Northern Ireland police have seized the firearms of almost 900 gun owners in the last two years. The seizures were made due to concerns over their suitability or procedural issues. There are more than 50,000 firearm license holders in Northern Ireland with 97% being male. Police state that the majority are used for sport or farming, but some licenses are held for personal security purposes.
The Countryside Alliance says the issue of seizures is complex and sometimes occurs for minor procedural reasons. The figures were released under a Freedom of Information request, and while they did not provide a detailed breakdown of why each seizure occurred, they were primarily due to concerns about continued suitability to possess firearms. The PSNI has stated that further clarity as to the reasons behind the seizures is needed.
PSNI Chief Superintendent Amanda Ford states that PSNI relied on applicants providing them with truthful and up-to-date information, but that they were working with stakeholders and the Department of Justice to streamline the application process for firearms certificate holders. Daniel Holder, Director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice, said that while public safety is paramount, “further clarity as to the reasons behind the seizures and comparators over time and with other places may shine some further light on the issue.”
Gary McCartney, Director of Countryside Alliance Ireland, said that owning a firearm was a responsibility and not a right. “Everybody who applies for a license has to demonstrate why they want a firearm and that is rightly scrutinised,” he added. McCartney acknowledged that public safety is paramount, but that the reasons for seizures are not always straightforward.
In Northern Ireland, an application to own or possess any firearm or ammunition should have a certificate from the police. There were 53,605 firearm certificate holders in Northern Ireland as of May 2024. While this does not include firearms used by serving police officers, it does include Personal Protection Weapons, which are often owned by ex-PSNI and prison officers
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