Introduce Mandatory Licensing of Low Power Weapons/Air Guns in England & Wales.

Closed 8,426 signatures

What the petition asks

Make air weapons subject to licensing under the Firearms Act 1968, so these are regulated in a way which protects public safety. Registering the purchase of Air Rifles/ Air Pistols/ Air Guns is not required now. We believe that licensing is needed, with appropriate penalties for licensing failures.

Air Weapons accounted for 31% of firearm offences in England & Wales in 2021. Prosecuting offences involving air rifles can be more difficult because most air rifles do not leave identifiable marks on missiles. Air weapons are used to kill/maim wildlife & domestic pets and are used in vandalism/common/serious assaults. Scotland addressed this in 2015 in the Air Weapon and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015. We need the same in England & Wales so that Police can better protect people by removing air weapons where licences are breached, or have not been obtained.

Timeline

21 Mar 2023	Petition opened for signatures
21 Sep 2023	Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 8,426

Status Closed

Opened 21 Mar 2023

Closed 21 Sep 2023

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