Firearms

Recent government guidance has now established (as of November 2021), that GP’s will be expected to complete a standardised “medical pro-forma” as part of firearms applications, however they would be able to charge a fee for doing so. The guidance also established that the burden of legal responsibility would shift to the police instead of the GP for assessing whether someone is a suitable candidate for firearm ownership. Guidance for GPs on the firearms licensing process (bma.org.uk).

This new guidance comes about as a result of there being confusion regarding GP’s ongoing role in the firearms certification process after the home secretary claimed that GP’s would take a “mental health assessment role” in the certification process. BMA calls for clarity on GP role in new firearms licensing guidance due within ‘weeks’ (Pulse Today).

The newly published document states that GP’s will no longer be asked to provide the applicants medical record as this may constitute a data breach. GP’s will now be asked to perform an overview of the applicants medical file and determine whether there are any factors which would suggest that a firearms license may not be suitable. GP’s will also be asked to place a firearms marker on the applicant’s patient record and should notify the police if there is any medical development which would suggest that an individual may no longer be capable of holding the certificate. Examples of conditions which may warrant further investigation include alcohol and drug abuse, depression and severe anxiety.