Gun law consultation ends today

It follows Keyham shootings

A Home Office consultation on firearms licensing, launched in response to the Keyham murders in Plymouth in 2021, closes tonight at midnight.

Guman Jake Davison, 22, used a legally-held shotgun to kill his mother Maxine Davison, 51 and four other local residents before turning the gun on himself in the Keyham area.

People have been asked to express their views on proposals for reforming firearms' laws, based on the coroner's report into the killings. But the government doesn't agree with some of the coroner's recommendations and they've been left out of the consultation.

The consultation document says: "Public safety is our priority, but the measures to manage the risk to public safety must be proportionate and balanced with the fact that the vast majority of licensed firearms holders are law abiding and cause no concern."

In a statement last month, Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Luke Pollard said: "The government must throw its weight behind the coroner's remaining proposals."

“Britain’s gun laws are broken. The government must fix them to stop a tragedy like Keyham and Ford’s from ever happening again. 

“For two years I have campaigned with Keyham family members for tougher gun laws, and it was extremely disappointing that the government rejected several of the coroner’s recommendations. 

“The government must throw its weight behind the coroner’s remaining proposals, but Plymouth’s voice is at risk of being drowned out by the gun lobby."