Out of date licences

[MattSoanes]

Just been over to my local gunsmiths and there was an old boy in there who had let his Firearms and Shotgun certificates run out by 1 day . His local Firearms department needless to say were straight on his case, they told him if he did not get rid of all his guns by tomorrow morning he would looking at a maximum 5yrs prison sentence. Luckily the guys in the shop were more than happy to transfer them onto their register and store them for him untill he finds a buyer.

[mossy835]

thats one thing you dont forget

[Dekers]

Just been over to my local gunsmiths and there was an old boy in there who had let his Firearms and Shotgun certificates run out by 1 day . His local Firearms department needless to say were straight on his case, they told him if he did not get rid of all his guns by tomorrow morning he would looking at a maximum 5yrs prison sentence. Luckily the guys in the shop were more than happy to transfer them onto their register and store them for him untill he finds a buyer.

 

 

That's an interesting one, his RFD is apparently happy to take illegally held guns.

 

I get the impression the police have used a sensible degree of discretion, but why didn't he just apply to renew his certificates again immediately and ask for temporary certificates in the mean time???

[Billy.]

 

That's an interesting one, his RFD is apparently happy to take illegally held guns.

 

I get the impression the police have used a sensible degree of discretion, but why didn't he just apply to renew his certificates again immediately and ask for temporary certificates in the mean time???

 

I've taken an illegally held shotgun before. My FEO was over the moon that I did, as it meant it saved him a massive enquiry when they realise someone's in possession of a firearm without a licence.

[Lloyd90]

 

That's an interesting one, his RFD is apparently happy to take illegally held guns.

 

I get the impression the police have used a sensible degree of discretion, but why didn't he just apply to renew his certificates again immediately and ask for temporary certificates in the mean time???

 

Why is that a problem ? its not as if he dropped them into the local Cash Generator. The RFD is registered to hold many many guns but because this guys licence run out you dont think they should have taken them ? :unsure:

[Dekers]

I've taken an illegally held shotgun before. My FEO was over the moon that I did, as it meant it saved him a massive enquiry when they realise someone's in possession of a firearm without a licence.

 

Hows that work then?

The police knew, where is the enquiry. Help me out a bit more, you took an illegally held shotgun off someone and the police said thanks and made no further enquiries, so any dodgy gun we just give to you and the police walk away...I must remember that!!

 

 

Why is that a problem ? its not as if he dropped them into the local Cash Generator. The RFD is registered to hold many many guns but because this guys licence run out you dont think they should have taken them ? :unsure:

 

Guys

 

Don't beat your chests too much, think about it, these were illegally held and knowingly illegally held by the police apparently, they should have been handed for safe keeping to the police as they were fully aware of the situation, or taken by the police! They were not guns some granny found in the shed that uncle Jim had left 50 years ago!!

 

That's a side issue to some extent anyway...why didn't the guy just apply for his certs again anyway...?!

 

Lets not get too wrapped up in this, it smells strange anyway!!

 

ATB!!

Edited April 24, 2010 by Dekers

[MattSoanes]

:unsure:

 

That's an interesting one, his RFD is apparently happy to take illegally held guns.

 

I get the impression the police have used a sensible degree of discretion, but why didn't he just apply to renew his certificates again immediately and ask for temporary certificates in the mean time???

 

 

By the sound of it the man in question has decided to pack up shooting all together, thats why he didnt ask to renew straight away.

[Kent Militia]

Don't beat your chests too much, think about it, these were illegally held and knowingly illegally held by the police apparently, they should have been handed for safe keeping to the police as they were fully aware of the situation, or taken by the police! They were not guns some granny found in the shed that uncle Jim had left 50 years ago!!

 

 

Come on it's not as if he was going to do a drive by with them or do anything dodgy. I think it was the correct scenario, police used some discretion to help some forgetful old guy not go to prison. It's not as if he is a south brixton somali gangbanger.

[MattSoanes]

[quote name='Dekers

 

Lets not get too wrapped up in this, it smells strange anyway!!

 

ATB!!

 

Would you like to explain?

[Dekers]

Come on it's not as if he was going to do a drive by with them or do anything dodgy. I think it was the correct scenario, police used some discretion to help some forgetful old guy not go to prison. It's not as if he is a south brixton somali gangbanger.

 

 

It's degrees of everything, where do you draw the line, the guns were knowingly illegal to the police they should have seized them, even if simply for safekeeping.

