Airgun trade builds its case before any new law arrives

The airgun trade has started gathering the market data and statistics it would need to defend the sport before any new law is proposed, the managing director of Air Arms has said, and she wants every airgun business in the country to be part of the effort.

Claire West is the only airgun manufacturer’s representative on the council of the Gun Trade Association (GTA), and in a question-and-answer interview published by Gun Trade Insider she set out why the association has formed an Airgun Focus Group and what it is for. “If we are not in the room, we are relying on others to speak on our behalf,” she told the trade title. “By being involved, I can help make sure the views of airgun manufacturers, distributors and retailers are represented and that the GTA has a good understanding of the issues that affect our sector.”

Why has the GTA set up an Airgun Focus Group?

The group was created, West said, because airgun businesses and experts needed somewhere to discuss the issues that affect their sector specifically, and its first job is preparation. “We want to build a strong evidence base with reliable data, statistics and market information so that if legislation or regulation becomes a threat to the industry, we are not starting from scratch,” she said. “We can respond quickly, with facts and evidence to support our position.”

No single issue dominates the agenda at present, and West told Gun Trade Insider that this is exactly why the work matters. “The main objective is to make sure we are prepared rather than reactive,” she said. “If future legislation is proposed, we need robust data, market intelligence and evidence already available so we can respond quickly and effectively on behalf of the industry.” The group is also meant to improve communication across the sector and to give the GTA direct access to the experience of businesses working in the airgun market every day.

What does it mean for the keeper with an air rifle in the truck?

For the gamekeeper, the farmer and the pest controller, the air rifle is the everyday tool for rats around the feed bins, grey squirrels in the release pens and feral pigeons in the grain store, and an air rifle at or below 12ft/lb of muzzle energy needs no certificate in England and Wales. That freedom is what is at stake whenever a trade body talks about being ready for regulation. On 28 August His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) recommended that firearms licensing be rebuilt around a single national authority and that the legal framework, spread across more than 30 pieces of legislation, be modernised. The report does not name air weapons, but a rewrite of the Firearms Act is where any line could move, and a trade that can put reliable figures on the size of the airgun market, and on how many people depend on it for pest control, is better placed to argue that the sub-12 air rifle should stay where it is.

What has West learnt on the GTA Council?

West said she had been most surprised by how much of the GTA’s work goes on unseen. “The GTA spends a lot of time engaging with government, the police and many other organisations on behalf of the trade, often without most people realising it’s happening,” she said. Joining the council had also shown her that most of the challenges facing the wider gun trade reach the airgun sector in one way or another. “Whether it’s regulation, compliance, public perception or commercial pressures, we are all affected by many of the same issues,” she said.

She sees a specific role for the association when new law is on the table. “It’s important that decision-makers understand how our industry operates and that any decisions are based on facts rather than assumptions,” she said. “The GTA can provide reliable information, evidence and industry expertise, helping government and regulators understand the likely impact of any proposed changes. Having those relationships in place before issues arise is incredibly important.”

What happens next

Over the coming year West wants the focus group to build a foundation of industry data and intelligence, and a broader understanding of the issues that matter most to airgun businesses. She wants it to represent every part of the sector, from manufacturers and importers to distributors and retailers, because each sees different challenges and opportunities. Her message to businesses that are not yet involved is direct. “If you want the airgun trade to remain strong, protected and future-proofed, it is important to be part of the wider industry conversation. Becoming a member of the GTA is the first step,” she said. The more businesses that get involved, she added, “the better equipped we will be to safeguard the sector for years to come”.