Considering taking a job in the UK: firearms lawyer? (and more)

[Liveonce]

Not strictly accurate.
The medical proforma must be signed by a General Medical Council registered Doctor. This can therefore be done via a third party such as ShootCert, provided they are given FULL LIFETIME medical records.
The Police certificate can be obtained via your friendly local FYI office!

Again BASC will provide assistance in dealing with the relevant Firearms Dept, and in getting the medical proforma.

Which part of the UK might you move to?
Some counties, such as Dorset, Gwent, and Gloucestershire have enormous problems, whilst others are relatively easy.

Sorry but that is not correct if you have no registered GP then you do not fulfil the criteria for a certificate, it’s stated so in the Chief Constables statutory guidance issued by the home office.

For without a registered GP where do you think a third party GP will obtain your medical history records from?

 

[SunnyDays]

Sorry but that is not correct if you have no registered GP then you do not fulfil the criteria for a certificate, it’s stated so in the Chief Constables statutory guidance issued by the home office.

For without a registered GP where do you think a third party GP will obtain your medical history records from?

Once he moves to the UK he can register with a GP.
Assuming he can bring certified medical records, those can be incorporated into his new NHS records.
I know a couple of people who have done exactly this.
One got his new GP to sign, the other has to use a third party since his GP refused on 'ethical grounds '.

 

[carbon]

Thank you gents for all of the info. I’ve certainly got some reading to do, and also I need to research the meds issue further.

Btw, the married bit was misinterpreted and I should’ve been more specific. I actually theorized that getting married to a UK gal would actually be worse for my firearm rights (not better!). Sounds like it is a non-issue.

Not considering moving because of Trump, mind you. I’ve been asked by my employer if I was interested and am looking into it.

 

[Liveonce]

Once he moves to the UK he can register with a GP.
Assuming he can bring certified medical records, those can be incorporated into his new NHS records.
I know a couple of people who have done exactly this.
One for his new GO to sign, the other has to use a third party since his GP refused on 'ethical grounds '.

Indeed, I did say would cause pain, not impossible. However his firearms would need to arrive once the certificates are obtained which may not be a quick process. For example A friend tried to change GP practices as his GP refused to complete the report, the potential new GP practice stated they would not complete the report until he had been registered with them for a year. He went on to use a third party GP.

 

[SunnyDays]

Your biggest issue may be finding two UK residents who have known you (very well) for at least two years, who will act as 'referees' (in the context of ' references' as opposed to umpires).
Without these your application will fail.

Have a read of this, which is freely available on the BASC website

Applying for a firearms certificate

Everything you need to know about applying for a firearms certificate including the fees you can expect to pay.

basc.org.uk

You may find it helpful.

 

[maxtheflyinghorse]

There is public land to shoot on if you like wildfowling…it’s usually on the foreshore but getting more and more restricted.

Taking guns either way is a complete pain and I wouldn’t recommend it - you’d be easier buying guns in both locations.

Way easier than you think if you are moving to the state.

 

[Pedro]

Some good advice here but also some barrack room lawyers who have put down what they think without checking.

There are indeed two certificates, one for firearms (rifles) and one for shotguns. As you say, any pistols/revolvers/handguns are effectively a no go.

Yes, you need to be resident in the UK to get either. As part of the application process to obtain these certificates, you need to be registered with a doctor's surgery and your doctor needs to be able to confirm that you don't, or haven't suffer with a number of conditions. So obviously coming across to the UK and registering with a doctor here will also entail them having access to your previous medical history to be able to do that. The police will also need to know if you have any history of offending. That will also include in the USA. Not all convictions are necessarily a bar to getting certificates, but lying about any convictions or "forgetting" them will do the trick.

For shotguns you don't need to show what is classed as "good reason". But for a firearms certificate, you need to show that "good reason" for every rifle you want. Good reason, effectively means showing proof that you intend to use them lawfully. Which means having permission to shoot on land from the owner (or person with the rights) or being a member of a shooting range. You will also have conditions of use applied on a firearms certificate. For example you might want a .223 to shoot on a range and you might be a member of a range. A likely condition for that .223 will be to restrict you to approved ranges. If you wanted to extend your use to, say vermin control or foxes, then you need to provide permission from a landowner that permits you to do that on their land.

Initially you will likely be issued with a "closed" certificate. Without going into too much detail, that'll restrict the land you use your rifle on, as opposed to an open certificate that will let you shoot on any land you have permission on.

