paul1966 Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 just read this in the local paper,probably made worse by the fact the gun has vanished. A man who gave a shotgun away without notifying the police it had changed ownership has been ordered to do 60 hours unpaid work. Wayne Bentley (52), of Littleworth Lane, Belton in Rutland, pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates' Court to failing to notify Leicestershire police within seven days that the Lincoln over and under 12-bore shotgun had been transferred to another person. He was given a 12-month community penalty, including the unpaid work and ordered to pay £85 costs. Prosecutor Sally Bamford said the offence was made more serious because the new owner had died and the weapon had disappeared. "This is not just an administration error. The gun is unaccounted for and could fall into the wrong hands." She said Bentley and the other man were shotgun certificate-holders but, by law any transfer of ownership must be notified to police, by registered post or recorded delivery service, within seven days. Bentley, who fully admitted committing the offence, said he found the transfer form with his gun licence and, at the earliest opportunity, wrote a letter to the police's firearms certification department. "I did the best I could in a bad situation as soon as I realised the form had not been sent on, which I thought had been done." He told the court his son and the other man's son played football together and the man said he was going rough-shooting. "He asked if he could buy the gun and I said it wasn't really worth anything, just a cheap thing, and said he could have it." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Blimey, I live 10 minutes away from Belton. Scary news is that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr salt Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 (edited) would like to know if the bloke that died had told the police about the gun within 72 hours? is he really dead? or alive and armed? and not the person he said he was.(stolen cert) all a bit fishy. is the son still about? Edited January 12, 2012 by mr salt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr salt Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 just thought if the guns not in the dead mans safe ,maybe its in a gun shop/smiths for work.(gun may still turn up) but i know i always keep the slip the shop gives me with my cert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Bit extreme, no sorry very extreme. I know of folk who have received a verbal ####ing from the FEO for similiar failure to keep the paper trail intact, and that was it. No subsequent problems with renewals etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Blimey, I live 10 minutes away from Belton. Scary news is that. I used to live in Belton, have some shooting land there, I'm 20 mins away, where are you mate? Its either Shepshed or Coalville? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 On the closer edge of Whitwick mate. Its about 15 minutes to Shepshed and 20 to Loughborough for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Bit extreme, no sorry very extreme. I know of folk who have received a verbal ####ing from the FEO for similiar failure to keep the paper trail intact, and that was it. No subsequent problems with renewals etc. Seems a bit harsh, but I suspect the fact the gun has 'gone missing' would account for that sort of sentence? No mention of the guys certificate being revoked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 (edited) . Edited January 12, 2012 by poontang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spara Dritto Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 (edited) It is good he received the hours (at least he still has his certificate!). It serves as a warning for all those who take gun ownership with a pinch of salt. In my opinion, It says a little about this chaps attitude to guns, moreover his attitude in general. It doesn't take 5 minuets to send an email, phone call or, if the Firearms officer prefers, a trip to the post office sent via 1st class recorded after you buy, sell, exchange or dispose of a gun! I send my notification as soon as I get the gun and 7 days later call the firearms licensing branch to confirm they have received my letter. It's laziness and unless there was a good excuse (forgetting clearly isn't one) he has no grounds on which to stand on. This leads on to having guns stolen from vehicles or at clay grounds. Keep them on you at all times or if in a car locked away out of sight! People get far to complacent. The countless guns I see on the racks at gun clubs, while the owners are inside having a cup of tea, makes me question their common sense! No one would even question someone taking a gun off the rack that isn't theirs and driving off with it... People now days seem so blasé!! In my opinion, they shouldn't have certificates. Edited January 12, 2012 by Beretta Italy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spara Dritto Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Rant over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhawk Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 My firearms department have lost 4 of my notifications over the years they were signed for recorded .Just as well I keep copys and recorded receipts . