FAC?

[flukeyluke]

I am wanting to apply for my fac in the near future but not sure what my chances of getting it are,im 31 years old and have suffered with mental illness.

 

I have never been classed as dangerous or anything and my illness was caused by drug taking in the 90s(i have been clean of all drugs for over 11years)

 

I am on meds but im no longer under the mental health as i have been well for a long time,quite a few years infact but do occasionaly still get depressed,i have shot guns hunting and targets all my life and i would say i am very sensible when it comes to rifles.

 

I am shortly going to be a member of a local gun club shooting .22lr,.308 etc etc and my doctor knows i shoot and that it relaxes me being out with nature(i am also a avid fisherman) so i think i would have his backing.

 

I also got into a bit of trouble when i was young and have a couple of cautions and have been to court for affray,a couple of assults and a theft(all of these were before the age of 18) but have not been in any sort of trouble since.

 

What do you think my chances are of being excepted for fac? i entend on applying for targets so i can use my own guns at the local club,i will be telling the apsolute truth on my application and like i said i class myself as a nice chap who is very careful when out with a rifle and have shot rifles all my life(ive shot .308,.22 and 17hmr plus shotguns and always owned a air rifle) im just a bit worried as i know mental health isnt really understood and has a sort of stigma attatched to it,my mate does know someone who has cronic deppression who has a fac though.

 

 

Thanks luke

[codling99]

if you ve allready got a shotgun ticket,cant see why not,but,all you can do is apply and hope mate.

[kyska]

if you ve allready got a shotgun ticket,cant see why not,but,all you can do is apply and hope mate.

 

Maybe, apply and it'll come down to your Dr report.

 

I answered 'yes' to any mental health problems and got FAC granted so if you want to PM me feel free.

 

Consensus is that if you are able to drive a car you 'should' be eligable for a FAC, but obviously it depends on the severity and longevity of your illness old bean.

 

You say you are no longer 'under the mental health', do you mean you have been hospitalised for health problems or just not seen your Dr for a while? I ask as depression is the aggravating factor.

 

I'd be more worried about your criminal background to be honest, you've admitted taking illegal drugs to point of damaging your health, affray, assault (all offences against another person).

 

Go for it, nothing to lose, other than 61p postage, not being harsh, I wouldn't be hopeful, but go for it.

Edited May 6, 2010 by kyska

[flukeyluke]

Thanks for the replies,no ive never been hospitalised just had to see the mental health team and had a cpn that came out to me every month but they are now taking a back seat as ive been well for a few years and after the next 2 months i wont be seeing them at all ,i now just get my meds from the quack and thats it,i havnt got a shotgun ticket yet,all the shottees and rifles ive used(except air rifle)has been my various mates or at a gun club,i mainly want to apply for .22lr for targets and for the permissions i have.

 

Yes i do drive a car and passed my test just before xmass 1st time as well

 

Like i said i have experience with all types of rifles and shotguns as ive been into shooting in various forms all my life,i am going to do my full probationary period with the club before i apply.

 

Thanks again luke

 

PS will pm in a bit mate.

[Gordon R]

I will be interested in whether you get a FAC or shotgun certificate. My own guess would be zero chance. Mental health issues, affray, cautions, depression - I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

Having read your posts elsewhere, your chances would be less than zero.

Edited May 17, 2010 by Gordon R

[colin lad]

I am wanting to apply for my fac in the near future but not sure what my chances of getting it are,im 31 years old and have suffered with mental illness.

 

I have never been classed as dangerous or anything and my illness was caused by drug taking in the 90s(i have been clean of all drugs for over 11years)

 

I am on meds but im no longer under the mental health as i have been well for a long time,quite a few years infact but do occasionaly still get depressed,i have shot guns hunting and targets all my life and i would say i am very sensible when it comes to rifles.

 

I am shortly going to be a member of a local gun club shooting .22lr,.308 etc etc and my doctor knows i shoot and that it relaxes me being out with nature(i am also a avid fisherman) so i think i would have his backing.

 

I also got into a bit of trouble when i was young and have a couple of cautions and have been to court for affray,a couple of assults and a theft(all of these were before the age of 18) but have not been in any sort of trouble since.

