UK to ban lead ammunition

It goes without saying that banning guns is not the only way to effectively disarm civilians. Imposing burdensome restrictions, regulations, or even bans on ammunition is an obvious backdoor tactic for disarmament. NRA-ILA has covered what the UN has been working on most recently that would have devastating impacts on the ammunition supply here in the U.S.

Fortunately, NRA is working with the Trump Administration to ensure the U.S. delegation to the UN does not acquiesce to the anti-gun/anti-ammunition operatives on a global level.

NRA has also worked to ensure homegrown attacks on traditional, lead-based ammunition do not succeed. Other organizations, like the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), have also worked in concert with NRA to thwart federal, state and local campaigns to ban or severely restrict the use of lead ammunition.

But our cousins across the pond are not so fortunate.

The British government recently announced it would begin implementing bans on the use of lead ammunition in England, Scotland, and Wales next year, with a full ban being finalized in 2029. There are some exemptions, including for outdoor ranges “with risk management measures in place,” certain caliber firearms used for hunting, and air guns. Of course, police and military will also be exempt.

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The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) — which touts itself as “the UK’s largest shooting organization, with a membership of 150,000” — noted its involvement with the discussion over the proposal, which began in 2022. The BASC states opposition to the classification of all rifles chambered in .243 and above as “large calibre,” and not qualified for any lead-ban exemption.

Other than that, however, the group seems to be satisfied with the final proposal. They imply that the shooting community will now have time to be prepared for the transition, and ammunition manufacturers will be able to supply “a range of viable alternatives to lead.”

We have not seen any scientific studies produced that support the purported justification for this new restriction on ammunition. The claim, as is often the case for similar restrictions proposed here, is that the ban is necessary because “(UK) rivers are heavily polluted, and majestic birds are declining at an alarming rate.” Even if that’s true, it doesn’t establish that lead ammunition is to blame.

The UK ban on lead ammunition provides a cautionary tale. If not for the efforts of NRA and other organizations dedicated to the preservation of our hunting heritage, we could easily see similar proposals succeed across the country, or even at the national level.

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