Write to your MP on firearms licensing fee increases

Houses of parliament

The proposed increases to firearms licensing fees damage the countryside. You can help by writing to your MP. 

In the wake of the government’s announcement on increases to firearms licensing fees, we are asking members of the shooting community to contact their MPs regarding the proposals.

There are two key points to make when corresponding with your MP:

  • The government’s justification for the increase is that the extra funds raised will go to support improvements in the work of firearms licensing departments. This is unfounded, as it has no powers to ensure this happens. It is the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and the Chief Constable for each force who are responsible for ensuring funds are allocated to firearms licensing departments.
  • The fees increase was announced without proper consultation and a complete lack of transparency. As such, the policy is damaging to the countryside and rural voters.

The more emails MPs receive from their constituents, the more likely they are to contact Ministers and inform them that they must do better for shooting.

Please do add any additional aspects of your own personal experience of firearms licensing to your email. You can find details of your local MP and how to contact them here. 

When you receive a response, we’d be grateful if you would copy this to politics@basc.org.uk to inform our political lobbying on the issue.

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