1
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The tightening of gun licensing into a single, more
rigorous, system that includes all firearms,
shotguns and air guns.
The onus should be on the applicant to demonstrate their suitability
to own a gun and a specific need for doing so. Any opportunities for
the spontaneous purchase of any gun, including air weapons, should be
eliminated.
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2
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A licence for every gun, renewed annually (as opposed to the
current five-year renewal) and requiring two referees for each
application and its renewal.
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3
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An increase in the licence fee in order to cover the cost of
policing a more rigorous system.
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4
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Lifting the secrecy about gun ownership, making it possible for
certain professionals and members of the public to find out who has
a licence and for what purpose.
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5
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A National Gun Hotline for those wishing to record
their concerns about a gun owner. This should be a well-advertised
free phone line for those concerned about their own or another’s
safety or the behaviour or well-being of a gun owner.
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6
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Refusal or revocation of a gun licence where there is
evidence of domestic violence, drug or
alcohol abuse, misuse of a gun, when a relevant misdemeanour has been
committed (e.g. shooting of wildlife, threatening behaviour or
negligent storage of the weapon) or when an applicant has a
significant criminal conviction.
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7
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Mandatory notification to GPs at the point when a patient
becomes a legal gun owner.
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8
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Mandatory private and discrete notification to former and
present partners of new and repeat applicants. Evidence from
Canada and Australia shows that gun-related domestic violence has
decreased as the legal frameworks on gun licensing and domestic
violence have become harmonised.
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