Which event prompted the tightening of firearm regulations in the UK, including bans on semi-automatic rifles?

• A. Hungerford massacre
• B. Dunblane massacre
• C. Hungerford incident
• D. Stockwell shooting

Answer: (A)

The situation tested here is how tragic events drive changes in firearm laws. The Hungerford massacre in 1987 showed the potential scale of harm from legally owned weapons and sparked a public outcry for tighter controls. In response, the UK government introduced the Firearms Act 1988, which tightened licensing and specifically banned semi-automatic rifles for civilian use. That event is the direct trigger for the tightening that included bans on semi-automatic rifles.

Later, Dunblane in 1996 led to further, more sweeping handgun bans, but it wasn’t about semi-automatic rifles. The Stockwell shooting didn’t produce the same legislative response.