Firearms survey launched after the mass shooting in Plymouth ends today
Five people were killed when a gunman opened fire back in August
Last updated 20th Oct 2021
It is your last chance to answer a survey on firearms licenses, launched after the fatal shooting in Plymouth.
Jake Davison fatally shot five people in Keyham in August, including his own mother and a three-year-old girl, before turning the gun on himself.
It later emerged the 22-year-old had a firearm and license taken away, but returned a month before the fatal attack.
Now all Police and Crime Commissioners have come together to ask people's opinions on potential changes to the current rules before the Home Office issues new guidance to police forces.
Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Marc Jones said: “There has been heightened public concern following the recent shooting of five people in Plymouth. I’d like to take this opportunity to extend my sympathies to all those affected by that tragic incident, and indeed to all victims of gun crime.
“The Home Office is currently reviewing arrangements for the licensing of guns and will shortly be introducing new statutory guidance to be followed by all police forces. Police and Crime Commissioners are elected to be the public’s voice in policing and so we want to hear what the public thinks about these issues, so we can feed those views to the Home Office.”
The APCC’s short survey asks for the public’s views on things like the amount of scrutiny of medical records and social media posts that police should undertake when granting or renewing a license; and whether or not an applicant should pay the full costs of having their request processed.
Mr Jones added: “We want to hear all from sides including people who are, or have previously been, a registered firearms licence or shotgun certificate holder. The public may be surprised to hear that there are more than half a million licence holders in England and Wales, who legally own nearly 2million firearms. We know the overwhelming majority do so safely and responsibly.
“So, while it is absolutely right that we have a discussion on licensing, we should be careful to ensure any changes to guidance or legislation are proportionate, reflect the public’s views, and above all are effective at keeping people safe.”
The survey closes today (20th October) and you can find the link here.
Meanwhile a campaigner who was shot by her ex-husband is campaigning for stronger restrictions on gun laws.
Domestic violence survivor Rachel Williams wants the guidance to be made so that no-one is granted a licence if they had previous domestic abuse, violence, convictions or a history of domestic abuse.
She also wants anyone who has a mental health related illness, including anxiety and depression, or drug and alcohol use to be refused the licence.
Rachel suffered horrific injuries after being shot by her estranged husband Darren at the hair salon where she worked in Newport ten years ago, he then took his own life.
Ever since Rachel has been campaigning on behalf of victims and is founder of Stand Up To Domestic Abuse.
She holds an annual conference and works closely with police forces across the UK sharing her knowledge and experiences to help officers have a better understanding of perpetrators who commit such offences.
Rachel spoke to our Wales News Editor Emma Grant, you can watch the video below.
WARNING it contains content relating to coercive control, domestic abuse, suicide and child death.
Rachel told us: "I was in an abusive, controlling violent relationship for 18 years from the age of 21 to 39. When I met Darren he was lovely, quite charming, and you know within a couple of months, obviously I could see was a little bit jealous of stuff. I was a single mum as well, didn't take much notice of it to be honest with you. And then before I knew it, I was in it over my head. And it's easy to look back now and to see the red flags, but at the time being so young as well, not having much life experience and certainly not knowing anything about coercive control."
Rachel launched campaign back in August to tighten UK gun laws after the Plymouth shootings. Rachel has joined forces with former Chief Prosecutor Nazir Afzal to force government to review licencing conditions to hold any firearm in wake of the Plymouth incident
"We're asking that no person should be granted a licence if they had previous domestic abuse, violence, convictions or a history of domestic abuse and that anyone who has a mental health related illness to include anxiety and depression or drug and alcohol use to be refused the licence. For those who are granted the licence, the asset, the holders who apply every other year to renew their licence with exceptions - obviously professional shooters, maybe sportspeople, Olympic Commonwealth Games, etc. And the exception also to include farmers. The checks must be carried out with due diligence, including their social media and licence holders should not permitted to keep a firearm in the home. It should be kept at the local gun club with the legitimate exceptions again of farmers. The GP record needs to be tagged so police will be alerted to any licence holder who is or becomes unfit to hold a licence ."
In her petition on change.org Rachel has highlighted how the Keyham gunman had his shotgun certificate removed from him in December 2020 following an allegation of assault, and returned to him in July just a few weeks before the shooting spree in August.
During the pandemic there has been a rise in reports of domestic violence. Rachel has had to turn off her direct messages on Facebook because she could not keep up with the volume coming through. She told us: "Since June last year I've had over 700 women sign up to my domestic abuse programmes. I reckon I'd probably get close to probably 60 and 100 messages a week in some way, shape or form or from somebody who either wants to be signposted, somebody just maybe just asking you - if you think they are being abused. For instance, I had an email last week from somebody I met in a restaurant at least six months ago in London and we got chatting. She worked there. We got chatting about you know what I did and then I gave her my card. She actually reached out to me only last week. So you never know, by sharing your story, who you're going to help or who's going to think that I'm not alone."
If you need support you can contact Stand Up To Domestic Abuse.