Word of warning, Grant or renewal information.

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spforrest

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I just thought i'd share my recent experiences-

Following a recent renewal of both certificates, I was pleased when all my requests were met.
I then bought another cabinet for additional stowage and asked if the FLO could come back and check the additional stowage. On arrival the FLO introduced himself and a colleague. I showed them the new cabinet and location and it was met with their approval. Great I thought until one officer then cautioned me for making a false declaration on the renewal forms, regarding any medical conditions.
I was questioned and a statement was taken, clarification was sought for medical conditions from over twenty years ago !
All I can say is put everything on the form, even completely irrelevant stuff like 'having an in growing toe nail'. (Nothing is irrelevent it would seem)
I appreciate that the Police need to carry out thorough checks on applicants but having to remember and record everything I’ve ever visited the GP for!
This is my third renewal for my Firearms licence and I’ve seen the GP several times over the last 15 years for various minor ailments, Just wish I’d listed them on the form now.
So, I now have to wait and see if I’m charged with the offence (and my licence is revoked). Or receive a caution and retain my licences.
So much for doing what I thought was the right thing and requesting an additional inspection. It will be a very nervous few days wait !

Anyone else had similar experiences ?
 
I would contact BASC if you are a member. There are only certain illnesses that should have a bearing on your fac grant or renewal that you had flu is here nore there.
 
I suggest that it may be advisable for you speak to your shooting organisation, especially as you have mentioned the dreaded caution word. I don't know if you have used this term merely as a means of suggesting a ticking off or if you mean it as a legal caution which is something entirely different and is actually a formal admission of guilt to an accusation. In any case a chat with the firearms department of yourshooting organisation may clarrify a few things.
 
I was told not to mention any medical conditions dating back more than 5 years if it is renewal.
 
I'm no expert in this field, but this sounds both distressing and worrying.

Are you a member of a shootging organisation that offers help with this sort of thing? If so, I'd contact them at once.
When you use the word 'caution', do you actually mean a formal caution? If so, the usual advice that as a FAC-holder one reads about cautions is that one should not accept one without first taking well-informed legal advice.
In any case, I think in your position I would be seeking legal advice from my organisation or if not a member of such, a solicitor experienced in firearms law.

It makes me wonder a bit about my own application. From memory it was the standard form that asks specifically about epilespy (have you now, or have you ever ever had...?), depression or other mental or nervous disorder treated by a GP, and the general 'do you suffer from any medical condition or disability...'.

The first two are fairly specific. The third asks in the present tense 'do you suffer from...', which has always to me suggested that completed episodes of illness from the past (other than psych or neuro, of course) are excluded: and if one had raised lipids, asthma, high blood pressure or similar chronic conditions still ongoing, then those are the ones to list.
 
Last edited:
Hmmm,what particular "ailments" did you miss off the form which they got most excited about?

I realise that is probably a personal question but this is an open forum you raised the thread on.......
 
The form (West Midlands at least) asks the following questions:

15a Do you suffer from any medical condition or disability including alcohol and drug-related conditions? If Yes give details.
15b Have you now, or have you ever had epilepsy? If Yes give details.
15c Have you ever attended your present or a previous General Practitioner (GP) for treatment for depression or any other kind of mental or nervous disorder? If Yes give details.

This can result in quite a complex list of details, so it's worth keeping copy on file so you can use it at renewal. At my last renewal, however, I simply referred West Mids to my previous renewal form for anything prior to the last issue period and they were happy to accept that.

A general principle -that when in doubt it's better to include information than to leave it out- still applies.
 
Just pulled this from the BASC website...
Question 15a
Medical conditions. The question refers to any such condition but it seems reasonable to
mention only those which might have some bearing on your fitness to possess firearms. If
in doubt, put them down. Broadly speaking, if you are fit enough to drive a car on to-day’s
roads, you are fit enough to handle a gun safely.

It does indeed seem that the Police could, if they so desired take one to task on this question. I doubt many of us have entered a complete history of medical conditions!!!!


 
In reply to the comments above, Yes it was a Legal caution.
I have seen the GP for a abscess on my buttock (very painful but relevant ?) and a in growing toe nail, I have also had the Flu !
It's not what the conditions are more the fact I didn’t disclose them. Mr Gain' and Vipa's comment are exactly right.
Just put EVERYTHING down, then the FLO can decide what’s relevant or not. None of my conditions are relevant to owning firearms (or so I thought) but it’s the non-disclosure that’s upset them.
and NO I don't stay in a locked ward ! LOL at least not yet anyway !
 
