The Home Office are consulting on removal of licensing for firearms sound moderators. Sound moderators are an accessory that can be attached to a rifle barrel to reduce the sound and flash when the rifle is fired. It reduces the audible sound of the rifle by around three quarters. Sound moderators protect the hearing of the shooter and reduce noise disturbance to others in the vicinity of shoots.. Sound moderators are currently controlled under section 57(1)(d) of the Firearms Act 1968, and a firearms certificate from the police is required in order to possess a sound moderator. The gun trade estimate they sell between 8,000 -12,000 sound moderators each year to firearms certificate holders. The consulation states that inclusion of sound moderators as part of firearms licensing controls adds to the licensing responsibilities of police force firearms licensing departments, who are responsible for issuing and varying firearms certificates. The consultation covers England, Scotand and Wales.
The consultation is open until April 2nd: Firearms licensing: sound moderators (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Update on March 13th
The IOA have submitted our response. We are supporting the proposal to remove the need to licence a sound suppressor from firearms, with the justification that there is a benefit for public health in terms of noise dose of those enjoying shooting as a sport, and as part of their living. Additionally there is a benefit for encouraging those shooting as part of organised shoots to reduce the impact of noise pollution to a minimum (in line with current the Noise Policy Statement for England (2010). This is considered to be a reasonable offset to the risk of encouraging poaching and other illegal activities, where licensing may be less effective.
