Guidance

Firearms licensing law

Consolidated guidance on firearms legislation.

From:
Home Office
Published
19 December 2012
Last updated
13 April 2023 — See all updates

Documents

Guide on firearms licensing law (accessible version)

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Guide on firearms licensing law

PDF, 1.2 MB, 233 pages

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This Home Office guide on firearms licensing law has been updated. It should be read alongside the statutory guidance for chief officers of police.

The document provides guidance on firearms licensing legislation for anyone who is involved in licensing firearms or who has an interest in firearms or shotguns for either work or leisure purposes.

This guide is not intended to be a definitive statement of the law, but a cohesive explanation of the often complex area of firearms licensing.

Updates to this page

Published 19 December 2012
Last updated 13 April 2023 + show all updates

  1. Updated the guide to reflect change of department name: Department for International Trade (DIT) has become the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

  2. Updated paragraphs 6.37 and 12.67 – guidance on UK Athletics licenced race starters; paragraph 7.10 – re-inserted guidance on the exemption under section 11(6) relating to organised clay pigeon shoots; and paragraphs 15.27 and 15.28 – new guidance on ‘remote’ sales by registered firearms dealers.

  3. Address for Scottish Government firearms team updated.

  4. Guide on firearms licensing law updated. The document 'Legislative changes that have been made since the guide was last published in April 2016' has been removed as these changes have now been incorporated into the revised guide on firearms licensing law.

  5. Uploaded revised interim version of the firearms licensing guide as some of its content has been superseded by the statutory guidance for chief officers of police.

  6. Updated the 2021 section of the Legislative changes that have been made since the guide was last published in April 2016 with the Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2021.

  7. Details of 'Circular 001/2021: Antique firearms' added to the legislative changes guide.

  8. Updated list of recent legislative changes.

  9. List of recent legislative changes added.

  10. Updated licensing guide published.

  11. Amended to include new coordinates for the piracy high risk area.

  12. Updated guidance.

  13. Updated guidance published.

  14. Guide updated June 2014.

  15. The Guide on Firearms Licensing Law was updated on 1 December 2013.

  16. Guidance updated.

  17. Consolidated guidance now available.

  18. New chapters added.

  19. New chapters added.

  20. Domestic violence chapter added.

  21. First published.

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