BBC Midlands Today
A Birmingham woman whose twin sister and two nieces were shot with a legitimate weapon, said that she believes that “voices have been heard”, as strict control over the license of firearms comes in law.
Emma Embler Campaign For strict laws around gun licensing since her sister, Kelly Fitzgiban, and her two nieces, Ava and Lexi Needam, were murdered in her west Sussex house in 2020.
Changes include an increase in the number of references required for shotgun certificate applications.
“This is the first time I have seen some changes, which means something,” said Ms. Ambler.
“It has taken a lot of time of my life for a long time,” he said.
“But to know that, in fact, all this time has not been wasted and people are now listening, that policy and guidance is not strong enough … it needs to be strengthened, and they are working in that direction, it was really quite a moment.”
Robert Needam, Ms. Fitzgibon’s partner and Ava and father of the father of Lexi, along with family dogs, shot and killed them before he turned a gun on her own, at her home in Woodmant, at her home.
A Domestic suicide The review found that he lied to the police on his shotgun application about the treatment of previous faults and depression.
From August 5, people applying for the shotgun certificate application will require two referee instead of one.
The referee needs to know the applicant well for at least two years and will need to fast for them – which the house office said that it would ensure that there was more opportunity to raise or recognize concerns.
Ms. Embler said, “I don’t want any other family to go until we are doing forever, but especially if it can be stopped in some way,” said Ms. Ambler.
“This has become a real mission for me to ensure that what happened to Kelly does not happen to anyone else.”
She told the BBC that she was hopeful, and the changes made her emotional.
What is changing?
Rules change on the number of referee was a direct response to concerns raised by senior coroner, who conducted the inquiry after a deadly firing in Plymouth in 2021, the home office said. Jake Davison shot his mother And four others before killing themselves.
Under the new rules, the police should now talk to partners and members of the houses to identify signs of domestic misconduct, as well as other factors that may indicate that the applicant is not suitable for keeping a license.
Additional investigation should be done to ensure that people with records of violence are not allowed to reach the firearms.
Questions about evidence of dishonesty, as well as their integrity will have an impact – if someone lies on their application or does not disclose medical conditions, it will bring their suitability to keep a gun in question.
Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said: “Only those who meet the highest standards of security and responsibility should be allowed to use shotguns or firearms, and it is important that the police have complete information about the suitability of all the applicants for these deadly weapons.”
Jess Philips, a minister and labor MP for Birmingham Yardley, said, “What Emma had done for me the first thing, did she educate me what were the current gun licensing laws.”
“He told me that there was nothing about the issue of dishonesty … it was proved in his sister’s case that he [Robert Needham] Lied – this is another thing that we have updated under guidance.
“Where there is dishonesty in form-filling, he should stand to keep a license against you, which I think is basic.”
He said that there were a product to listen to people like Ms. Ambler updated update of guidance, and learn from results in cases like Plymouth shooting And one Series of shooting in Scottish Highlands,
Government to strengthen further guidance
Philips said, “Earlier, even though it has been found that someone lied on a form, even what their address is … it will not be against you, and now the guidance is clear.”
“It is impossible to prove, in a way or another, that he [Needham] Must have not gone out and other means found.
“But of course, if these changes were applied, he would not have been able to take a gun license and he would not be able to kill so soon and so many people.
House office said Juliana Falcon firing And her two children in Luton in September 2024.
Juliana’s son, Nicholas, cheated the gun online.
It said that the government would consult on measures to strengthen existing controls on guns and would be seeking considerations on ways to improve control of the firearms.