At its annual general meeting in March 2026 the British Shooting Sports Council elected Laura Saunsbury and her co-author in the Firearms Law Handbook, barrister Nick Doherty, as joint honorary Legal Advisors to the Council. The BSSC is an umbrella body which brings together representatives from the major shooting organisations in Great Britain to work together on achieving a consensus in relation to political and legislative issues affecting the shooting sports and associated hobbies such as collecting antique or deactivated firearms. The primary objective of the BSSC is to promote and safeguard the lawful possession and use of firearms and air weapons in the UK for sporting and recreational purposes. The Council has a powerful voice in influencing and shaping changes to legislation and guidance relating to firearms possession. Laura is delighted to have been given the opportunity of contributing to the work of the BSSC.
This appointment complements other honorary roles Laura already holds. The annual general meeting of the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association also took place in March 2026, and Laura was re-elected by the membership as the honorary solicitor and shotgun licensing advisor to the CPSA, a position which she has continuously held for 17 years now since 2009. The CPSA is the national governing body in England for the sport of clay target shooting and has over 20,000 members.
In addition, Laura has been the honorary solicitor since 2015 to the Deactivated Weapons Association, the trade body for dealers in deactivated firearms and associated militaria.
Both the CPSA and the DWA are member bodies which are represented on the British Shooting Sports Council. Laura also works closely with other membership organisations in the BSSC such as the Gun Trade Association, the trade body in Great Britain for registered firearms dealers.