGE 34 Philip Montague explains why consultation periods

POLICE PERSPECTIVEPAGE 28 Recent NPCC data prompts renewed attention

ASSOCIATION IN FOCUSPAGE 30 The Deactivated Weapons Association explains its

A CRITICAL YEAR FOR THE GUN TRADEOn a recent call with a senior figure

THE NEWS IN NUMBERSMinimum year prison sentence Alan Sharp could face

FIREARMS OFFICER STORED SURRENDERED GUNS AT HOMEA Firearms Enquiry Officer has admitted taking surrendered

COUNTRYSIDE ORGANISATIONS WARN OVER PCC ABOLITIONBASC and the Countryside Alliance have expressed serious

REMEMBERING PATRICK KEEN: A LIFE OF ADVENTURE, SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE GUN TRADEThe shooting community has lost one of its

SGC GROUP CONFIRMED AS SOLE UMAREX AIRGUN DISTRIBUTOR AS ROTHERY CLEARS REMAINING STOCKThe SGC Group has reiterated that it is

HOME OFFICE OPENS CONSULTATION ON LICENSING FOR KNIFE SALESThe Home Office has opened a public consultation

DAYSTATE CONFIRMS EXPANDED PRESENCE FOR 2026 BRITISH SHOOTING SHOWDaystate, Brocock and MTC Optics will exhibit on

HIGHLAND OUTDOORS IRELAND APPOINTS NEW NATIONAL SALES MANAGERHighland Outdoors Ireland has appointed Neil Fox as

CLA PRESIDENT SETS OUT PRIORITIES WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR RURAL BUSINESSESThe new president of the Country Land and

PETITION OPPOSING MERGER OF SECTION 1 AND SECTION 2 LICENSING PASSES 57,000 SIGNATURESGovernment petition opposing the merger of Section 1

NON-LEAD FUTURE WILL RESHAPE GUN OWNERSHIP, WARNS AUCTION HOUSE OPERATORSimon Reinhold, head of operations at Holt’s Auctioneers

THREE LEGGED THING GAINS UK DISTRIBUTION OF MANBILYThree Legged Thing has secured exclusive UK distribution

BDS AGREES PARTNERSHIP WITH THOMAS JACKSThe British Deer Society has entered a multi-year

ON THE MARKETPAGE 36 FX Airguns launches the new FX

FIREARMS LICENSING: A SYSTEM UNDER STRAIN BUT NOT BEYOND REPAIRMartin Parker, head of firearms at BASC, opened

THE LATEST ON NATIONAL TRAINING FOR FIREARMS LICENSINGSpeaking at the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation conference, NPCC

GUN TRADE JOBSROYAL AIR FORCE COMPANY INFORMATION: The Royal Air

INSIDE THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GUNMAKERSGun Trade Insider met with Richard Hefford-Hobbs, Master of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers until recently, to explore the company’s origins, purpose and continuing influence on safety, skills and standards within the UK firearms trade. And to understand the two distinct and separate parts of the Company, Proof and Civic Livery.

REDUCING DANGER TO THE PUBLIC?With the Home Office preparing a consultation that could align Section 2 shotguns with Section 1 firearms, barrister Nick Doherty examines whether the proposals would genuinely improve public safety or simply damage the UK gun trade.

INSIDE THE GTA ARCHIVEGun Trade Insider speaks with Dr Nicholas A. Harlow, gun room manager and archivist at James Purdey & Sons, about the recently transferred Gun Trade Association archive, its historical significance and what it reveals about the UK trade.

THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR BOREModern barrel materials and propellant technology have made many beliefs about bore care outdated. Paul Bradley examines the myths, the science behind achieving consistent precision and the practical maintenance practices used.

MESSAGE FROM THE GTADear GTA members and the wider trade, I

HEADLINE STATISTICS OBSCURE TRUE LICENSING PICTUREFirearms licensing performance is under renewed scrutiny as recently released NPCC figures raise serious questions about how police activity is being presented. Chris Downes examines why headline statistics can mislead, how this affects retailers and certificate holders, and why clearer, evidence-based reporting is essential as reform accelerates.

DEACTIVATED WEAPONS ASSOCIATION: GIVING CLARITY TO A COMPLEX CORNER OF THE TRADESpeaking to Gun Trade Insider , chairman Barry Johnson outlines how the association came to exist, how its role has evolved and why its work now extends far beyond deactivated firearms, reflecting broader responsibilities across the trade today.

MARKETING FOR MOBILISATIONWith the Home Office set to consult on aligning Section 2 shotguns with Section 1 firearms, unity across the sector will not be enough on its own. GTI’s resident marketing guru, Philip Montague, sets out why consultation periods should be treated as time-limited conversion campaigns, using clear messaging and simple systems to turn broad agreement into timely, credible action.

FX AIRGUNS LAUNCHES THE NEW FX LEOPARD – A BOLD ADDITION TO THE FX LINE-UPReleased on December 10th, FX Airguns unveiled the latest variant of its acclaimed Leopard platform. The new FX Leopard Composite is a stripped-back evolution of the original tube model and marks the Swedish company’s first production airgun finished in FDE (Flat Dark Earth).

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVEGun Trade Insider offers a detailed examination of the latest developments across various international markets

DOWN UNDERAUSTRALIAN RIGHTS COALITION FORMED A new advocacy group

MAINLAND EUROPECANIK AND CHIAPPA UNVEIL THE LTL SFX RIVAL