nuttyspaniel
Well-Known Member
Ive noticed tonight a basc lads on the site and posting on threads. How about you lads look at my thread "hicup" and post your thoughts on my situation
nutty
nutty
Ive noticed tonight a basc lads on the site and posting on threads. How about you lads look at my thread "hicup" and post your thoughts on my situation nutty
Yes Nutty it seams that i have told the truth about my situation and stirred up the Hornets nest within BASC. I get the impression with all the bad posts on here about BASC and all the good one's about the NGO they are now getting worried that they may loose memberships to the NGO. I ask one question the NGO acted for me but i contacted BASC first but they did not. WHY NOT i told them exactly the same as told the NGO and BASC charge almost double for membership than NGO so, to my mind have more money to fight members cases. If the NGO can do it then so can BASC. As they say it's to late to close the stable door after the horse has bolted.
Jimbo
Nuttyspaniel,
Your situation is a lot easier.
You just have to show the communication you have received from your Chief Constable's representative and we will all be able to offer advice.
Stan
Have to say when I first applied for my FAC I was refused due to having depression on my medical history - BASC were no help.
I didn't know about the NGO at the time but luckily had a friend who knew his firearms law (rifle club owner) and he helped me out. Rather than appealing I simply wrote a letter explaining the circumstances, and got a couple of extra references from very reputable people. They were very decent about it all and issued me a licence!
The FAC application form doesn't leave much room for explanation!
All left me wondering what the point in BASC membership was though...
Nuttyspaniel,
Didn't know that non residents of Scotland were not allowed to input to this thread.
Stan
Depression is a mental illness incompatible with holding a certificate plain and simple and invariably the police will not take any risk. New depression is less predictable than years of a managed condition without side effects or violent or self harm tendencies. But each case must be looked at on it's merits. Again BASC, NGO and SACS have no power to tackle a refusal apart from paying for an appeal which is fraught with difficulty where mental illness is concerned and public safety may be at stake. When a persons condition gets better they of course stand a better chance of success. BASC can certainly help but we don't have a magic wand or a crystal ball. We can't keep everybody happy but we will give it a damn good go. But as this gentleman said, each case is different and the police should look at individual cases as it seems they did in the end but they are risk averse because they don't know what each person is capable of. It is my experience that the majority of decisions made about mental illness were justified at the time of assessment and were later reviewed as people got better.
Depression is a mental illness incompatible with holding a certificate plain and simple and invariably the police will not take any risk. New depression is less predictable than years of a managed condition without side effects or violent or self harm tendencies. But each case must be looked at on it's merits. Again BASC, NGO and SACS have no power to tackle a refusal apart from paying for an appeal which is fraught with difficulty where mental illness is concerned and public safety may be at stake. When a persons condition gets better they of course stand a better chance of success. BASC can certainly help but we don't have a magic wand or a crystal ball. We can't keep everybody happy but we will give it a damn good go. But as this gentleman said, each case is different and the police should look at individual cases as it seems they did in the end but they are risk averse because they don't know what each person is capable of. It is my experience that the majority of decisions made about mental illness were justified at the time of assessment and were later reviewed as people got better.
MPerring
'Depression is a mental illness incompatible with holding a certificate plain and simple' That is an incredible statement from a representative of a shooting organisation!
Frank
I'm afraid that highlights your lack of knowledge on this; 1 in 4 of us will experience depression at some point in our lives - be it due to death of a family member, divorce, redundancy, major surgery, or a combination for the former etc.
I consulted a mental health professional on this - his feeling was that depression alone shouldn't be a barrier, as violent tendencies and self harming are actually in the minority for the majority of depression cases. He went on to say he would be far more concerned about someone who had been cautioned or prosecuted for assault than someone who suffered from depression.
Lymes disease can actually cause depression - and we're all exposed to it due to tick bites!
I'd had post operative depression as a teen (following major surgery and medication known to cause depression), followed by another instance in my early mid twenties after a series of deaths in my family... so what!? - It's an illness and I sought treatment. People who suffer from it shouldn't be branded as lepers and deemed unfit to posses firearms.
Most of the nutjobs who create so many problems for us have no mental health history - i.e. no-one who's actually "crazy" ever thinks they are "crazy"!!!
I'm sure there are a lot of guys out there with firearms who are having tough times and are scared to seek help because they're afraid of losing their licenses - in the past that's probably contributed to them topping themselves or going on a spree. I think it's time everyone grew up.
I'm not suggesting we give licences to paranoid schizophrenics or people in early stages of treatment for severe mental health conditions, but as a general rule of thumb if they let you retain your driving licence then you should keep your FAC too... after all a car or petrol bomb are surely every bit as dangerous as a firearm in the wrong hands?!
Going back to my original point, with the aid of a good friend who knew his law I was able to have a sensible conversation with the licensing dept who treated this as an individual case - they acknowledged my circumstances had been extreme and were unlikely to occur again at that severity (it was some seriously bad luck all in one go!). BASC were of no help.
Really? It sounds quite sensible to me.
Bunny doom you are one hell of a lad your last statement mate (it was some seriously bad luck all in one go!) with what you had going on in your life at that point in time shows you are only human. Your post also shows that you are an inteligent person well worthy of FAC. Well done in being honest and open. BASC TAKE NOTE. NO MORE INSENSITIVE REPLIES. Bunny doom i wish you all the best and good Bunnybashing.
Kind regards Jimbo