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 She said Bentley and the other man were shotgun certificate-holders but, by law any transfer of ownership must be notified to police, by registered post or recorded delivery service, within seven days. Anyone tell me where it says "registered or recorded post" in the law? I thought it was just "in writing" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Anyone tell me where it says "registered or recorded post" in the law? I thought it was just "in writing" My FEO just said post the transfer form in when a gun is transfered. Never mentioned recorded post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 My FEO just said post the transfer form in when a gun is transfered. Never mentioned recorded post. On the Leicestershire transfer forms it does recommend recorded post, but as HDAV as said, there is no legal requirement...other than ensuring that you fulfil the conditions of your FAC, one of which is to notify the CC that you have disposed or otherwise got rid of a firearm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdSolomons Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Im Leics and I always fax it, never had a problem and quick/easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlaserF3 Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Keep them on you at all times or if in a car locked away out of sight! People get far to complacent. The countless guns I see on the racks at gun clubs, while the owners are inside having a cup of tea, makes me question their common sense! No one would even question someone taking a gun off the rack that isn't theirs and driving off with it... People now days seem so blasé!! In my opinion, they shouldn't have certificates. I heartily agree with this, anyone could walk off with a gun and it's so widespread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 But then most clubs don't allow them in the club house to buy the cup of tea, I can't see a problem if slipped, as your legally entitled to have it in public slipped but I have been ask to leave a club house while having it slipped on my shoulder! Also has there been any cases of thefts from clubs? I know one force went try the doors on cars at one ground and if open with gun inside trouble!!! But that's just daft if you've walked back to the car why not lock it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 i fax and send a recorded letter. i`ll have coppies of both and mailing documents. the only alternate to this is to phisycaly hand it over, and demand a recipt ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC45 Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 I fax my forms, I was told I could also fill out the online form. Never had any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winterwolf Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Recorded delivery for my first one ... I was still rang a couple of weeks later asking why I hadnt notified them of the purchase.... She shut up when I said I had sent it recorded delivery though... never heard from them again. When I sold it, I just emailed them the reciept, and they emailed back conrirming my record had now been updated ... Much easier process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) I make a PDF from their transfer form and email all of mine. I follow up with a call a couple of days later. Not had a problem yet. My local force accepts digital signatures however. Edited January 13, 2012 by notsosureshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 i have always just dropped them an email not had a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 It is good he received the hours (at least he still has his certificate!). It serves as a warning for all those who take gun ownership with a pinch of salt. In my opinion, It says a little about this chaps attitude to guns, moreover his attitude in general. It doesn't take 5 minuets to send an email, phone call or, if the Firearms officer prefers, a trip to the post office sent via 1st class recorded after you buy, sell, exchange or dispose of a gun! I send my notification as soon as I get the gun and 7 days later call the firearms licensing branch to confirm they have received my letter. It's laziness and unless there was a good excuse (forgetting clearly isn't one) he has no grounds on which to stand on. This leads on to having guns stolen from vehicles or at clay grounds. Keep them on you at all times or if in a car locked away out of sight! People get far to complacent. The countless guns I see on the racks at gun clubs, while the owners are inside having a cup of tea, makes me question their common sense! No one would even question someone taking a gun off the rack that isn't theirs and driving off with it... People now days seem so blasé!! In my opinion, they shouldn't have certificates. Umm sorry, but if I'm at a clay ground and place my gun on a rack, if anyone steals it, the entire blame should be directed at the thief, not me. Just because its a gun, its still my property. Are you suggesting I wheel clamp my car just in case someone steals it from Tesco's and runs someone over? They are both as dangerous in the wrong hands. What is it with people who blame the person upholding the law, for the actions of someone breaking it? You are bordering on being a Daily Mail reader with such ****. Should we all blame McAvoy guns for not having surface to surface missiles defending their "armoury"? There is no such thing as secure if someone really wants to steal something. Of course we dont blame McAvoy for what happened. They locked the door so all is well. But what use is a locked door if someone can open it? The same goes for a rack outside of a clay ground tea room. There is no such thing as secure. Sure you get the opportunist, but god damn, is that going to spoil my enjoyment of shooting and make me ultra paranoid in case it gets stolen? Perhaps, but only for the financial loss i would incurr personally. If someone did steal a gun from me and used it to hurt someone (god forbid), I would not feel responsible for that at all. Why should I? They are the criminals, not me. My apologies if you were not feeding the anti gun lobby a tidbit, but I think perhaps you were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 E mail it and ask for a reply confirming receipt. You can prove its gone and not bounced. Harsh yet but the law is the law. As gun owners we all have certain responsibilities and standards to meet, our counter-signatories who have advised that we are safe, sensible etc etc may also be prosecuted if their comments are provably false. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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