It's not a shotgun 'licence' ...

[Trapped]

It's not a shotgun 'licence', it a CERTIFICATE.

You have a driving licence to drive a car (not to own one).
You have a shotgun certificate to own a shotgun.

 

[eightlittlebits]

Correct, and yet it's a firearms licensing department. Not sure it functionally makes any difference.

You can drive a car if you have a driving licence, you can own a shotgun if you have a shotgun certificate.

 

[MartynB]

You are licensed to drive a car , you are licensed to own a firearm , the certificate is the equivalent of a vehicles V5 .

 

[westley]

Most of those involved in gun crime have neither

 

[Golf0k]

Agreed! but calling it a license is not bad!

 

[westley]

It's not a shotgun 'licence', it a CERTIFICATE.

You have a driving licence to drive a car (not to own one).
You have a shotgun certificate to own a shotgun.

Does it really matter ?
It is still relatively easy to lose it, Licence or Certificate !