Firearms certificate application

[VSS]

Perhaps, I'm assuming it works smoothly in Canada...maybe some lads from that neck of the woods will chime in if they catch this thread, be interesting to know

Just because it works somewhere else, doesn't mean it would work here. Two different cultures.
And besides, in many other countries the hunting laws are much more restrictive than in the UK (eg, tag systems, bag limits, very short hunting seasons, illegal to sell what you've shot, etc etc) and we really don’t want our government getting any ideas about that sort of thing.

 

[DVS1]

True...no need for them to get THAT involved...especially if they struggle to follow the current legislation accurately but I'd still be interested to know how smooth it could work. After all I believe Bisleys saftey course involves firearms handling assessment...22lr, lever action, CF??

 

[Loki]

Hi

Somewhere in the responses to this post, the Home Office Guidance was referenced - when I have raised this in the past with FEO's the reply has been '...its just guidance and so irrelevant'.

L

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

If you have only done dsc1 and nothing else id say thats not grounds tbf without sounding harsh.

Get on some range days and experience diffrent rifle types and calobers to get a good idea of what you want to do/ would like.

Do some paid stalks aswell.

Your demonstrating a reason then.

Police around me are really cutting back on people with cf rifles. They know people are not shooting deer as theres a 75% increase in deer related accidents. People sitting on lots of land and doing nothing.

Its a case of proving you need a rifle and your going to actually use it, and your capable of using it safley

 

[KimE]

Heaven forbid that, please!
Our firearms laws are just fine how they are thanks. All that needs doing is for the current legislation to be properly and consistently applied.

No not really UK firearm laws are strange its interesting to see as an outsider, Swedish firearm laws are far from perfect but reasonble then I see your laws.


I took a hunting exam education (with firearm safety included , rimfire, shotgun and medium bore rifle) after the examina you are considered by the police to have a need of up to 6 hunting shotguns/rifles. The Police doesn`t visit us unless you are a criminal and your permission to have hunting firearms are lifelong. We do have the same law in the whole country.

 

[markm81]

If you have only done dsc1 and nothing else id say thats not grounds tbf without sounding harsh.

Get on some range days and experience diffrent rifle types and calobers to get a good idea of what you want to do/ would like.

Do some paid stalks aswell.

Your demonstrating a reason then.

Police around me are really cutting back on people with cf rifles. They know people are not shooting deer as theres a 75% increase in deer related accidents. People sitting on lots of land and doing nothing.

Its a case of proving you need a rifle and your going to actually use it, and your capable of using it safley

If you had read some of my previous comments you would have seen what I had done and provided with my application, i did an introduction to deer stalking course, paid stalks, range sessions and did my DSC 1 and all this information and receipts from all that was in along side my application, also still doing paid stalks yet aswell. Just because they said I dont have enough experience it's not going to hold me back from applying again in 6 months or so. I spoke to someone else and they said it was BS and never heard of this as a reason to refuse as they could have granted me it and just applied conditions on it.

 

[markm81]

Good points, but I'd argue slightly off the mark for the OP's situation.

The HO guidance suggests that paid stalks are good reason. And evidence of such bookings past and future are sufficient.

I would assume the OP has suitable storage.

So by your statement, he should have his ticket. He doesn't... Because the police aren't happy with his ability to safely handle firearms. That has nothing to do with either of your points.

Yes DSC1 is not a be all and end all, but neither is being mentored by someone else... I have seen plenty examples of poor firearms and shotgun discipline from certificate holders and "experienced" shots, and some you could chalk up to being in the heat of the moment (on a simulated/regular game day) but other times were suggestive of "typical behaviour"...

When i had the home visit the FEO was more than happy with my storage, gun cabinet and separate ammo safe. Everything else is fine it was just the lack of experience they had said was what reason they would be refusing my application

 

[VSS]

When i had the home visit the FEO was more than happy with my storage, gun cabinet and separate ammo safe. Everything else is fine it was just the lack of experience they had said was what reason they would be refusing my application

Chicken and egg situation:
They deem your current experience to be "not enough", but how on earth can you do more than you have without a FAC and rifle of your own?
Either there's more to this than meets the eye, or they're just being ****holes.

 

[75]

not going to hold me back from applying again in 6 months or so.

Pretty sure you said earlier you’re a BASC member. That’s what they are there for and what you pay your subs for - use their support! On surface this looks unreasonably and you have no reason not to be grated an FAC but we don’t know every last nuance. BASC firearms team will be able to give much better guidance and I really wouldn’t roll over for fear of rocking the boat.

 

[Dunwaters]

Our laws in Ireland are a model of sense and consistency in comparison to what you guys are dealing with.
From this and similar threads, I have more than a slight suspicion that things have changed recently.
Your police appear to be actively looking for reasons to withhold or withdraw certificates.
Have Home Office guidelines changed?

 

[Bo Diddley]

Your police appear to be actively looking for reasons to withhold or withdraw certificates.

Apparently, this is so.

I was in my local RFD buying powder last week. He told me a story.

A nice man, one of his customers, his wife, and their two children were shopping in the market town. They had all been under the weather with a virus for a week or two, and one of the kids started playing up in the road. Dad jerks him out of the road and tells him to behave... apparently he was reported to the police for how he dealt with the situation, they knocked on his door... gave him the option of either voluntarily surrendering his shotguns or having them siezed... him being a generally good egg, voluntarily surrendered them... he has no hope of getting them back now apparently