Extracts from committee stage (Commons) of the Firearms Bill (private bill) - Mar 15

Holly Lynch (Halifax) (Lab):...Amendment 1 would ensure that a person’s social media presence was taken into account when an application for a firearms licence under clause 1 was being considered. Members will be aware of the report summarising the Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation into the prior contact between Devon and Cornwall Police and Jake Davison, who committed the Plymouth mass shooting, which my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport will go into in more detail. The report stated that Davison

“posted prolifically on Reddit… about incels and incel ideology”.

Although he did not express an overt wish to harm anyone, he was involved in the heavily misogynistic and violent incel online community, and

“He also discussed his poor mental health, disillusionment with life and relationships, and dislike of his mother on Reddit and YouTube.”

The report did not identify any individual instance of misconduct or poor performance from Devon and Cornwall Police in relation to the vetting of Davison’s social media during the licensing process, as at that time the statutory guidance on firearms licensing included limited advice on conducting social media checks...

For context, OPEN HERE