More than 50,000 people have firearm licenses in Northern Ireland
Almost 900 gun owners in Northern Ireland have had firearms taken away from them in the last two years because of what police say were concerns over their continued suitability to own them.
But the Countryside Alliance said the issue of seizures is complex and can sometimes be for minor procedural reasons.
A firearm is defined as a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged.
New figures, obtained by BBC News NI, show that 53,000 people currently hold firearm licenses in Northern Ireland and 97% are male.
Police say the majority are used for sport or in the farming industry, but also include licenses for guns used for personal security.
As of May 2024, Lurgan was the area where the highest number of legal gun owners lived, followed by Magherafelt and then Dungannon.
The majority of firearm license holders in Northern Ireland are male
People in their 50s were the most common age group to have a firearm, but almost 100 license holders were aged under 20 and more than 300 were in their 90s.
The figures were released in response to a Freedom of Information request to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Between May 2022 and May 2024 the PSNI seized the firearms of 890 license holders.
Appeals over firearm license decisions can be taken to the Department of Justice. There have been more than 100 appeals taken since 2022.
Data released by the the PSNI on firearm seizures did not provide a detailed breakdown on why each seizure occurred but said they were a result of “concerns around continued suitability to possess firearms”.
PSNI Chief Superintendent Amanda Ford says gun ownership is tightly regulated in Northern Ireland
PSNI Chief Superintendent Amanda Ford told BBC News NI that firearms were tightly regulated in Northern Ireland.
“The seizure figure only goes to highlight how seriously we take the responsibility of holding firearms in Northern Ireland,” she added.
“There are a number of circumstances where seizure may be deemed appropriate, such as change in medical status, being involved in an incident which required police to attend, arrests, prosecutions and even an address no longer being suitable.”
In Northern Ireland you should have a certificate from the police to own or possess any firearm or ammunition.
The PSNI said it undertakes a number of checks before issuing a firearm license including checking GP medical reports and criminal records.
‘Such a small jurisdiction’
You must apply for a license in order to legally own a gun in Northern Ireland
But a human rights organisation said number of seizures seemed high in “such a small jurisdiction”.
“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,” said Daniel Holder, director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice.
“If such a pattern of the PSNI needing to seize over a gun a day is persistent it does call into question whether the criteria for issuing licences should be further tightened.”
Daniel Holder says the figures raise a number of questions
PSNI Ch Supt Amanda Ford added that police relied on applicants providing them with truthful and up to date information, but that they were working with stakeholders nad the Department of Justice to treamline the application process for firearms certificates (FAC) holders.
Department of Health guidelines also state that during mental health risk assessments patients should be asked if they have a firearms license.
The figures were released by the PSNI under a Freedom of Information request
As of May 2024 there were 53,605 firearm certificate holders in Northern Ireland.
The PSNI also confirmed there are about 1,000 applications currently being considered.
The figures do not include firearms used by serving police officers in Northern Ireland.
But they do include Personal Protection Weapons (PPWs), which are often owned by ex-PSNI and prison officers.
It also includes members of the public who own firearms for things like sport, and farmers will often use them for things like the protection of livestock.
Gary McCartney is Director of Countryside Alliance Ireland
Gary McCartney, director of Countryside Alliance Ireland, said 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.
“Any seizure is one too many and we will always acknowledge that public safety is paramount, so the public should be re-assured about how seriously the matter is taken.”
Mr McCartney also said that the reasons for seizures aren’t always straightforward.
He added: “For example if anybody in a household where there is a firearm present comes to the attention of police for any reason, normally the first thing they will do is remove any firearm from that house. So sometimes it may not even be directly related to something the firearm license holder has done.”
Siobhan McHaffie is director of operations for the animal charity the USPCA.
she said: ” With the high number of gun licenses, that does cause some concern for us around potential public safety and animal welfare risks.
“Of course we’re strongly opposed to any form of animal cruelty, however we do recognise within exceptional circumstances that some animals do need to be controlled, but it should only ever been done as humanly and respectfully as possible.
“From our perspective we would welcome any strengthening of regulation.”
A large number of people have firearm licenses for use in the sport and farming industries
In England and Wales there were more than 500,000 people who held a firearm and or a shotgun certificate as of March 2024.
The number of people who hold firearms in Northern Ireland has decreased by more than 10,000 when compared to a decade ago.
Police in Northern Ireland have uncovered more than 30 illegal firearms since 2023, these relate to illicit seizures and are separate to seizure from license holders.