FORGED FIREARMS AND SHOTGUN CERTIFICATES

[Conor O'Gorman]

I'm sure @Conor O'Gorman would be interested in that written instruction from your FLD, as a matter of professional interest, without getting into the conversation.

The problem that the way that transaction has occurred, like it or not, is that the RFD that gifted you the rifle is now responsible for that rifle being safe and in proof.

What happens to a potentially criminal investigation, if that rifle was to fail on a firing point at a range, and a third party was injured?

I don't know what the story is here but if the person is a BASC member and needs advice then best to email firearms@basc.org.uk

 

[west_meon]

The seller did not transfer the rifle to me, he transferred it to his RFD. That is absolutely fine. RFD to RFD transfer is also fine. My RFD then transferred it to me. That meant that it had to go through both RFDs books, but they charged an admin fee for doing it. He also checked the rifle for me as a matter of course, for which he also charged me. If it had any safety issues it would have gone back whence it came.

 

[VSS]

The seller did not transfer the rifle to me, he transferred it to his RFD. That is absolutely fine. RFD to RFD transfer is also fine. My RFD then transferred it to me. That meant that it had to go through both RFDs books, but they charged an admin fee for doing it.

So who did you pay for the rifle?


(Incidentally, the way you describe it is the way it was commonly done for years, but it isn't legal. There's been a bit of a clamp down recently, and most rfds would now refuse to do it that way).

 

[west_meon]

Why does the money matter? The law is there to make sure firearms transfers are monitored and transparent, with no missing links in the chain. It doesn’t matter if it was bought, paid for or gifted so long as the transfers were correctly notified. The police are aware that the rifle has left one ticket, gone through the hands and registers of 2 RFDs and onto my ticket. Not quite sure why people are getting hot under the collar about it?

Youngsters who have a FAC but who are too young to purchase a rifle can be ‘given’ it by the RFD. The parent, who has no FAC, then makes a ‘donation’ to the RFD. That’s how the FLD tell you to do it. Why is this any different?

 

[VSS]

Why does that matter? The law is there to make sure firearms transfers are monitored and transparent, with no missing links in the chain. It doesn’t matter if it was bought, paid for or gifted.

It does matter, because legally the person you bought the rifle from (ie, the person you paid for it) is the person who has to complete the relevant boxes on your FAC, not the rfd who hands it over to you at the end of its journey.
And that's that.

I 100% agree with you that the way you carried out the transfer was safer and infinitely more sensible, and I've done it that way myself, but it is not legal and leaves both you and the seller, together with two rfds, at risk of potentially (worst case scenario) losing tickets.
In the past it didn't seem to matter too much, but now the correct application of the law is being taken more seriously.

 

[timbrayford]

It does matter, because legally the person you bought the rifle from (ie, the person you paid for it) is the person who has to complete the relevant boxes on your FAC, not the rfd who hands it over to you at the end of its journey.
And that's that.

I 100% agree with you that the way you carried out the transfer was safer and infinitely more sensible, and I've done it that way myself, but it is not legal and leaves both you and the seller, together with two rfds, at risk of potentially (worst case scenario) losing tickets.
In the past it didn't seem to matter too much, but now the correct application of the law is being taken more seriously.

Best for the FLD to do what the law requires of them and not to make up their own versions, that's the role of parliament not police.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

I don't know what the story is here but if the person is a BASC member and needs advice then best to email firearms@basc.org.uk

Basically we have some people incorrectly stating that remote sale of a firearm doesn't require you to send your FAC to the seller. You were tagged because the poster was claiming his FLD told him to transfer via RFD but not by the correct legal method. So more a heads up that allegedly Gwent FLD are giving out advise that breaks the Law, should BASC wish to look into it. If true it is a worrying state of affairs that those charged with implementing firearms licensing are instructing people to break the law.