Divorce and licence

[southeastpete]

Hi, 

I haven’t posted for years, mainly as I haven’t really shot for years now.

late last year I began divorcing my wife. A few weeks in, she started saying things to me that made me suspect she might start down the false allegations route.

As I had barely used my guns in years, and wouldn’t for the foreseeable, I decide to to get rid of my four shotguns in a hurry, as I was worried what she might say. At the same time I then rang the local police station and asked if I could hand my licence in. They said no, it had to be to firearms. So I emailed firearms and asked to surrender my licence with no reply.

As it happened, so far she hasn’t made any allegations. But two nights ago she rang 999 because went into her car and brought her laptop inside and she wasn’t happy about it. Utterly ridiculous, but they sent two cans and 3 cops. They said someone has to leave the house for the night. I refused as I have no local friends or family, but her sister lives locally, who she was refusing to go and stay with. They threatened me with arrest! But in the end persuaded her to go and stay with her sister.

Then today, I had a call from firearms, saying the police who attended had been in contact with them, to inform them they’d been to my address. The lady told me it was standard practice when someone is getting divorced to ask someone to give up their guns and licence! I said I’d already got rid of my guns, and tried to hand in my licence. But also questioned whether this really was standard practice. 
She said I could hand my licence in to the local station, and I said I would when I had the time, within the next two weeks. She then tried pressuring me to do it within the next day or so, could I post it. At this point I got a bit annoyed and said I don’t see what the rush is, there’s no requirement for me to hand it in at all, I just want to. I’m not running around trying to buy stamps when I finish work late, I’ll just drop it in when I have time, unless you want to come and collect it at 7am or after 6pm. She then said that’ll be fine.

 

Im just posting to check if others feel it’s a bit much being asked to hand in your licence and guns because you’re getting divorced? And to highlight that it happens.

 

atb

pete

 

[SX3]

  But remember this will pass and a new life awaits you Best of luck. 

Edited August 29 by SX3
dont want this out there to long

[Wilts#Dave]

I’m amazed that it should be ‘standard practice’ to have to surrender your guns/license just because you’re getting divorced, without reasonable grounds to do so. 

[southeastpete]

16 minutes ago, SX3 said:

I put guns and certs in storage with RFD without her knowing ,and let her make complaint This strengthened my unreasonable behaviour case. Take advice from Basc they were fantastic at supporting me.    But remember this will pass and a new life awaits you Best of luck. 

Thanks, unfortunately she already knows I got rid, but that would have been good!

 

12 minutes ago, Wilts#Dave said:

I’m amazed that it should be ‘standard practice’ to have to surrender your guns/license just because you’re getting divorced, without reasonable grounds to do so. 

Well that’s what she ‘requested’. It wasn’t mandatory, but she says that she asks it in all cases… 

To be fair, I’ve no idea what she might have said to the police that night, along the lines of he threatens me, makes me feel scared etc. but nothing was mentioned to me, and obviously the next day we’re back living together (yay)

[rbrowning2]

Pete,

just because you have no guns, all the time you have your certificate you could go and buy another gun and ammunition.

They see Divorce as a domestic risk and hence to remove that risk want your certificate back.

Even if you put your certificate and or guns into an RFD they will see that as potential risk still as you could go and take possession of your certificate at any time.

Sadly just the way they go about managing risk.

You may well get a visit by the Police, if you voluntarily surrender your certificate you have no legal way to appeal and they will only return (or allow an application to renew it) when they consider it safe to do so, which may be many months or even years.

They could revoke your certificate.

Kent Police have a reputation for being very risk adverse.

good luck.

Edited August 28 by rbrowning2

[southeastpete]

57 minutes ago, rbrowning2 said:

Pete,

just because you have no guns, all the time you have your certificate you could go and buy another gun and ammunition.

They see Divorce as a domestic risk and hence to remove that risk want your certificate back.

Even if you put your certificate and or guns into an RFD they will see that as potential risk still as you could go and take possession of your certificate at any time.

Sadly just the way they go about managing risk.

You may well get a visit by the Police, if you voluntarily surrender your certificate you have no legal way to appeal and they will only return (or allow an application to renew it) when they consider it safe to do so, which may be many months or even years.

They could revoke your certificate.

Kent Police have a reputation for being very risk adverse.

good luck.

Thanks, I’m in south west wales now. I voluntarily tried to give it up a while ago now, I can’t imagine I’d need it for a few years anyway. 
I just found it odd that they were asking for it with such little reason. The police on the night never said she’d claimed I’d threatened her or anything. 

[Fil]

12 hours ago, southeastpete said:

Thanks, I’m in south west wales now. I voluntarily tried to give it up a while ago now, I can’t imagine I’d need it for a few years anyway. 
I just found it odd that they were asking for it with such little reason. The police on the night never said she’d claimed I’d threatened her or anything. 

As you appear to want a certificate in the future I would definitely hang on to it and not give it in. I don't know about Wales (much) but the two counties around me are taking at least a year for the grant of a certificate. From what you have said you have done or said nothing wrong. The worst thing is to get into any kind of slanging match or hurty words. A lot of the guns I have in storage are because of divorces and arguments. The guns & certificates always get revoked because of the other half telling police that "he" threatened me or similar. Giving up a certificate just because of a divorce is not a standard procedure. It is a force made up procedure. And yes they say a divorce is a domestic risk. Ask them to show you where it says so in the firearms act or the Home Office guidance on firearms law. 

Keep your head up and stay out of any potential arguments and you shouldn't have any bother. Hopefully.

Best of luck. 

[Penelope]

16 hours ago, SX3 said:

  But remember this will pass and a new life awaits you Best of luck. 

It's been quoted so it will be.

 

I did the same, by the way.

