MPs looking at changing licensing rules

[Apthorpe]

The thing is, should firearms applicants pay all the costs of their licencing? we pay for the police anyway with our taxes. Their responsibilities include keeping the great British public safe, which obviously involves keeping guns away from people who shouldn't be allowed anywhere near them.

However, there is also the counter-argument that if you want the cops to do the enquiries to decide whether you should keep guns, you should pay for that.

As with many things, there should be a compromise. Paying a percentage of the costs is the way to go I think. Which, I'm sure is what we do at present. I suspect the checks and enquiries that are done these days are more than they ever were, so whether in the long or short term, I can only see the price of grants (where they do them) and renewals increasing.

If they actually do them. I've been a referee a number of times and have never been contacted by police for a reference.

 

[Fowler1990]

You’re too compliant as a group.
If half the stories I read here are true you are being officially harassed out of existence.

*out of the country.....

 

[shakey jake]

£500 at 50p / day?. Must be more than a quid a day at 365 days a year!

i read three year license, 3 x 365 is over 1000

 

[Mick9abf]

As I said in the first thread, this is a cynical attempt to get firearms legislation devolved so they can ban everything other than professional deer and pest controllers - although how they would frame what a professional is, is anyones guess.

When you read it they actually admit the current system works well but has room for ‘improvement’. Let’s break it down shall we:

The regular ‘checks’ - unworkable and impractical, particularly in rural areas where there are little or no staff,the Police will tell them to do one.

Nominating referees for you - how’s that going to work, I don’t think even they could give a solution, a non starter from the outset.

Buddy system - that’s not going to work either on a practical level.

Cost offsetting - well let’s increase the price of a drivers license 5 fold+ to pay towards the cost of fatal accident enquiries shall we.

As usual the SNP open their gobs and let their bellies rumble, the real pity is that the MSM don’t actually report anything bad about them as they are too busy trying to shape U.K. politics and half the electorate up here are that thick they have to be told who to vote for and are unable to do some basic research past those same companies propped up by the nationalist ‘Government’ during Covid.

 

[NullMac]

No chance

 

[Dave_45]

No chance

Of it happening?

 

[NullMac]

I think you guys need to get your spears and bows out and start practicing.
£500 every 3 years will kill private ownership.

Stalking will become dirt cheap. Less demand = lower price or pay a contractor to shoot them.

OR contractors can charge a fee to put us all on their books

 

[Leec6.5]

You can yowl and groan about it all you like, it will be what it will be, what we think or want doesn’t even come into it!

 

[Bavarianbrit]

*out of the country.....

Did that in 2002.

 

[Heym SR20]

One good thing about the Union of the two crowns and parliaments is that Firearms legislation is not a devolved matter to the Scottish Government. A bit like the referendum question the SNP can whine on about it, but at the end of day Westminster is the decision maker.

And on that note very pleased to see that Westminster will squashing the change in gender reconstruction legislation that the SNP have pushed through. I have no issue with adults changing - its a very personal choice , but at 16 I don’t think anybody really understands who they are and have their own mind. I can’t help feeling the age of majority at 21 - as it used to be is not a bad thing.

 

[25 Sharps]

I think you guys need to get your spears and bows out and start practicing.
£500 every 3 years will kill private ownership.

No it won’t, it will just make it more elitist

 

[Craigard]

Here in Scotland my last renewal took about 4 weeks and included a change of calibre.Is the problem with smaller Police forces in England and perhaps a greater familiarity with firearms in Scotland ?

 

[Dunwaters]

No it won’t, it will just make it more elitist

It’ll go a long way towards strangling all the shooting sports by discouraging new entrants.
How many kids are going to spend £500 to get themselves a .22 or an air gun licence?

 

[Dave_45]

To play devils advocate, most of us spend 3 or 4 times that on a rifle /scope at the drop of a hat.

I don't want the increase in cost at all as a sidenote.

 

[Ratel]

The point is a gentleman, if the powers that be say an FAC is going to be £500, it’s going to be £500, there is nobody, single person or organisation that has got the clout to fight it!

The government will do whatever the government wants to do, we hold no political clout, there is not enough of us in the UK to form any kind of particular political sway. We are quite what is commonly known as up the swannie without a paddle, enjoy it, while you can afford it

It's actually the Suanee in Florida if you refer to the river, dipped my foot in it one day. But I totally agree with you. Just renewed mine at 80 so probably won't bother again.

 

[T.eddie]

I don't think (uf it actually happens) it will stop people getting into it. As pointed out people splend much more on equipment (which seems to end up surplus to requirements). When I first started driving my car insurance was 3k for the year, no pointa or anything just a new young driver. That didn't stop me driving...

 

[Moray Outfitting]

Those working are supposed to get a cheaper certificate. I wonder how many "working" certificate holders will appear? If it is a case that you have to keep deer numbers down in a forest, that will come under a part time job!!!...J