Mandatory training for firearms enquiry officers in England and Wales

[markj1]

Do you . How much are you prepared to pay then ? Search “the slippery slope” on this forum, it may make you reconsider your pov

My shooting is a hobby, a sport, I do it for fun. I am fully prepared to pay the cost, or if it became unaffordable for me, quit shooting.

I do, however, see the point of the public sharing the cost in the case of people who need firearms for their work and livelihood, e.g. farmers etc, perhaps there should be exemptions based on the reason for owning the firearm.

But, in a nutshell, I don't expect the public to share the cost of my hobbies.

 

[JTO]

All the incidents that led to all this stuff were due to psychiatric problems. Will the FEOs get forensic psychiatry training, making them much more expensive to employ, and hence a reason to raise fees?
The village bobby was much more suited to make decisions on this front, unless he wanted all the local farm permissions to himself, of course.

 

[markj1]

All the incidents that led to all this stuff were due to psychiatric problems. Will the FEOs get forensic psychiatry training, making them much more expensive to employ, and hence a reason to raise fees?
The village bobby was much more suited to make decisions on this front, unless he wanted all the local farm permissions to himself, of course.

True, though this is where society is heading... has been, for some years now.

Gone are the days when you could get a face to face meeting with the bank manager at your local branch, and secure a loan based on your 'strength of character'. These days you have a 'credit scote' online, generated by computers, your loan application is completely automated, and if you do need to talk someone it will likely be a customer service representative working in a crowded call centre in foreign land.

Good? Bad? I don't know... I'm old, and this is the world that the younger generation are building for themselves (don't get me started........).

 

[spanj]

My shooting is a hobby, a sport, I do it for fun. I am fully prepared to pay the cost, or if it became unaffordable for me, quit shooting.

I do, however, see the point of the public sharing the cost in the case of people who need firearms for their work and livelihood, e.g. farmers etc, perhaps there should be exemptions based on the reason for owning the firearm.

But, in a nutshell, I don't expect the public to share the cost of my hobbies.

Do you think the current cost of your driving licence is the actual cost too? Opinions are ok but they’re best when backed up with some knowledge

 

[markj1]

Do you think the current cost of your driving licence is the actual cost too? Opinions are ok but they’re best when backed up with some knowledge

I would argue that for most people, driving isn't an optional recreational activity. People drive to work, for work, to hospital appointments and other reasons. If it was possible to make those who drive cars for a hobby - say track days - pay their fair share, I would support it.

For a significant proportion of the shooting community, this is a sport and a hobby. In those circumstances, I don't think that the public should be made to pay.

As I said, it's different for those who use guns for a cause that benefits the public, e.g. pest control and culling etc, they are - directly and indirectly - protecting our food sources.

 

[finnbear270]

It's not all about who pays and how much!, FFS, It's about people who are paid to make sure the public feel safe, and to do that they need training and guidance that should be the same UK wide.

 

[Dalua]

I am not sure that there will be an extra cost, but in essence I think that we, firearms owners, should pay the cost of administering firearm licensing.

We already do - though apart from the statutory fee, we quite rightly pay no more towards it than our fellow members of the public: for whose benefit, rather than ours as firearms users, it ostensibly exists.

 

[spanj]

We already do - though apart from the statutory fee, we quite rightly pay no more towards it than our fellow members of the public: for whose benefit, rather than ours as firearms users, it ostensibly exists.

This

 

[sikamalc]

In the past I used to help take new FEO's around the large firearms collection I was responsible for. It was not every month, but on the odd occasion when asked by the then Kent firearms manager.
It will be interesting to know who will be training them, and what they are asked to carry out. In my general experience their decisions are mostly based on what they are told by their line manager, and then what they are told by the Chief constable.
Having dealt with a number of FEO's over the years, many have little or no idea of what they are looking for, and calibers involved. One hopes that some common sense will be introduced into an already not fit for purpose firearms renewal and application regime.

 

[JTO]

I think some people on this thread would like go back to paying a week's wages for an annual dog license.

 

[spanj]

I think some people on this thread would like go back to paying a week's wages for an annual dog license.

Or maybe they just understand the principals of firearms licencing. What we pay now is probs about right v cost of LGV licence renewal (& we actually have to take a medical, such as it is). If you think paying more will give you a better service you are deluded. It will never be enough but WILL contribute significantly to the decline in numbers of shooters both new and old

 

[JTO]

Or maybe they just understand the principals of firearms licencing. What we pay now is probs about right v cost of LGV licence renewal (& we actually have to take a medical, such as it is). If THEY think paying more will give THEM a better service THEY are deluded. It will never be enough but WILL contribute significantly to the decline in numbers of shooters both new and old

Fixed it for you.