Northern Ireland Gun Permit Fees Skyrocket

0:00That's your update from Europe News Today, powered by AI, I'm Cory with the story. Gun permit fees in Northern Ireland are about to jump big time. The basic fire arm certificate will go from 98 pounds to 250 pounds. That's a 153 percent hike. Justice Minister Naomi Long dropped this news Monday kicking off a public consultation. They're not stopping there. A full fire arm certificate shoots up from 300 pounds to 764 pounds. The Department of Justice wants all fees bumped by that same 153 percent starting June 2025. Then tweet for inflation. Officials say these permits only cover about 40 percent of the real costs right now, leaving a nearly 2 million pound shortfall next year. With public services stretched thin, they can't keep subsidizing it. Rural voices are pushing back hard. Mid-Auster's Patsy Maglone slammed it as an anti-country move, saying it'll hit farmers guarding livestock and folks into clay pigeon shooting.

1:01He warns it'll price every day rural shooters out, turning it into a rich person's game. Consultations just getting started, so keep an eye on how this plays out for gun owners across the region.