Home Office deflates restrictive firearms bill

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) is fully supportive of the Home Office’s response to a private member’s bill wishing to restrict the use of firearms.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport, is introducing a bill that aims to ban the keeping of pump-action shotguns in homes. The bill wishes to tackle the horrific Plymouth shootings last year.

In response to an approach by ITV West Country, the Home Office said: “The police have in place robust processes for issuing and reviewing firearms and shotgun licences. If there are further lessons to be learned from the tragic case, we will update the statutory guidance for firearms licensing.”

Bill Harriman, BASC director of firearms, said: “BASC is fully supportive of the Home Office’s position. The Plymouth shooting was a horrific tragedy, but it is only right that no knee-jerk reactions are made before the coroner’s review and the Independent Office for Police Conduct report are published.

“BASC has met Luke Pollard following the Plymouth shooting incident; there is a firm commitment from both sides that the correct actions are taken to reduce the risk of another tragedy happening. There is also an acceptance that the risk is in the person holding the firearm, not the firearm itself. Any response to this incident must be evidence-led.”