Compared with the USA, it's a complicated procedure and the above is really only an outline and by no means complete. It might be of some help if you download the forms for a firearms and a shotgun certificate. Many police forces in the UK have them online. Even if you don't intend to fill them in yet. Some come with helpful information alongside. It is also informative if you look for the Home Office advice to police on firearms licencing. Which you will find here.

Firearms licensing: statutory guidance for police

How police chiefs should carry out checks when assessing someone's suitability to own firearms or become a registered firearms dealer.

www.gov.uk

Some lovely bedtime reading there.

 

[Heym SR20]

Probably the simplest way is to start of with a visitors Firearms Certificate and bring a rifle and a couple of shotguns with you. These can last up to a year. You will need a sponsor and somewhere where the guns can be stored securely.

Once you are here, and the job is secure then apply for FAC and SC.

Visiting the UK to shoot

To visit Great Britain with a firearm you will need to apply for a visitor’s firearm or shotgun permit at least six weeks before you travel.

basc.org.uk

 

[gixer1]

Way easier than you think if you are moving to the state.

I’ve moved to the states, and back….the organisation of the RFD at this side and a gun shop that is willing to accept them stateside along with the ATF forms and don’t forget the tax forms as you can be chased for that later too…

Far easier to buy when you get to each location.

 

[maxtheflyinghorse]

I’ve moved to the states, and back….the organisation of the RFD at this side and a gun shop that is willing to accept them stateside along with the ATF forms and don’t forget the tax forms as you can be chased for that later too…

Far easier to buy when you get to each location.

I moved to the states last year from the Uk. I took 10 guns with me. All I had to do was get the form 6 approved and it was free. Then I took them guns with me on the same flight with my luggage. Only extra cost I had was the extra weight got the luggage. And at the US customs they were extremely helpful. They cleared is super quick despite there was a mistake made by atf in the form.

 

[gixer1]

I moved to the states last year from the Uk. I took 10 guns with me. All I had to do was get the form 6 approved and it was free. Then I took them guns with me on the same flight with my luggage. Only extra cost I had was the extra weight got the luggage. And at the US customs they were extremely helpful. They cleared is super quick despite there was a mistake made by atf in the form.

To which state max? - it may well differ depending on state.

 

[8x57]

Carbon in my experience while it is possible for a foreign national to obtain a firearms certificate in the U.K. that would allow you to possess your own firearms you will need to be extremely patient. Even for a U.K. subject returning to the U.K. after some years abroad and who has previously held a FAC the delay can be some considerable time if the local firearms team aren't willing to be super co-operative.

In the case of target shooting we had a Norwegian guy and a Spanish guy who both shot with our club that wanted to apply for their FAC's. One was granted to the Norwegian guy but it took over two years and the Spanish guy eventually just gave up on the idea.
Don't forget that you will be required to serve a probationary period with any Home Office approved target shooting club and that will be a minimum of 3 months, however many clubs usually have a probationary period of 6 months. Only after you have served the probationary period and been granted full membership can you apply for a FAC based on target shooting.
I've no experience of a foreign national applying for the grant of a FAC solely for sporting use, and only limited knowledge of the grant of a visitors permit. In the case of a visitors permit I suspect that my local force would be reluctant to grant one if you had indicated that you had relocated to the U.K. and were not just a visitor.

 

[maxtheflyinghorse]

To which state max? - it may well differ depending on state.

Pennsylvania. And no it’s based on the federal law. Because it is considered as your personal property. once you get form 6 approved that all good to go. When I was about to move and I contacted some firearms exporting companies they said it is a very hard process people think it is east blah blah blah. But luckily I was advised by two good people here who did the same process and told me there is no need of company. And the company asked me for over $4000 plus taxes also they said they will engrave my guns with the importers name. But hey I took the advise from the good people here and it only costed me $650 extra luggage fee that included my other personal luggage too. And it was the most smoothest process I did regarding my guns. The companies wanted you to believe that you can’t do it because they want to rip you off.

 

[Twodogs]

I don’t know where you would be based, but if it were in Gloucestershire (as per post #4) then you will, under current practice, not even be able to apply for a shotgun and/or firearms certificate as they have suspended new applications and existing applications are expected to take over two years.

If you let the forum members know which town/city/county you would be based in someone will have a better idea of that particular area’s current application state.

The least hassle route would appear to be to, leave guns at home, don’t bother applying for a licence here and shoot under the estate gun rule. There may even be members on here who would be willing to facilitate this, a reciprocal invite to shoot in the states could be a good incentive.
(Odds on it’s not Gloucestershire ).