So you accepted a legal caution without seeking legal advise from a lawyer specialising in firearms law? If so you definately need to speak to your shooting organisation.
 
Hmmm.. think a conversation with my FLD is in order when it comes to renewal in a couple of years... I'll ask them what THEY want me to disclose.. raised cholesterol, acid reflux.. broken wrist when I was 14, haemorrhoids when I was in my 20s & 30s, lots of every day stuff which has absolutely no bearing on firearms!?
If I list everything since birth it would be a very full section indeed! again, none of it of any relevance.
 
If you look at the most recent renewal forms the questions are pretty specific mentioning epilepsy and depression I can't see why a buttock abscess should cause a caution so with most things on the internet i'd assume it to be half the story or pretty much every license holder would be in the same boat.
 
spforrest said:
I just thought i'd share my recent experiences-

Following a recent renewal of both certificates, I was pleased when all my requests were met.
I then bought another cabinet for additional stowage and asked if the FLO could come back and check the additional stowage. On arrival the FLO introduced himself and a colleague. I showed them the new cabinet and location and it was met with their approval. Great I thought until one officer then cautioned me for making a false declaration on the renewal forms, regarding any medical conditions.
I was questioned and a statement was taken, clarification was sought for medical conditions from over twenty years ago !
All I can say is put everything on the form, even completely irrelevant stuff like 'having an in growing toe nail'. (Nothing is irrelevent it would seem)
I appreciate that the Police need to carry out thorough checks on applicants but having to remember and record everything I’ve ever visited the GP for!
This is my third renewal for my Firearms licence and I’ve seen the GP several times over the last 15 years for various minor ailments, Just wish I’d listed them on the form now.
So, I now have to wait and see if I’m charged with the offence (and my licence is revoked). Or receive a caution and retain my licences.
So much for doing what I thought was the right thing and requesting an additional inspection. It will be a very nervous few days wait !

Anyone else had similar experiences ?
Click to expand...

I don't wish to insult you, but i have to agree with finnbear on this one. You don't have to disclose any medical codition unless it it would have a bearing on your suitability to hold an f.a.c. or s.g.c. ( depression or mental illness for example). If you have suffered one of these conditions and have failed to declare it, then that's a different matter entirely.
Cheers,
Fatty.
 
It was a statement took after being cautioned, She did explain the right to have legal representation present but I thought - I haven’t done anything wrong so why bother !
I jokingly mentioned haemorrhoids and Yes it needs put on the form- the treatments can have side effects!
Please take heed, I presumed that I could tick the No box (as I have done many times) to the question - 15c.
It’s not my opinion as to whether my conditions are relevant or not. Apparently hay fever can cause breathing difficulties and lead to accidents out in the field, It’s the fact I didn’t disclose them because I thought they were irrelevant.
If I get to keep my Firearms and avoid a criminal conviction then every time I sneeze will be disclosed on any future renewals.
 
But you haven't avoided a criminal conviction if you have accepted a legal caution, you have admitted that you are guilty of the offence.
 
The form says:

'DO you suffer from any medical condition etc'

​So previous hay fever or abscess would be irrelevant unless ongoing
 
HotDogsForTea said:
I don't wish to insult you, but i have to agree with finnbear on this one. You don't have to disclose any medical codition unless it it would have a bearing on your suitability to hold an f.a.c. or s.g.c. ( depression or mental illness for example). If you have suffered one of these conditions and have failed to declare it, then that's a different matter entirely.
Cheers,
Fatty.
Click to expand...
I don't suffer anything that could affect my sutability to shoot (I have shot since I was 15 years old).
It was a shock to me, I thought a security inspection, no worries but my GP had provided a list of complaints going back to my childhood and the FLO didn't like the fact I hadn't disclosed them (not what they were).
I just felt them to be insignificant and irrelevant. Like I said and i'll quote "It's not up to me what's relevent or not"
I appretiate there is rubbish posted on the internet, I just felt I would share my experiences with other shooters, anyone who has any doubt that what i'm saying is true, please give me a call and i'll clarify further. (Simon 07866690624)
 
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