 

What do you think my chances are of being excepted for fac? i entend on applying for targets so i can use my own guns at the local club,i will be telling the apsolute truth on my application and like i said i class myself as a nice chap who is very careful when out with a rifle and have shot rifles all my life(ive shot .308,.22 and 17hmr plus shotguns and always owned a air rifle) im just a bit worried as i know mental health isnt really understood and has a sort of stigma attatched to it,my mate does know someone who has cronic deppression who has a fac though.

 

 

 

 

 

hi mate i held off applying for my sgc for years as i thought i would not get it due to my records i had a firearms offence in 1977 as a 14 year old i took my dads air rifle fishing i was messing around trying to shoot my float and a pellet skimmed the water and hit someone on the far bank which i got 12 months conditional discharge for and 2 other offences in 79 and 81 for drunk and disordely and breach of the peace i sent a copy of my crb check and a letter explaining how i was a silly teenager and now regret what i did, when the feo came he told me that even though i told him everything and wrote a cover note to explain what i did it did not make any differance to me getting sgc but had i not told him i would not of got it so just be honest tell them everything and who knows i got mine

 

colin

 

Thanks luke

[vole]

If you are on psychiatric drug therapy still then I too would say they would not grant you a firearm cert.

Edited May 17, 2010 by vole

[libs]

Ask first. Its a lot easier to apply in the future if you havn't previously been refused the grant of an SGC/FAC.

[reaper6]

NO CHANCE SORRY

[al4x]

I would say no chance as well and probably rightly so, the criminal record is one thing and that can be overcome but the history of depression I would think would be the sticking point. FEO's have a problem that a lot of people top themselves with legally held shotguns certainly I know about 3 in my local area. It makes them super sensitive over it so if there is a history and a recent one then they do refuse them. That said if you apply put it all in writing and see how you go you've nothing to loose and I believe you get the money back if it doesn't go through

[ST3V3]

If you a member of a club what is there opinion?

[njc110381]

It sounds to me like you are on the mend. You've not got the best history but it seems things are improving. If the drugs have caused your illness then is there a chance that now you are off of them you may slowly return to a more "normal" state?

 

I think your chances right now are questionable. It all comes down to just how bad your mental issues are. The affray etc when you were a kid, well in my opinion they don't matter one bit as it was too long ago. I think you'd be best talking to a firearms enquiry officer at your local station. If you give the operator a call on the non emergency number and ask to speak to someone in the firearms department. Tell them everything you've told us and be totally honest. They should be able to give you a better idea of the specs they work to than we can.

[the running man]

You must have a flo,why don't you ask him/her what they think,after all its mostly their report on u that's gonna sway things. I always thougt any mental health probs was a closed door for fac applicants but I've been proved wrong,I guess its how deep the problems are.I answerd yes to havin been to the docs lateley on a variation and it took ages checkin why,I only had a tetnus booster! I would base my application decision on ure flo's answer.

[kyska]

You must have a flo,why don't you ask him/her what they think,after all its mostly their report on u that's gonna sway things. I always thougt any mental health probs was a closed door for fac applicants but I've been proved wrong,I guess its how deep the problems are.I answerd yes to havin been to the docs lateley on a variation and it took ages checkin why,I only had a tetnus booster! I would base my application decision on ure flo's answer.

 

 

Why would you disclose a tetanus vaccination?? It specifically asks if you have had treatment from your GP for mental/nervous/drug and drink related illnesses, so you must of ticked 'Yes' to either drug/drink or mental/nervous illness!

 

Talk about making things hard for yourself, I answered yes to the above, it was discussed in interview and was told they won't be approaching my Dr, may FAC landed a week later.

Edited May 18, 2010 by kyska

[CZ550Kevlar]

i would be pretty sure that your application would go to the FMO.

[debaser]

I wouldn't rule it out, speak to your FLO and be completly honest.

Loads of police take pills, anti-depressants and stuff.

 

Good luck. :blink:

[kyska]

I wouldn't rule it out, speak to your FLO and be completly honest.

Loads of police take pills, anti-depressants and stuff.

 

Good luck. :blink:

 

And those loads of police on anti-depressants normally get taken off front line duty.

 

The chances are very unlikely that this chap will get an FAC, everything seems to be against him sadly.

[Dave-G]

I might be wrong but think if you get a knock back now it's taken into account if you re-apply in the future.

 

My instinct is to wait for a few years after all treatment and visits have ceased and you have been clear of any mental issues for a couple of years or more. Those other issues will have faded a little further into your history too by then.

[jonevo]

Depends on how lax your local police force is.