A Birmingham woman who tragically lost her twin sister and two nieces to gun violence, perpetrated with a legally owned firearm, has expressed a sense of progress, stating that she believes “voices have been heard” as stricter firearms licensing regulations are enacted.
Emma Ambler has actively campaigned for enhanced gun control measures since the devastating murders of her sister, Kelly Fitzgibbons, and her two nieces, Ava and Lexi Needham, at their West Sussex residence in 2020. The perpetrator was Kelly’s partner.
The legal revisions include an increased number of references required for individuals seeking shotgun certificate applications.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen some changes that mean something,” Ms. Ambler stated.
“This has taken over a lot of my life for a long time,” she added.
“But to know that, actually, this hasn’t all been wasted time and people are listening now, that the policy and the guidance isn’t strong enough… it does need to be strengthened, and they’re working that direction, was quite a moment actually.”
Robert Needham, Ms. Fitzgibbons’ partner and the father of Ava and Lexi, fatally shot all three, along with the family dog, at their Woodmancote home before taking his own life.
A domestic homicide review revealed that he had provided false information on his shotgun application to the police, concerning prior convictions and treatment for depression.
Effective August 5th, applicants for shotgun certificates will be required to provide two references instead of one.
Referees must have known the applicant well for a minimum of two years and provide a vouch for their character. The Home Office stated that this measure aims to provide a greater opportunity for concerns to be raised or identified.
“I don’t want any other family to go though what we’ve been through ever, but particularly if it can be preventable in some way,” Ms. Ambler emphasized.
“It’s become a real mission for me to make sure that what happened to Kelly doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Speaking to the BBC, she expressed her hopefulness and the emotional impact of the changes.
The Home Office stated that the rule change regarding the number of referees directly addresses concerns raised by the senior coroner following the inquests into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in 2021, where Jake Davison fatally shot his mother and four others before committing suicide.
Under the new regulations, police are now mandated to interview partners and household members to identify potential signs of domestic abuse, along with other indicators that an applicant may be unsuitable for a license.
Furthermore, enhanced background checks will be implemented to ensure that individuals with a history of violence are denied access to firearms.
Evidence of dishonesty and concerns about an applicant’s integrity will also be considered. Any instances of providing false information on the application or failing to disclose medical conditions will raise questions about their suitability to possess a firearm.
Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson stated, “Only those who meet the highest standards of safety and responsibility should be permitted to use shotguns or firearms, and it is crucial that police have full information about the suitability of all applicants for these lethal weapons.”
“The first thing Emma did for me, was she educated me on what the gun licensing laws were currently,” said Jess Phillips, safeguarding minister and Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley.
“She told me that there was nothing about the issue of dishonesty… it had been proven in her sister’s case that he [Robert Needham] had lied – that is another thing that we’ve updated in the guidance.
“Where there has been dishonesty in the form-filling, that should stand against you having a licence, which I think is basic.”
She explained that these updates to the guidance are a result of listening to voices like Ms. Ambler’s and learning from the outcomes of tragic events such as the Plymouth shootings and a series of shootings in the Scottish Highlands.
“Previously, even if it had been found that somebody had lied on a form, even about what their address is… that wouldn’t stand against you, and now the guidance is clear in that,” Phillips explained.
“It is impossible to prove, one way or another, that he [Needham] wouldn’t have gone out and found other means.
“But certainly, if these changes had been in place, he wouldn’t have been able to hold a gun licence and he wouldn’t have been able to kill so quickly and at will so many people. Of that I am sure,” she asserted.
The Home Office has announced plans to further strengthen guidance, addressing weaknesses identified in the wake of the shootings of Juliana Falcon and two of her children in Luton in September 2024.
Juliana’s son, Nicholas, had acquired the firearm fraudulently online.
The government will be consulting on measures to reinforce existing controls on shotguns and seeking feedback on how to improve oversight of private firearms sales.
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