 

Which bit of any of the Firearms Acts say forgetful old boys get some latitude... :hmm: , and I had a bad day at the office, the misses left me for a Dyke, the dog got run over, ..ok thats alright then, just give your guns to the nearest RFD

 

I'm not suggesting he should have been arrested, I suggested he should have got some new certificates! :unsure:

[Dekers]

[quote name='Dekers

 

Lets not get too wrapped up in this, it smells strange anyway!!

 

ATB!!

 

 

Would you like to explain?

 

Yes chap, the whole original post had a strange smell, if you had explained a little more as you have intimated since it may not have done so! The law is about detail, not arm waving suggestion!!

 

ATB!!!

Edited April 24, 2010 by Dekers

[Billy.]

Hows that work then?

The police knew, where is the enquiry. Help me out a bit more, you took an illegally held shotgun off someone and the police said thanks and made no further enquiries, so any dodgy gun we just give to you and the police walk away...I must remember that!! :unsure:

 

A SGC holder who forgot his licence had expired and left it in the cabinet for years afterwards. He wanted to reapply for a certificate, but didn't want to risk losing his gun.

 

My FEO was happy with the procedure and I actually emailed him today to say that the gun has been returned to the original owner, now he's got a new SGC.

[Dekers]

A SGC holder who forgot his licence had expired and left it in the cabinet for years afterwards. He wanted to reapply for a certificate, but didn't want to risk losing his gun.

 

My FEO was happy with the procedure and I actually emailed him today to say that the gun has been returned to the original owner, now he's got a new SGC.

 

 

Probably because the police screwed up big time in not paying him a visit when his cert expired, the police should not have left guns with him that they were fully aware he had after his certificate expired...no great surprise they didn't make a fuss and your FEO was happy, someone in Firearms should have been sacked!

 

:unsure:

[Kent Militia]

It's degrees of everything, where do you draw the line, the guns were knowingly illegal to the police they should have seized them, even if simply for safekeeping.

 

Which bit of any of the Firearms Acts say forgetful old boys get some latitude... :hmm: , and I had a bad day at the office, the misses left me for a Dyke, the dog got run over, ..ok thats alright then, just give your guns to the nearest RFD

 

I'm not suggesting he should have been arrested, I suggested he should have got some new certificates! :unsure:

 

Using common sense will go a long way than acting like a robot and arresting everyone in sight when asmuch as they break the law a little.

[Dekers]

It's degrees of everything, where do you draw the line, the guns were knowingly illegal to the police they should have seized them, even if simply for safekeeping.

 

Which bit of any of the Firearms Acts say forgetful old boys get some latitude... :hmm: , and I had a bad day at the office, the misses left me for a Dyke, the dog got run over, ..ok thats alright then, just give your guns to the nearest RFD

 

I'm not suggesting he should have been arrested, I suggested he should have got some new certificates! :unsure:

 

 

Using common sense will go a long way than acting like a robot and arresting everyone in sight when asmuch as they break the law a little.

 

I'm not suggesting he should have been arrested, but a plea of common sense is unlikely to do you much good when you are standing in the dock and obviously guilty of a firearms offense!

 

And as I also said where do you draw the line, what is breaking the law a little is that 31 in a 30 limit, or 40?? The law in many ways has little or nothing to do with common sense, but just occasionally discretion is used!

Edited April 25, 2010 by Dekers

[HDAV]

Probably because the police screwed up big time in not paying him a visit when his cert expired, the police should not have left guns with him that they were fully aware he had after his certificate expired...no great surprise they didn't make a fuss and your FEO was happy, someone in Firearms should have been sacked!

 

 

Oddly enough I am hoping to take possession of a gun that was on a cert that expired 5+ years ago, owner emigrated never renewed, gun was in a cabinet in a barn with some old furniture and bits he left behind. RFD's can sign on to the register guns handed in, this can be anonymously. IF you were to send all your renewal paperwork off and the new one doesnt arrive by the day of expiry of the old one (even if it has been issued and is in the postal system) you are technically in illegal possession. Must happen with postal strikes etc, it seems the police can be none to quick to follow up, but also very slow to process paperwork to get them back on the system.

 

If the chap had on the last day of cert sold the guns he still had 7 days to inform the FLO of the disposal so i dont see them being there ont eh day of expiry a lapse (and think of the wasted man power to vist everyone who got a cert and let it lapse!) it takes 4-6 weeks to get an appointment already!

[Evil Elvis]

I only skim read this BUT one point no-one made is that the average shop charges £1.80 per day per gun for this service....the rfd didnt do it out of the kindness of his heart!!!