Is DSC1 now mandatory?

[Orion]

In some areas anyway!

From some of the threads in the 'Legal Issues' section of the forum it appears that some police FLDs are now insisting that DSC1 is achieved before they will grant an FAC. There's even one applicant who has been informed that they, (Gwent?), are willing to grant if DSC1 is booked, but the certificate will be revoked if it isn't taken!

Is this a sign of DSC1 being made mandatory by the back door? Even BASC are being quoted as advising an applicant, "the CC is within his right so if you want to shoot deer you will have to take your DSC."

Anybody else received this kind of 'advice' or been forced into DSC1 before the grant of a cert?

 

[scrun63]

Exactly the opposite. I told my FAC Dept that i wanted a deer stalking rifle (having had a shotgun cert for 20 plus years). I had to produce permission for land to shoot over with the formal application and it was granted without any problems.

To raise the old topic, it just seems that Basc etc have an interest in having DSC1 mandatory, either by the front or back door.

Andrew

 

[bobt]

I suppose its become like a driving licence?

you need a mentor to sit with you, or a test to say you are safe,

I know a few locals, I would never have given a FAC to,

 

[stig]

I know a few locals, I would never have given a FAC to,

I know a few I wouldn't even have given an air rifle to, never mind a SGC or FAC...

I hate to say it, I have no issue with people being required to prove they are a safe gun handler and can take safe shots before being granted anything that launches a lethal projectile... it's in no one's interest to have the place over run with fools with guns!

I know there's a cost issue, and if there was a firearms proficiency test (when I was in the cadets (cira. 1987) they made me do one before I could fire live rounds) for the price of a driving test perhaps that would be better than enforcing DSC 1 which just lines the back pocket of BASC et al... I did my DSC 1 before I shot a deer and I'm glad I did... anyway... I best run for cover...

 

[Dekit]

I come under Gwent FEO i have my FAC .243 but the FEO wont put Deer on there untill i have done a paid Stalk and given him evidence of this ! All i have on it at the moment is Fox. I do have a 17 HMR witch is open !!!! for vermin. I am hopeing to go at the end of May with a friend ( Teckel ) so fingers crossed it will then have Deer on there...

ATB

Steve

 

[webby954]

i will be doing my dsc late this year i am lucky in that i am ex infantry so rifle safety was trained in to you so can see the sense in some form of safety issue
webby

 

[223]

No its not, dont let your firearms dept put silly conditions on you.

You just need to know how to push the right buttons with these people and put them inbetween a rock and a hard place keep on at them in a constructive manner and as long as your reqeust is safe and you have GOOD REASON and a NEED you will win in the end.

 

[bogtrotter]

No its not but my force have put all the FEOs through DSC1 why?

 

[stig]

i have my FAC .243 but the FEO wont put Deer on there untill i have done a paid Stalk and given him evidence of this !

So your FEO is playing what card exactly here? Certainly NOT safety!

I'm not saying I disagree with what I believe he is getting at (proficiency at humanly dispatching a large animal)... but he has no right to impose that condition!

 

[just]

I believe that the DSC 1 is a 4 day course !? In that case there is no chance of me being able to attend as i am self employed and have a young family to look after ! So that would rule me out of the sport ! Shocking if that's the trend !!!

 

[Mutley]

Not mandatory in the Thames Valley area as far as I know, had Deer on mine for 3 years. However you can always learn more, so doing a DSC1 in June, looking forward too it.

 

[bogtrotter]

I believe that the DSC 1 is a 4 day course !? In that case there is no chance of me being able to attend as i am self employed and have a young family to look after ! So that would rule me out of the sport ! Shocking if that's the trend !!!

Not necessarily a 4 day course some do it in 2 days believe you can even get on line tuition now, or if you think you have the required knowledge you can do just an assessment.

 

[al4x1]

I know a few I wouldn't even have given an air rifle to, never mind a SGC or FAC...

I hate to say it, I have no issue with people being required to prove they are a safe gun handler and can take safe shots before being granted anything that launches a lethal projectile... it's in no one's interest to have the place over run with fools with guns!

why would doing the DSC make you a safe shot?

Simple facts are you can get a .243 for fox with few questions asked in a lot of areas. Then ask for deer and they get all funny and its certainly not about how safe you are. Which makes you wonder why they are asking for it when their business is licensing firearms, I've got mine with a simple deer when accompanied condition. As so far I've done accompanied stalks its fine and I'm happy as I'm gaining experience that way and will get around to getting it lifted at some point. If I do the DSC it will purely be for a bit of paper rather than thinking its better than learning on the ground, safety wise its not much of an issue I've been using CF's for a fair few years for foxes and I doubt it will make any difference to shots I take.

 

[just]

Not necessarily a 4 day course some do it in 2 days believe you can even get on line tuition now, or if you think you have the required knowledge you can do just an assessment.

Thank's there ! I see BDS do one online, Fantastic ! Fraction of the cost too, that was kept quiet !!!

 

[just]

why would doing the DSC make you a safe shot?

Simple facts are you can get a .243 for fox with few questions asked in a lot of areas. Then ask for deer and they get all funny and its certainly not about how safe you are. Which makes you wonder why they are asking for it when their business is licensing firearms, I've got mine with a simple deer when accompanied condition. As so far I've done accompanied stalks its fine and I'm happy as I'm gaining experience that way and will get around to getting it lifted at some point. If I do the DSC it will purely be for a bit of paper rather than thinking its better than learning on the ground, safety wise its not much of an issue I've been using CF's for a fair few years for foxes and I doubt it will make any difference to shots I take.

with you all the way, what's the difference in shooting a fox o'r a deer !? apart from deer going into the food chain, maybe we/they should be concentrating more on food/preparation hygiene courses !!??

 

[reiver]

No need for Dsc1 for me to shoot deer so no need for me to have dsc1

 

[MrYou]

Dont think its manatory yet, if it does become mandatory i dont suppose it be a bad thing,for our sport, for the same reasons stated above. Even the Basc £££ mark up is for our sport benefit also........As far as having time to do the dsc 1 or equivelant recognition......if you have time for outings & the sport you have time to sit it. Even been for the experienced shooter , The dsc or equivelant courses refresh you of the things we have forgot, & saftey is experience , as far as im conserned . When using any firearm over 223 some skill course should be implemeted , for reasons of understanding firearms & the effects. I know of clowns who do not realise the power or damage caused by larger calibers, & have discharged rounds accidently !!

 

[Brithunter]

Lincs have put all the feos through it as well. the one i get still knows little to zilch...................... just another waste of Public funds.
Oh check the accident rates for countries with compulsory training......................................... it's far higher than ours. Just another TAX and control on us that's all.

 

[rarms]

I believe that the DSC 1 is a 4 day course !? In that case there is no chance of me being able to attend as i am self employed and have a young family to look after ! So that would rule me out of the sport ! Shocking if that's the trend !!!

Or you could learn the answers to some multiple choice questions online or from a CD, shoot 9 holes in a couple of bits of paper at an assessment and job done!

 

[roedeerred]

NO DSC is not mandatory if your FLO tries to insist I have it on good athority you should challange it.
You only need to show good reason.
Also mentor is condition you could challange but more difficult if you have had no experiance with rifles.