 

[suburban bushwacker]

Hello. American here.

Been reading some of the posts around moving to the UK from the States and then (years later) back again. Not 100% sure I’ll be moving back, but want to cover those bases as well.

Frankly, my head is spinning.

Anybody have a recommendation for either a UK lawyer or one in the States that is intimately familiar with the process? It would also be helpful if this person could advise upon which prescription medications are allowed/dispensed in the UK as well. Don’t want to accept the job, move, and then be up the proverbial creek.

General topics for this lawyer:

• Bringing my guns over
• Taking them back (if I do indeed move back)
• Can I shoot pests? Seems like I need some written note from a farmer. Are there no public lands like prairie dog shooting in the states? (I know you don’t have pdogs, but you get the point)
• What about my suppressors I already own?
• I imagine a HK SP5 pistol with a folding brace is out of the question lol
• Taking guns on hunts in the US and elsewhere while living in the UK
• Does marriage to a UK gal change anything? An old girlfriend beckons as well. I need to check if dual citizenship is a thing for non-millionaires

I also wonder if there’s a firearm storage service in the States for pistols, AR15s, SP5’s and other non-UK friendly arms. Not sure if my relatives will take them (not enough room).

Laura Saunsbury literally wrote the book on the subject. The NRA use her and her colleagues she's at Lewis Needas

 

[Tazz]

Hello. American here.

Been reading some of the posts around moving to the UK from the States and then (years later) back again. Not 100% sure I’ll be moving back, but want to cover those bases as well.

Frankly, my head is spinning.

Anybody have a recommendation for either a UK lawyer or one in the States that is intimately familiar with the process? It would also be helpful if this person could advise upon which prescription medications are allowed/dispensed in the UK as well. Don’t want to accept the job, move, and then be up the proverbial creek.

General topics for this lawyer:

• Bringing my guns over
• Taking them back (if I do indeed move back)
• Can I shoot pests? Seems like I need some written note from a farmer. Are there no public lands like prairie dog shooting in the states? (I know you don’t have pdogs, but you get the point)
• What about my suppressors I already own?
• I imagine a HK SP5 pistol with a folding brace is out of the question lol
• Taking guns on hunts in the US and elsewhere while living in the UK
• Does marriage to a UK gal change anything? An old girlfriend beckons as well. I need to check if dual citizenship is a thing for non-millionaires

I also wonder if there’s a firearm storage service in the States for pistols, AR15s, SP5’s and other non-UK friendly arms. Not sure if my relatives will take them (not enough room).

A lawyer will explained in detail ( And charge for it). Here is a quick answer you can come but your guns can’t. You can’t apply for a shotgun certificate or a firearms certificate unless you have full residency status. There is a complete ban on handgun ownership here and we have no public land you can shoot on so everything is “ permission “

 

[Mr. Gain]

Don’t do it! Don’t move to the UK, it’s screwed!

Unless of course you are radicalized Islamic terrorist 35 year old ‘child’ arriving by inflatable boat with no paperwork then you get a free house, electric bike, mobile, food, utilities and +/-$1.5K usd booze/drug money, you don’t need to work to top that up as you can just steal, sell drugs and money launder with impunity and if you can’t understand your legal right you get a free interpreter! Feel free to rape children whilst you are here too and if you think you might get caught just dress up in full female Islamic clothing and you will be completely anonymous.

Careful, the OP wants a reassurance he can get all the prescription medications he needs in the UK. Don't give him the opposite impression.

 

[JTO]

Not read every comment, but has anyone mentioned using paid guided stalks with an 'estate rifle' for a period, to 'get feet under the table' for say two years?

 

[weblyish]

Not read every comment, but has anyone mentioned using paid guided stalks with an 'estate rifle' for a period, to 'get feet under the table' for say two years?

If you must have your guns then 'Sell' them to a friendly local guide
Use them as estate rifles when required until you have a FAC and can buy them back

Not in the spirit of the law but anyway

 

[weblyish]

When you describe our rules they are just nuts


Moderator - yeah we basically consider that a gun in its own right

You want to upgrade your tikka to a sako in the same calibre - yeah we gave you permission for this specific gun not that one. Sell the first one then ask for a variation to get the new one

Just want another gun because it's beautiful and a good deal - yeah you'd better have a good reason why you need a second gun buddy that isn't already covered by the guns you do have