Obtaining an FAC with past convictions?

[jimbo1984]

Just apply for fac wouldn't bother applying for the club first

 

[Uncle Norm]

Bit of an update: although i have not applied yet to join the club mainly because the pnc check hasn't come through i have received an informative response from the fire arms licencing team via email. The outlook sounds quite positive due to the time that has passed since the convictions happened although not guaranteed which i fully understand.

Have also been kindly assured that no past convictions would be disclosed to the club in the event of an application problem or licence refusal although entry in to the club may not happen as quickly due to further checks being made which they would indeed be aware of. The advice given is to actually apply for a licence before joining the club as it appears the club application would not be supported without further checks..
I know when i joined previously the application for the club only mentioned about prohibited persons and asked for two referees but i wonder if the process has changed a bit as there were certainly no issues back then.
I think my main concern in the circumstances would be applying for a licence with no club membership under my belt so am wondering if to apply before but to start with an fac air rifle and if all goes well join the club and go for a rim fire etc later after being at the club for a while?
I already target shoot quite often on our own property which extends to about 40m at back with open fields so not sure if this would be ok for an fac air rifle regarding good reason to have one without club membership for time being.

Interested to know what you guys think?

If your only 'good reason' to acquire a firearm is target shooting, then you will not be granted a firearm certificate until you are full member of a Home Office Approved target shooting club.

I would advise against applying for a Section 1 Air Rifle to shoot targets in your back garden. I am confident that it would be refused as 'no good reason'.

If you have suitable land to shoot on, which is or would be approved for the firearm applied for, then you should go ahead and apply for your firearm certificate for the .22RF or the Section 1 air rifle or both.

The post has migrated from the possible effects of convictions on an application to one of application tactics and 'good reason'.

If you make application for a firearm certificate for target shooting only, it will be refused unless you are a full member of a HO Approved Club, having completed your probationary period. Advice to apply for target shooting without club membership is mistaken to put it mildly.

 

[leigh1974]

Unfortunately i do not currently have any suitable land so what i will do is apply to join the club first as was my original intention and if any issues arise which delay the application deal with them as and when they do. No big deal if the process takes a bit longer but hopefully will be like the previous time with no issues.