Firearms (Hansard, 23 November 1995)

§ Sir John Wheeler

The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 provides for the licensing and control of firearms in the Province. Although it has been amended on a number of occasions, most recently last year when new offences relating to imitation firearms were introduced, the law has been largely unchanged since the 1960s. Indeed its origins can be traced back to the 1920s. This in itself would suggest reasonable cause for a fresh look at the law. However, in addition, developments in firearms technology and design have proceeded apace and we have seen a growth nationally in the recreational and sporting use of firearms. For these reasons therefore, I believe that the time is right to take a new look at the law on firearms, to ensure not only that it is appropriate to today's conditions, but that it strikes the right balance between public and individual safety and the reasonable expectations of shooters who want to use their firearms in a responsible and legitimate manner.

The review will be thorough and painstaking. There is much ground to cover. I will, of course, want to take the views of the shooting organisations as well as public representatives, the RUC and safety groups. To that end, I am writing today to Northern Ireland Members and my officials are similarly writing to the political party organisations and other interest groups inviting comment and proposals on what changes to the law they would like to see.

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The review team will work under the direction of a steering committee comprising a senior NIO official, assisted by a senior RUC officer with experience in firearms administration and a person of standing with relevant expertise. I have asked them to complete their work and to let me have their report with proposals for change, by August 1996. Thereafter I will publish the proposals for wider consultation. I do not expect new legislation to be in place before the latter part of 1997.