Shooting if you don't have your FAC with you

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packrat

packrat

Well-Known Member
I've searched here but can't find an answer, if it's been done to death I apologise and will go and hang my head in shame.

I have also left a message for BASC to get back to me but meanwhile I'd be interested to hear what people believe is the answer.

I was just speaking with a FEO and I understood him to say at one point that it was a legal requirement to have your FAC in your possession while you are shooting.

Is that true?
 
No I don't believe so. But if you don't have it, then your gun can be confiscated till you can produce it. I'm sure that's the case with SGC. Think with FAC also.
 
No.

However, if you are stopped by the police and they are unable to satisfy themselves that you hold a valid certificate then they may confiscate your firearms until you can produce your certificate.
 
You need to be in possession of a valid FAC (i.e. have a current licence to hold and shoot the firearms in hand), not necessarily have it about your person. They can soon check records and entitlement via PNC if they really want to find out.....

I know several people who carry a photocopy/scan of it - but there seems little point in that IMO.
 
I have a decent photo of my FAC on my phone, that way, should I get stopped, I can show them that, they will be able to check with PNC in a split second if I am who I say I am and whether I have authority to possess.... if they want to see the original they can follow me home (fortunately all my stalking is within about 2 miles of my house, if I was going further afield I would take my ticket with me though).


Edit, Eric the red types faster than me!
 
I'm not sure if its an actual legal requirement, but I'd think its something that should be best practice for all shooters regardless of what they shoot.

Imagine if you were stopped by the police on the way to or from a shoot, had your gun but couldnt demonstrate you hold it legally - Even if the police didnt arrest you I would imagine they'd confiscate the gun until such time you could present your licence to show you do legally hold it.

I'd say theres probably even more case for carrying your licence if you're a lone stalker as you're probably more likely to have Granny Smith call the police because "Theres a man with a GUN!!" in a nearby field and then need to explain yourself, as opposed to someone shooting the Imperial match at Bisley with thousands of other people also all with guns!

And TBH if your FEO is saying its a legal requirement (even if that ultimately turns out to be incorrect to the exact letter of the law) it sounds like they would probably take a fairly dim view if you happened to be caught out without it, so probably best to take it with you to avoid any problems.
 
Ok thanks everyone, that's what I thought.

Perhaps he was trying to convince me to simplify the variation I'm about to put in, because he said keep it simple and it'll be quicker, "which is obviously better as you can't shoot without it". At least I think that's what he said; I may have simply misunderstood.

If mine is in for a variation I always have a good pic of it on my phone, and have my passport & driving licence on me. I'm sure if there was any kind of incident they could satisfy themselves pretty quickly that I was me.
 
Like Deerstalkers idea of the photo. I have all my letters of Authority and maps on my phone - but never thought to include FAC/SGC. I shall amend. All I would say about that is that it is personal information and therefore you should ensure you can lock and remotely wipe your phone, just in case.....

The only time, as above, that I carry formal licence, insurance etc. is if I am away (and mainly because I may need to buy ammo .... or something....) - and/or I think it provides comfort to the landowner concerned. I have a plastic pocket presentation folder with all the necessary docs in - easy to produce and they soon get the gist that you are experienced, professional etc.
 
It is not a requirement. I have been stopped twice by police whilst out lamping. Once in bedfordshire and once in wick. On both occassions a rifle in the car. And on both occassions asked my name pnc checked and left to get on with it. The reason for being stopped on both occassions was random checks. Understandable in the middle of the night on rural roads.
 
With modern technology and telecommunications all you should need with you is a picture ID such as a driving license for plod to know if you are licensed or not. Whether or not they could identify the weapon you are carrying is debatable.
 
Packrat i am not having a go at you mate, but it seems to me that there some on here that cant grasp why it is a good idea to carry your original FAC/SGC.
It is not a legal requirement to carry your FAC/SGC, however regardless of what copies you carry, regardless of modern technology, regardless of what checks the police can make, the law allows a police officer to sieze your firearms if you cannot when requested show your original FAC/SGC and keep them untill a time when you can produce your FAC/SGC, thats it no way round it, no buts, thats the law.

Ian.
 
I use a secure program/app called Safeincloud to store encrypted details and images of important docs such as licences, passport etc. It is less than a tenner. You can access from most devices. The one thing you do need to do is make sure that the password for the app is really strong to give you time to blank your drives remotely should the need arise. Easy to show the police then and simply speed the process up and keep them happy and friendly. Does bring up again the question of a plastic 'certificate' that is easy to carry.
 
High time we had a credit-card sized plastic FAC.
And a simple "swipe the card" system for RFDs so they can record our purchases etc.
 
Putting aside the benefits of carrying it with you, if the police went to your house in your absence and found drugs you'd be charged with "possession", there's no reason why the definition of possession would be any different for your FAC.

I've long argued that most sensible thing would be to have a credit card sized FAC/SGC with all the relevant info on the magnetic strip or bar code. I also think we need generic "slots" so that you can sell say a .223 at a dealers, the slot is automatically freed by the processing of your electronic FAC and you can then buy a .22-250 that takes your fancy at the same time.
 
**** me, i have just explained why it is a good idea to carry your FAC and the very next post is, i use this........!!!
What is the big deal about not carrying your original FAC???
If and when i get stopped and i am asked to produce my FAC i will be able to do so and wont run the risk of having my rifles confiscated you guys that carry copies could end up having your rifles taken away!!!

ian.
 
Whitebeard said:
**** me, i have just explained why it is a good idea to carry your FAC and the very next post is, i use this........!!!
What is the big deal about not carrying your original FAC???
If and when i get stopped and i am asked to produce my FAC i will be able to do so and wont run the risk of having my rifles confiscated you guys that carry copies could end up having your rifles taken away!!!

ian.
Click to expand...

see my signature......
 
I don't carry mine when local been stopped and all the police wanted was driving licence insurance and mot I didn't have any and was told I was breaking the law this I knew told them my reason if my car is stolen its all lost if it falls out of pocket all lost all of mine is at home safe and sound if you want to carry your FAC do but how often do people actually get stopped in 12 years of shot guns and 7 of rifles I've been stopped twice neither time had any tickets on me both times the police were fine with me
 
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