Questions regarding differences between Scottish and English FAC's, Firearms Laws

Im police scotland and my only condition in part 5 says, the firearms and ammunition shall be used for the lawful shooting of vermin inlcuding fox, groud game ,deer and any other lawful quarry , and for zwroing and practice o n ranges and land over which the holder has lawful authority to shoot,

i think this is deemed as an open cert am i right?

Those bleedin' cops in Scotland can't spell, can they. :lol:
 
yes, pretty standard wording from Police Scotland now

I agree (I am based in Scotland) and this is standard stuff, basically you can practice or shoot legal quarry on land where you have permission.... so very much “open”.

I used to have terms like ....”and for the humane dispatch of animals” / “any pest control” / “vermin” but don’t think they always provide those by default now.

The main difference you will hear refered to (on this forum) is about “land being cleared” which I have never understood.

that said, I would also add, that on any application/renewal it is helpful (but not necessary) to show that you have a suitable place to shoot (I.e a farm for the .243 as oppose to your back garden!). Equally, there are many FAC holder who don’t have a regular permission or own land and just pay as they go on various farms or estates. This is easily communicated during an application - surprise surprise, it simply shows good reason = box ticked!
 
I agree (I am based in Scotland) and this is standard stuff, basically you can practice or shoot legal quarry on land where you have permission.... so very much “open”.

I used to have terms like ....”and for the humane dispatch of animals” / “any pest control” / “vermin” but don’t think they always provide those by default now.

The main difference you will hear refered to (on this forum) is about “land being cleared” which I have never understood.

that said, I would also add, that on any application/renewal it is helpful (but not necessary) to show that you have a suitable place to shoot (I.e a farm for the .243 as oppose to your back garden!). Equally, there are many FAC holder who don’t have a regular permission or own land and just pay as they go on various farms or estates. This is easily communicated during an application - surprise surprise, it simply shows good reason = box ticked!
Land being cleared is an English thing.
 
I can easily clarify one point, there is absolutely no difference in Firearms Licensing between different parts of the UK for the simple and sufficient reason that there is no such thing as firearms licensing anywhere in the UK. Sorry about being a stuck record on this, but nowhere in the relevant legislation will you find the words licence or licensing, regardless of how much the public servants in the Home Office or police officers might wish there was. We have certificates, not licences, and while the difference might be subtle, it is significant. A licence means that you have been granted permission, a certificate acknowledges that you have met the legislative requirement to exercise your right to possess / use the specified firearms.

Look at the legislation:-

27 Special provisions about firearm certificates.E+W+S
[
F1(1)A firearm certificate shall be granted
28Special provisions about shot gun certificates.E+W+S
[
F1(1)Subject to subsection (1A) below, a shot gun certificate shall be granted

Note the use of the verb "shall", not "may" . . .

Then if there are no such thing as firearm licenses, Why must I apply to The Firearms and Explosives Licensing Department. Just saying :stir:
 
Then if there are no such thing as firearm licenses, Why must I apply to The Firearms and Explosives Licensing Department. Just saying :stir:

Everyone says there is no such thing as car tax 'it's a road fund license' yet on all the official paperwork and adverts etc it says don't forget to tax your car!
 
Carl your going start them off again !! .. :british: :rofl:
C.H is correct
We hold a Certificate , be it shotgun or firearm , but Its the Licencing team that finds out if we can hold a Certificate and vie the PNC/other ect , were are subject to in depth searches to find out if we are clear from being a bad guy ! and on there say so this is what allows us to hold said firearms or shotguns Certs or not .
How to apply

You can get a firearm or shotgun certificate application form from the firearms licensing unit of your local police force.
 
I'd imagine a good number of eighteenth-century Scottish peasants would question that statement...:tiphat:

Aye Carl, With Scottish noblemen like the master of Stair on our side 1648-1707 the English were the least of our problems.
However slider is correct,we don't have land cleared in Gods country, that is until the English FAL officers move in with their silly ideas..

John Dalrymple, 1st Earl of Stair (10 November 1648 – 8 January 1707) was a Scottish politician and lawyer. As Joint Secretary of State in Scotland 1691-1695, he played a key role in suppressing the 1689-1692 Jacobite Rising and was forced to resign in 1695 for his part in the Massacre of Glencoe. Restored to favour under Queen Anne in 1702 and made Earl of Stair in 1703, he was closely involved in negotiations over the 1707 Acts of Union that created the Kingdom of Great Britain but died on 8 January 1707, several months before the Act became law.
 
Off at a tangent, but ..........

Given the current political shenanigans and posturing, what are the medium to long term chances of any private individual retaining ownership of firearms if the SNP gain total control over legislation in Scotland?
 
Then if there are no such thing as firearm licenses, Why must I apply to The Firearms and Explosives Licensing Department. Just saying :stir:
Perhaps because the Department has two roles: it is a combination of 'The Firearms Department' and 'The Explosives Licensing Department', and the title is just rather inaccurately worded?
Or perhaps it was named by folk who either wish there were 'Firearms Licences', or aren't aware that there aren't?
 
Perhaps because the Department has two roles: it is a combination of 'The Firearms Department' and 'The Explosives Licensing Department', and the title is just rather inaccurately worded?
Or perhaps it was named by folk who either wish there were 'Firearms Licences', or aren't aware that there aren't?
When you call them they answer the phone " you are through to firearms licensing how may I help"
Any correspondence you are told to address to firearms licensing.
 
Perhaps because the Department has two roles: it is a combination of 'The Firearms Department' and 'The Explosives Licensing Department', and the title is just rather inaccurately worded?
Or perhaps it was named by folk who either wish there were 'Firearms Licences', or aren't aware that there aren't?

When you call them they answer the phone " you are through to firearms licensing how may I help"
Any correspondence you are told to address to firearms licensing.
I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the second part of mine as quoted above.
 
Off at a tangent, but ..........

Given the current political shenanigans and posturing, what are the medium to long term chances of any private individual retaining ownership of firearms if the SNP gain total control over legislation in Scotland?

Of course there will you will just need to jump through more hoops, after all they want all the deer shot to further their plan of rewilding.
 
.
Off at a tangent, but ..........

Given the current political shenanigans and posturing, what are the medium to long term chances of any private individual retaining ownership of firearms if the SNP gain total control over legislation in Scotland?
They wont,simply because if we ever get independence it will not be this lot taking office. We will have a general election with new focuses and most of the loudmouths will find themselves out of a job,especially those feeding in the trough that is Westminster. :lol:
On yet another tangent, I should think the remaining pockets of the UK will have their own fences to mend with regard to holding onto firearms.
I am afraid this backlash against our sport is neither a Scottish or even a Uk wide attack ..
 
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