One woman’s mission to unite the shooting community

Shooter-led movement forms to confront firearms licensing proposals

A Facebook group created just over a week ago has already mobilised thousands of shooters in what could be the swiftest grassroots response to firearms policy in recent memory.

Its founder, Claire Bagehot, has never led a campaign before. But when she went looking for information about the Government’s impending firearms licensing consultation, she was disappointed by the lack of guidance. The social media posts she encountered were vague: “There’s a consultation coming up. Please contact your MP.” No links, no sources, no indication of what to actually say. 

So on 18 November, the performance coach and mentor from Dyfed-Powys in Wales created a Facebook group called Support Our Sport. Within a week, almost 2,000 people had joined. “Like me, they wanted to understand what was going on and what they could do,” said Ms Bagehot.

.

The impending consultation: why shooters must respond

At the heart of the issue is the Government’s proposed merger of Section 1 firearms and Section 2 shotgun certificate processes – a change the shooting industry warns could eventually dismantle legal gun ownership in Britain. A public consultation is expected imminently, though no date has been confirmed.

Ms Bageshot has made it her mission to mobilise shooters. Statistics from the last firearms-related public consultation in 2023 reveal that just 19% of responses came from members of the shooting community, whilst 81% came from outside. For a community of hundreds of thousands facing what many consider an existential threat, that silence is deafening.

“The vast majority of respondents to the 2023 consultation weren’t shooters – and yet they had the majority say in our daily lives, our businesses, our livelihoods, our hobbies,” Ms Bagehot said. “That’s insane.”

She estimates that whilst half of shooters are aware of the proposed licensing changes, only a third know about the forthcoming consultation. Another group believes nothing will change – a dangerous complacency Ms Bagehot is working to dispel. “When that mentality is in the machine, something will go through. It’s a given,” she said.

.

How to engage with MPs on proposed firearms licensing changes

Ms Bagehot’s background as a performance coach has proved invaluable. She understands motivation, communication and how to mobilise people towards a common goal. She created the Facebook group with a clear mission statement: “information, inspiration and implementation”.

What sets her apart is her insistence on constructive dialogue rather than confrontation. She has banned “pitchforking” – angry, unproductive ranting – from the group. “It doesn’t serve anything,” she said. “It will play into the cause of those who want to shut everything down as soon as possible.”

Instead, she advocates sustained engagement with MPs. When shooters receive standard responses, she urges them to respond with follow-up questions. “People email their MP and get a response back and think ‘great, that’s my bit done’,” she said. “But they should email back, ask more questions and explain their lived experience.” Getting shooters to do this, however, means overcoming what she calls “the British problem”. 

“The British don’t want to intrude, invade, or be a nuisance,” she said. “In other countries, if a diner gets a horrendous meal at a restaurant, they send it back. Here, people will eat it and tell the waiter it’s great.” This cultural reticence, she says, extends to political engagement, where shooters give up after one response. She is encouraging what she calls “shot two” – the follow-up that turns a transactional exchange into genuine dialogue.

The ultimate goal is finding solutions that work for all stakeholders. “I would love to find a win for the government, for the police, for the firearms licensing authorities and a win for us,” she said. “That’s what we’ve got to strive for.”

.

Why unity matters: bringing together all shooting disciplines

The inclusive approach has seen Ms Bagehot reach across traditional divides. Her Facebook group includes rifle shooters, pistol shooters and even people who do not own guns but work in the industry. “If we’re not all together, they’re going to pick apart the whole lot because it’s easier to pick on smaller groups and dismantle them,” she said.

She is lobbying major shooting organisations for greater communication with their members and the wider community. Her strategy involves reaching shooters through every available channel: shooting grounds, gun shops, instructors, cartridge suppliers, clothing companies and magazines. She is particularly conscious of older shooters who may not use social media.

.

Why shooting’s contribution to society needs better recognition

Another challenge Ms Bagehot faces is the public misperception of – particularly game – shooting as the preserve of wealthy white men. “People don’t realise how many people are actually involved – the diversity of status, class, education – and what it adds to the wider community,” Ms Bagehot said.

She points to initiatives such as the Country Food Trust hubs, which distribute thousands of game birds weekly to food banks and community food projects. “That’s a brilliant story,” she said. “Without shooting, how are you going to plug that food bank gap? This is the kind of stuff that would be amazing for people to tell their MPs.”

According to the 2024 Value of Shooting report, the industry contributes £3.3 billion to the UK economy. Yet it remains poorly understood by a public whose main exposure to firearms comes through increasingly violent films and television.

It’s a misunderstanding Ms Bagehot is determined to challenge, not least because of what shooting has given her. She credits competitive clay shooting with transforming her life since she took it up less than two years ago after 17 years living in Italy. “The personal and professional growth that I’ve seen within myself – in all the years I’ve done personal development, I’ve never had this,” she said. “But I need that longevity of the sport to be able to keep doing it.” 

.

Maintaining momentum before the consultation

As the consultation looms with no confirmed date, the challenge is maintaining momentum. The Facebook group has become a repository of tactics, templates and success stories.

“People are coming out with so many ideas,” she said. “Within the community, we all have niches and expertise to share.” She plans to create video guides, establish a website and continue to build connections with prominent figures who might lend their voices to the cause. But growth for growth’s sake is not the goal.

“I don’t really care about growing the Facebook group,” she said. “But I do care about people knowing that they have something they can do.” 

The group aims to ensure shooters are informed and ready to respond when the firearms licensing consultation opens.

.

What shooters can do now to oppose firearms licensing changes

Ms Bagehot’s call to action is straightforward: don’t assume people know what’s happening, don’t assume they know what to do, and don’t give up after one attempt.

“Assumptions are going to leave a lot of people behind,” she said. “Just talk to people and ask questions that will open up dialogue. People won’t get inspired by angry people. They’ll get inspired by solutions.”

Join the group: Support Our Sport

Click here to join the Facebook group.