Firearms licensing: sound moderators

We are seeking views on our proposal to use a Legislative Reform Order made under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 to remove a firearm accessory, known as a sound moderator, from firearms licensing controls.

Sound moderators currently need to be covered by a firearms certificate, issued by the police. Sound moderators are not dangerous as firearms, and removing them from firearms licensing controls does not have any implications for public safety.

The proposal is to amend the definition of firearm in section 57(1)(d) of the Firearms Act 1968 to remove the reference to sound moderators.