Dad of schoolgirl slain in Dunblane massacre warns gun licensing reform does not go far enough
The father of a schoolgirl killed in the Dunblane massacre has said new reforms to gun licensing in the UK don't go far enough.
Dr Mick North, who lost his daughter Sophie in the March 1996 tragedy, said he welcomed changes to the statutory guidance on firearms announced by the Labour Government last week - but warned there was "still a long way to go before public safety is appropriately prioritised."
People applying for shotgun certificate applications now need two referees instead of one, while referees need to have known the applicant well for at least two years and will need to vouch for them.
Gun licensing is a reserved matter and the changes apply across the UK. The rule change over the number of referees was a direct response to concerns raised at an inquests following fatal shootings in Plymouth in 2021 where Jake Davison shot his mother and four others before killing himself.
Under the new rules, police must now speak to partners and members of households to identify signs of domestic abuse.
Dr North has campaigned for greater controls on the use of guns since the death of his daughter in 1996 and is an active member of the Gun Control Network.
He told the Record: "Gun Control Network welcomes the changes to the statutory guidance on firearms licensing but would have hoped the Home Office could have gone much further in their response to the recommendations made by the Plymouth coroner, the IOPC and the Scottish Affairs Select Committee, following the fatal shootings in Keyham, Sussex and Sleat.
"While increasing the number of referees for a shotgun application from one to two is an improvement, the public would be much safer were shotguns to be aligned with Section 1 firearms and subject to the same stringent licensing as the latter.
"And, although the statutory guidance is being strengthened in relation to evidence of domestic abuse, it apparently still provides guidance only as to when this should happen and thus appears to remain optional.
"We strongly believe that the interviewing of partners and household members should be mandatory, as it is they who know what is really happening within the home of the potential owner of a lethal weapon. It feels that there is still a long way to go before public safety is appropriately prioritised."
Diana Johnson, the UK Policing Minister, said: "Only those who meet the highest standards of safety and responsibility should be permitted to use shotguns or firearms, and it is crucial that police have full information about the suitability of all applicants for these lethal weapons.
"The events in Woodmancote in 2020, Plymouth in 2021 and other cases provide a tragic reminder of what can happen when these weapons are in the hands of the wrong people, and we must do everything we can to protect the public.
"That is why, as part of our Plan for Change, we are giving the police the tools and resources they need to make safe, timely and consistent decisions when it comes to firearms licensing.
"This is just one part of our mission to make our streets safer. We will also launch a public consultation on the controls on shotguns and other firearms issues later this year.
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