Firearm interview (Didn't quite go as planned)

[David BASC]

Some licensing authorities request mentoring at the drop of a hat, but especially if the applicant has no experience and shows no inclination to get informal training.

 

If you pass the ‘fitness’ test and the ‘good reason’ test you should be OK…

 

Here is al ink to the Home Office Guidance:

 

http://www.basc.org.uk/en/utilities/docume...CD197523083F073

 

David

[Horrocks]

Craftycarper, where in essexare you from? is it built up? I'm surprised they're taking this stance, i thought the essex lot are pretty good.

[craftycarper]

Just a quick update folks. I have been it touch with the CA and there advice is leave well alone, at least it you haven't been refused. Basically they say its down to the individual officer who visited me, I can take it to court at a costly expense and also have the bother off rubbing them up the wrong way which they say might affect future renewals. So for the time being I am gonna join basc and wait for the cert to drop through the letter box and see what they have put on it. To answer all other issues I am under the met authority, land is cleared and ok as there are deer stalkers on it etc. I have no convictions and held the shottie cert for 5 years incident free.

[chrispti]

Just a quick update folks. I have been it touch with the CA and there advice is leave well alone, at least it you haven't been refused. Basically they say its down to the individual officer who visited me, I can take it to court at a costly expense and also have the bother off rubbing them up the wrong way which they say might affect future renewals. So for the time being I am gonna join basc and wait for the cert to drop through the letter box and see what they have put on it. To answer all other issues I am under the met authority, land is cleared and ok as there are deer stalkers on it etc. I have no convictions and held the shottie cert for 5 years incident free.

 

 

Join BASC sharpish mate, and leave it to them, they WILL fight your corner, not advise you to just ''bend over'' and take it

[Dekers]

:look:

 

Join BASC sharpish mate, and leave it to them, they WILL fight your corner, not advise you to just ''bend over'' and take it

 

 

 

Unless David BASC gets involved they have no interest in helping you with a problem yesterday, last week, last year etc, only during the course of your membership.

[David BASC]

I am a little disappointed for you, by the reaction from the CA.

 

From what you have posted there seems no reason why you won’t be granted for both IF you can show good reason for both. The mentoring condition for 22rf is daft, if the land is already cleared for 22 or above there should not be an issue!

 

Did the CA offer to call up the licensing office for you to act as a mediator and uncover their reasons, and from that point try to help you sort it out, that’s the first thing BASC would do.

 

It’s quite correct though that BASC will not typically take on cases in retrospect. BASC members are fortunate that they can all on our 5 strong firearms team for help , guidance and support, but this has been paid for by existing members so the service is reserved for them and not members who join with a problem as Dekers correctly says.

 

But to be fair, the CA is a broad brush countryside organisation whose strength is campaigning on a range of rural issues. Their recourses are aimed at political and media work, not so much at membership services as you have found out.

 

BASC is a different animal, OK we have political and media teams also, but we also have additional recourses to offer help guidance and support on a range of operational issues for members.

 

Not withstanding that if I were you I would get back to the CA and demand more help!

 

But you can also help yourself, take a look at the Home Office and ACPO guidance, both are on the BASC web site in the ‘ guidance and factsheets’ section of the firearms part of the BASC site

 

David

[jamie g]

its a disgrace that flo hasnt a clue what he is on about. they want to look up the law on firearms properly before there are aloud to be flo its a joke and a disgrace.

 

he is making up rules has he go's along. i wouldnt stand for it. you donthave to show dates and so on.... to prove you have been out with your mate.

i would ask to speak to the main guy at your firearms department. and tell him you think the conditions his flo has put on you are unfair. and that you are going to ring what ever shooting group you are in.

 

thell him this . they tryed it on with a lad i no when he went from 22/250 ai to 6 br. they tryed to put it on closed ticket when he was open on 22/250 ai.

 

they said because he had roe and other deer on his ticket now he would need experence ! yet had cwd and muntjac on his other rifle for a good amount of time. so he knows the score.

 

he told them if he didnt have it open he would seek advise. the ticket come back and it was closed. he rang them right away explained it wasnt on and that if they didnt get it sorted he would go through on the promise of ringing the ngo.

 

soon as he said that his force said send the ticket in and we will sort it. he had it back all open.

 

see they will try it on with you. you got to stand your ground with them. dont get funny with them but come across that you are be unfairly treated

[Raja Clavata]

I just knew you were going to say Met. It's a bloody disgrace and somebody needs to take this lot to task.

 

The Met FEO that issued my .243, whilst being a nice guy, seems to be taking it upon himself to redefine the law (at least within his own little world)

[al4x]

Its an odd situation where they have an official document to work from yet they all work on their own little agendas. Most haven't done any shooting and have no idea. I can see the plus points of mentoring etc but they sure are taking it a bit far, I don't share Davids view of if the land is cleared then it should be fine because that simply isn't true. You can be a hazard on pretty much any land in the country if you try so some guidance is good but putting down 12 months etc is ridiculous.

In this case the CA may be right, you've got the ticket got the ok to get the gun it might be best to start using it assuming you have someone who can go out with you etc use a load of ammo and then go back to them to try and get it lifted, touch wood you only have to do it once so once you have it sorted you won't go backwards

[craftycarper]

The CA did not offer to contact the licensing office which is what i was hoping for, just gonna sit it out now and see what comes back.

[David BASC]

As I say very disappointing, I don’t think its unreasonable for you to have expected your organisation to contact the licensing office for you and see what the issue is and at least try and help, you seem to have been left high and dry.

 

The problem you may now face is that you get a FAC with conditions on it, in law a condition on a licence cannot be challenged unless it is blatantly daft of course!

 

Just because you disagree with the FEO and or stand your corner does not mean you are going to rub them up the wrong way. If you are rude and aggressive then yes you will quickly find you are in a loosing position, but being calm and rational is not going to get you into trouble.

 

I accept that many people do not want to get involved with their FEO to this extent, which is why the work of organisations is so important, they should have staff that will be willing and able to speak to the FEOs on your behalf.

 

David

[craftycarper]

Just a quick update folks. Fac cert dropped through the letterbox on friday. Has the condition on it that I have to be supervised\mentored but does not state the length of time this stays in place, although 12 to 18 months was mentioned on the interview nothing is written on the cert

[Essex Keeper]

well done aleast you have your fac now just hope mine goes a bit smoother

[Dave-G]

That "two of the same calibers" bit just shows how 'shooting ignorant' your FEO is about firearms. One of my FEO's originally had the opinion that .22 FAC air needs to be considered in a similar vein to .22lr because there was little difference in muzzel velocity.

 

I'm not being offensive about the ignorance - the ex policeman/trainee FEO simply had no experience or knowledge of firearms, and ignored my pleas that the lighter pellet with a skirt has massive drag and minimal inertia so would not travel even a quarter as far as a .22 sub in an elevated shot, nor have similar damage potential at their usual range of about 50 yards. The ruling was revised when he sought advice from a shooting FEO.

 

Land clearance issues have come and gone - again with him getting advice from more experienced shooting FEO's - and BASC.

 

My ticket is currently in for renewal but I don't see any issues - most of what they approve or disaprove can quite often be down to force policy - or perceived force policy. I have to say that I am very very appreciative of BASC representation made in the past.