Firearms Consultative Committee
The Firearms Licensing Consultative Committee has been established for more than 15 years under the administration of the Department of Home Affairs. The Committee was most recently re-established in early 2020 with the intention that consideration begin in earnest of a proposed update to the Island’s existing firearms legislation particularly as 2020 is a Triennial year.
The remit of the Committee is to consider the operation of firearms legislation with a particular emphasis on public safety and to report directly to the Department of Home Affairs on firearms issues.
The terms of reference of the Committee (at last update) were as follows:
- Develop effective dialogue between the Police and the shooting community.
- Review current legislation against its current fitness for purpose.
- Make recommendations to the Department of Home Affairs for future legislative changes.
- Champion the safe use and storage of all firearms and regulated weapons.
- Provide the shooting community with the most up to date information and advice.
- Continually strive for improvements for the shooting community.
Issues for possible discussion currently include the following:
- Starter Pistols
- Possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
- Closing the current loopholes and areas of risk with Isle of Man legislation
- Statistics for shotgun crime/prosecutions
- Recording of firearms and record keeping
- Guidance notes and use of the Department of Home Affairs website for applications
- Possible streamlining of current legislation and looking at issuing codes/guidance notes
- Night shooting
- Target ranges
- European Firearms Pass etc.
The Committee is comprised so as to be inclusive to the Island’s firearms community and will include representatives from the Department of Home Affairs, the Isle of Man Constabulary and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture along with others representative of the organisations such as the National Farmers’ Association, any relevant retail outlets, the Clay Pigeon Shooting Federation, the Tynwald and Peveril Rifle Clubs, the Manx Game Preservation Society and others as may be deemed appropriate, on application to the Department of Home Affairs.
Anyone interested in applying to be considered for membership of the Committee may make their application according to the application pack.
For further information about the work of the committee, please contact the Secretary of the Committee - Shelley Walker - by telephoning 01624 694306 or via email to GeneralEnquiries.DHA@gov.im
