FLD pressure to give up rifles you don't use

[Si]

Are unused rifles more of a public safety risk than regularly used rifles?

I have 3 shotguns but I only use 1

Why are rifles any different?..... could it be to prevent stockpiling of weapons to start a revolution perhaps?

 

[gmart122]

I know a lot of shooters holding large numbers of guns. At least 10 people with 15-20 section 1 firearms. They seem to think the Police are targeting high holders but I think In reality they are having trouble justifying them. For the ammount of shooting I do, I hold realitvely few guns (5 section 1) so don't get any issues.

A friend has eight .22LR rifles alone and couldn't understand why they put him on a 30 day wonder for the ninth.

 

[finnbear270]

Are unused rifles more of a public safety risk than regularly used rifles?

I have 3 shotguns but I only use 1

Why are rifles any different?..... could it be to prevent stockpiling of weapons to start a revolution perhaps?

On the nail, and in one!.

 

[Tackleberry270]

Quoting Dalua from another thread,

The reason is that the 1920 Firearms Act was introduced not to preserve the public from armed crime, but to save the government from revolution: a shotgun-armed revolution would not be much of a threat to a rifle-armed government.

If true this makes some sense. So does this tie with limiting 'unused' firearms? Does this idea still directly influence the restriction on the number of firearms owned or has opinion changed? Although there is a lot of good come from the recent amendments to HO guidance there is still a lot that could be read into the idea of what constitutes 'public risk' and 'firearms misuse', rightly so in some ways but it is still open to abuse by draconian FLOs.

 

[JabaliHunter]

the authorities were sh*t scared after what had happened in Russia in October 1917...
Which is another reason why Americans are so keen on their 2nd Amendment...

 

[Patterdale Terrier]

you are confusing "good reason" with "usage"

There is specific text in the HO guidelines to EXCLUDE usage or lack thereof from being applied as good reason on not

I am interested in this comment. I believe there are cases, some very much on the edge as examples here, where good reason could be better substantiated through the use of the rifle/weapon.
If the above comment is correct then the Police Scotland National Website on Firearms Licensing is wrong for one at least.

 

[Tackleberry270]

If the above comment is correct then the Police Scotland National Website on Firearms Licensing is wrong for one at least.

There is something in HO guidance chapter 13 on this. Refers to Historic firearms. Not just those owned in collections but any historic rifle that the owner might not want to use too often so as to keep it in good condition. Is there anything regarding other firearms Bewsher?

 

[CWMMAN3738]

That's realy interesting 8x57 given that one of Gwents FEO's has in excess of 20 rifles on his ticket however GWENT is becoming very misguided in its application of HO guidance lately according to the jungle drums.

If you were referring to my post Brewsher all I will say is that I am not confusing anything just pointing out the way that Gwent police look at it. Perhaps I should however have said continued good reason rather than "need".


In respect of target shooting they rely upon the following taken from the guidance to police document.

13.53 Target shooters may be expected to use their firearms fairly regularly, say three or more times a year. The police should consider on renewal whether "good reason" continues in respect of all firearms held for this purpose. However, failure to shoot in a year should be regarded as grounds for further enquiries to be made, rather than the automatic partial revocation of the certificate for lack of "good reason". For example, there may be personal circumstances such as illness, working away (where this is not to be repeated regularly), or practice for a particular competition that may preclude the use of all the firearms concerned. In some cases, competitions for unusual or older arms may be few each year. Owners, and especially collectors, may also not want to regularly shoot old, historic, and valuable firearms, thus avoiding excessive wear and tear.



It is my belief that they have adopted a similar stance with regard to continued ownership of firearms purely retained for sporting purposes, that's certainly the impression given by certain firearm enquiry officers.

 

[tFl]

They can test your good reason at any time. Good reason is designed to ensure you have an enduring requirment for a firearm

Use it or lose it chaps. Simples! even if the FEO's apply the 3 times a year nonsense to all forms of rifle use (save for collectors) , its not hard to comply with.