[Genghis]

23 hours ago, Wilts#Dave said:

I’m amazed that it should be ‘standard practice’ to have to surrender your guns/license just because you’re getting divorced, without reasonable grounds to do so. 

I’m sure it can’t be. I’d imagine it’s only in cases where it’s a particularly volatile divorce - as this one appears to be.

 

If it is ‘standard practice’ for all divorces then I would advise against any shooter getting married ever again.

[Boristhedog]

On 28/08/2024 at 19:18, Wilts#Dave said:

I’m amazed that it should be ‘standard practice’ to have to surrender your guns/license just because you’re getting divorced, without reasonable grounds to do so. 

If this were the case, officers would be comparing divorce petition names against certificate holders in every area.  Is there a database including both situations? If not it must be a huge job, particularly in urban areas. 

[Wilts#Dave]

3 hours ago, Genghis said:

I’m sure it can’t be. I’d imagine it’s only in cases where it’s a particularly volatile divorce - as this one appears to be.

 

If it is ‘standard practice’ for all divorces then I would advise against any shooter getting married ever again.

Kind of what I was getting at, I can’t see it being the case and never heard of it being an issue but if so would definitely put me off! 

[ehb102]

The most dangerous time of a woman's life is when she tells a man she is leaving him. I guess George Pattison made them take notice of that. 

[Woodbepigeonshooter]

Voluntarily moved shotguns to a friend during divorce/ house sale.emailed firearms explaining why my guns were being stored elsewhere. Once divorce done and dusted transferred guns back to new home communicating this to firearms via email. 
firearms team never responded to emails, but got a call to visit for new address in the end they didn’t bother to visit 

“ as you do the right thing”  so it keeps things simple at a complex time

 

[Stonepark]

Change your locks on the house!

If your wife no longer has access, the risk massively decreases that there could be an incident and that can be communicated to police and form part of their risk assessment.

Edited August 30 by Stonepark

[ditchman]

wives are more trouble than they are worth.............next time around im going to sub-contract it in.........

[London Best]

3 hours ago, ditchman said:

wives are more trouble than they are worth.............next time around im going to sub-contract it in.........

Can’t agree, mine has been perfect since I trained her myself from 1970….…

but if you pick the wrong one???

[Scully]

They’re lying to you. It may be ‘standard practice’ for that particular Police authority, but it certainly isn’t throughout the land. 

Just lodge your gun(s) with a mate or a RFD until you get things sorted. You’d be amazed at the number of shooters out there who have been through a divorce or separation and still have their guns. 
We’re never going to get consistent, rational, impartial and fair treatment while the licensing of firearms is conducted by a body which doesn’t want us to have them; they wouldn’t care less if they weren’t held responsible when things go wrong. 
Just imagine what a farcical situation we’d be in if they were also responsible for the issuing of driving licences!
Legislation, policing or policy based on ‘what ifs’ and ‘just in case’ is a slippery slope and the potential for it to intrude into even more of our daily lives than it already does, should be opposed at every chance. 
My advice would be, don’t comply. 

 

Edited September 1 by Scully

[Westley]

On 30/08/2024 at 07:22, ehb102 said:

The most dangerous time of a woman's life is when she tells a man she is leaving him. I guess George Pattison made them take notice of that. 

There are times I wish my Wife would live a bit more 'dangerously'   😄

On 01/09/2024 at 13:43, Scully said:

They’re lying to you. It may be ‘standard practice’ for that particular Police authority, but it certainly isn’t throughout the land. 

Just lodge your gun(s) with a mate or a RFD until you get things sorted. You’d be amazed at the number of shooters out there who have been through a divorce or separation and still have their guns. 
We’re never going to get consistent, rational, impartial and fair treatment while the licensing of firearms is conducted by a body which doesn’t want us to have them; they wouldn’t care less if they weren’t held responsible when things go wrong. 
Just imagine what a farcical situation we’d be in if they were also responsible for the issuing of driving licences!
Legislation, policing or policy based on ‘what ifs’ and ‘just in case’ is a slippery slope and the potential for it to intrude into even more of our daily lives than it already does, should be opposed at every chance. 
My advice would be, don’t comply. 

 

Hhmmm, I can think of some who should NOT have a driving licence  !

[Westley]

An associate I knew several years ago, was going through a similar situation. Although it was an amicable divorce, the FEO asked him to surrender his guns. He was able to farm them out to shooting associates, which enabled him to continue shooting.  He was also advised by a Shooting Association,  to VOLUNTARILY  surrender his licence. Based upon the fact that it is easier to get it back at a later date, whereby if it was revoked, he may never get it back without going through the courts.

Edited September 3 by Westley

[marsh man]

Some conflicting replies above , I think what happened to mates and other people you know who were in the same situation a few years ago or even last year might be totally out of date to how a police force treat the situation today and even one county force could well be different from the next , we are in changing times and very often even your local force have a job to keep up with modern day requirements when dealing with the law on firearms . 

Seek advice from from your county firearms dept and go on from there .   MM

[Genghis]

6 hours ago, Westley said:

An associate I knew several years ago, was going through a similar situation. Although it was an amicable divorce, the FEO asked him to surrender his guns. He was able to farm them out to shooting associates, which enabled him to continue shooting.  He was also advised by a Shooting Association,  to VOLUNTARILY  surrender his licence. Based upon the fact that it is easier to get it back at a later date, whereby if it was revoked, he may never get it back without going through the courts.

If your associate was being truthful regarding it being an amicable divorce then I’m not sure why any shooting association would advise voluntarily surrendering his license. What exactly were they worried about?

[Westley]

Worried that IF the Police decided to revoke the Certificate,  he may never get it back. At least VOLUNTARILY surrendering, it would be easier to re apply. The Association employed ex FEO's, so I suppose, they should know.

Edited September 3 by Westley