Changes for Firearms holders introduced

 

SGA members legally holding firearms as part of their work, or sport, should make themselves aware of the following key changes to Firearms rules regarding informing Police of relevant householders and informing Police of changes to relevant medical conditions. Please see details below.

 

On Tuesday 29^th September 2026 the Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2026 come into effect having been made on 23^rd September 2026.  The effect of this legislation is twofold:

 

1 – Form 201 is amended to include a requirement to list all relevant persons listed at the home address of the certificate holder including persons under 18 on the application form.  There is space for one person on the form and all others should be included in the additional information section later in the form.  Additionally, Form 201 is also amended to require the applicant to state whether they have a second home and whether guns are to be stored there.

 

2 – Two new statutory conditions are being added to the FAC and SGC mandatory conditions. These are:

 

• the holder of the certificate must, without undue delay, inform the chief officer of police by whom the certificate was granted, if they are diagnosed as suffering from, or are treated for a relevant medical condition, or if their symptoms relating to an existing relevant medical condition which they have previously disclosed, have worsened since the certificate was granted;

 

• the holder of the certificate must, without undue delay, inform the chief officer of police by whom the certificate was granted, if they consult any medical practitioner who is not their General Practitioner or a General Practitioner from the same practice, regarding a relevant medical condition, and they must provide contact details of the medical practitioner and details of the treatment received

 

These new conditions formalise the agreement previously contained within Form 201 that applicants will share changes in their health with firearms licensing.

 

 

“I want to reassure you that Police Scotland will take a pragmatic approach to these new conditions in order to avoid unnecessarily criminalising certificate holders. This supports the work of the Scottish Firearms Mental Health Awareness and Support Partnership which focuses on encouraging certificate holders to come forward early to share changes in their health enabling firearms licensing and partner agencies to provide support,” said Chief Inspector, Bruce Crawford, National Firearms Licensing.

 

“We will approach these new conditions by engaging with certificate holders to make them aware of the changes, explaining the reasons behind the change and encouraging compliance with the requirements of the conditions. 

 

“Should there be clear evidence of intentional dishonesty and/or an attempt to undermine the requirements of the licensing process enforcement will be considered.

 “We will continue to accept old copies of Form 201 up to and including 29^th October 2026.”