Done and dusted. Get involved people.
Is he likely to fall asleep whilst in possession of his shotgun thereby allowing anyone that walks but to take it from him?In 2001, Gary Hart was sentenced to 5 years in prison, after falling asleep at the wheel of his Land Rover and causing a train crash that cost the lives of 10 people. Would you say that he should be automatically disqualified from ever owning a shotgun?
Always doBut you have of course.
A good point, but I'll have to disagree, depression or mental illness are just that, an illness that can be treated and unlikely to be the fault of the person suffering from it. Breaking the laws that result in a prison term is a conscious act, people don't unknowingly defraud, rob, deal drugs or kill/seriously hurt peopleThe issue lies with the fact that firearms licensing is based solely on protecting the public from danger with legally held firearms so does a fraud conviction have any bearing on someone's danger to the public via a firearms threat?
Then you have the belief/understanding that once a punishment is served you have done your time, are rehabilitated and free to continue your life. So a crime committed 10 years ago under different life circumstances may not be relevant to the danger posed to the public today.
Otherwise by the same logic anyone who suffered from depression or potentially other health conditions that are no longer present should also still be barred from owning firearms. which I think most of us would agree shouldn't be the case.
I do agree, but depression and mental illness are also linked to circumstances, hence why they can pass with or without treatment.A good point, but I'll have to disagree, depression or mental illness are just that, an illness that can be treated and unlikely to be the fault of the person suffering from it. Breaking the laws that result in a prison term is a conscious act, people don't unknowingly defraud, rob, deal drugs or kill/seriously hurt people
But still a conscious decision which shows poor character or judgementI do agree, but depression and mental illness are also linked to circumstances, hence why they can pass with or without treatment.
Crime may be a conscious decision but often too it is a consequence of circumstance.
The courts take sentencing seriously and don’t impose lengthy prison sentences lightly. Sentencing usually happens well after being found guilty and there is plenty of scope for pleas of mitigation etc.Even if the circumstances are completely unrelated?
So if you got caught speeding, say 40mph in a 30 mph which shows either a lack of attention to your surroundings ( how fast you are going or how fast you should be going) or a total disregard for the speed limits in place, does that also shows you have a disregard for firearms law or are likely to not be aware of your surroundings while shooting?
Or are they two unrelated activities and so although you may present a danger to the public via your driving (hit a pedestrian at 40mph and there is a 90% chance they will die) you don't pose a danger through firearms ownership and use?
Clearly the law and police do see a difference as a speeding conviction isn't an automatic ban to owning firearms.
Clearly yourself and others on here have never once broke the speed limit or if you have you believe that one dangerous activity or incident doesn't make you a danger by owning firearms?
A prolonged pattern of relevant behaviour or current behaviour is a better indication if someone is likely to pose a danger to the public rather than a one off incident 20 years ago (as mentioned in the car crash from 2001 earlier).