Patterdale Terrier

Firearms checks have been carried out across Cumbria by police Operation Crosshair saw specialist officers visit five Firearms certificate holders in the county. They were chosen as a result of intelligence received regarding potential firearm certificate breaches, as well as association with illegal drug use. Officers checked the firearms were present and correctly and safely stored, they also carried out drugs wipe checks with certificate holders to ensure their judgement and self-control was not impaired. Three were passed as having met the requirements of their firearms certificate, including proper storage of the firearms and provided a negative drugs wipe. One was identified as further action required as the firearms had been moved to a new address without proper notice having been given. The new address was visited and the firearms located in a secure, locked cabinet. The fifth person visited failed a drugs wipe for cannabis and the decision was taken to revoke the firearms certificate. They voluntarily surrendered their firearm to officers.

Come on! Holding my breath here waiting for a response...............

See https://www.cumbria.police.uk/Apply-For-It/Firearms

Why is it we try to find loopholes, excuses to dodge the advice, blame others for making our lives a misery etc. The responsibility for your actions is you, not the government or what you read on social media. If the advice states you should stay at home except for certain exceptions, to work 'shooting, picking up - that is a laugh', then stay at home. Off I go picking-up to 'work' in T2, the guns are from Tier4, and some of the beaters from Tier 3, do I go home or should I stay to work. If it is like anything else it will depend on my age, so if I am under 50 I probably stay but if I am older I would not be looking for a loophole or an excuse to stay. If we don't get that vaccine soon and this thing mutates to a level where the vaccine is useless we will be deeper pooh, so my advice would be that already dished out by the Government, stay at home.

Renewal is due and the FEO wants to make a home visit next week to interview me and inspect the usual. We live in a Tier 2 area so I am well aware of how restrictions affect me. I do not visit neighbours or family and have not done so for months, consequently I have stayed safe. I know we should not mix indoors so how is it the FEO can come to my house, interview me, and move about my house inspecting my security and checking guns? I have not given him an appropriate time to visit yet because I am not sure I want him in my house. Can I refuse him entry or do the Government Restrictions prevent him from coming here anyway?

As I understand it at 'Renewal' you should be be able to 'demonstrate regular use'. Regular use is not defined but if I cannot show I have made regular use I would expect to asked a further question. I would not expect the FEO to count all rounds in my possession, but if he/she did, and I have the same amount I had 5 years ago I think I would have difficulty 'demonstrating regular use' and be caught in the 'good reason' failure argument. As a home loader, where only complete rounds are taken into consideration, you have a situation where demonstrating use is difficult unless you keep records. It happens in this area, where a count of ammunition is made to prove 'good reason' but it only ties down the factory ammo user. My FEO states all Section 1 weapon's 'good reason' depends on a count of ammunition, but he went quiet when I said it cannot apply to Section 1 multi-shot shotguns, Section 1 or FAC Air Rifles, Muzzle Loaders or even a .22LR using rat/bird shot. Another FLU adding their own chapters and paragraphs to the Guidance in this case.

Sorry about this but here comes a 'low ball'. You complete the application form with your address. You store your guns in your own cabinet at your uncle's house in the next county. Do you think it is relevant to the FLO to know who the occupants are at your address or those occupants at your uncles address? Similarly you complete the form today with no other occupants and submit it. Tomorrow your son and his wife arrive with their son who is just out of prison on a minor charge. Any guidance provided on how to update the 'occupants form' in the next five years? So what is the point of it? Sorry, fail to grasp the perceived purpose of this

I think we must have a check of some kind, not sure I like the Avon & Somerset approach but on the other hand we do not have ;the form' or a GP fee to pay either. 'The form' seems odd in that does it follow the census requirement 'all persons resident at a certain time on a certain day' or does it actually define 'resident' or 'occupier' which is open to further debate?

Just done my renewal and there was no 'other occupants form' or similar. I was not asked when interviewed who else resided with me and therefore the said form type is not a national or legal requirement. My question here would be to establish what details of other occupants were being recorded by the police and for what purpose. It seems to me that if another certificate holder was resident in the house the police may need to establish none authorised access to guns but beyond that I find it difficult to justify the actions. In addition I am happy to reside in an area where GP details or GP forms are not used with the only reference to a GP being that on the nationally approved application form. Happy days.