Firearm officer due for a visit.

[Al-Nitro]

Hi all,

We... thats my oldest lad, youngest lad and myself have all applied for our shotgun licence at the same time 5 weeks ago.

A firearms officer called on the phone today whilst i was out, but my youngest lad managed to have a quick word.

The officer said it would be better if all 3 of us were present on a day next week (still to confirm) at the time of his visit.

I have no problem being at home when the officer is due to visit. Will need to arrange time for after school for my youngest son, but my oldest son is working away on his placement this year down at Cambridge, and does not come home till late friday evenings for the weekend as it is over 2 hours drive to get home.

The officer has already said he does not do weekends. So im not sure how my oldest son will get his licence ?

I wanted to call the officer, but he didnt leave a number, and not sure when he will call again to arrange a deffinate date. But in the meanwhile i want to know if my oldest son have to be present at the time of inspection, so i can at least try sort something out.

 

[Skeet UK]

Call your local Police HQ, speak to the Firearms Licensing department and they should be able to give you a contact number for your FLO.

 

[Mick.J]

Maybe your son is going to have to sacrifice some time off! The firearms officer will think better of you, if he thinks that your making an effort to obtain one, rather than- can you come round when it suits me attitude. When he asks who has access to the guns its ONLY YOU, as your children should not have knowledge of where the keys are kept. Unless allowed by age!!!!

 

[Will Hewland]

Maybe your son is going to have to sacrifice some time off! The firearms officer will think better of you, if he thinks that your making an effort to obtain one, rather than- can you come round when it suits me attitude. When he asks who has access to the guns its ONLY YOU, as your children should not have knowledge of where the keys are kept. Unless allowed by age!!!!

Eh? There are no guns yet one assumes. The point of all three getting a certificate each is so that they can all possess guns and know where they are stored.

 

[Mick.J]

Eh? There are no guns yet one assumes. The point of all three getting a certificate each is so that they can all possess guns and know where they are stored.

Pretty obvious they are going to know where there kept!! Its also an interview as such, as to suitability of ownership, why you need one, where will you shoot etc. Letting your children have access 'under' the legal limit is/will be termed as irresponsable.

Maybe they do things differently your way?

 

[Will Hewland]

I think the age thing is irrelevant if you have a certificate? I might be wrong. I thought `certificated` meant that you were in full control. Not sure if there is a caveat for age? I think they just dont give a certificate if they feel you are too young etc? There was all that hubbub in the press about a year ago about it.

I know that before my wife had a certificate they were big on telling me that she must not know where the keys were. When I told my (then) 8 year old son that there were hidden keys, he spent 90 minutes with his metal detector until he found them!!!! (Moved now..)

CSC3

 

[Mick.J]

There is no 'real' age limit for issuing a licence, but there is for the 'Use' of a shotgun on your own. I have had mine since i was around 12 (early 70's) The broom cupboard will be fine sir!!!!!!!!. Times have moved on.

My point is 14 y/o (or whatever) comes home from school(or whatever), decides to have a look at a gun. Gets one out, knock at the door, some mates just come around -cor!! lets have a look etc. Not the ideal situation from a firearms officers point of view. It may or may not happen -but could.

Slightly different for renewals as you are known already, and they have an idea of what to expect from you.

Presenting yourself and your family as responsable is paramount these days.

 

[Skeet UK]

You will probably find that that it will be a shared cabinet issue and each person will have each gun entered on their certificate, as they all have access to them. So if Dad buys a Beretta and Eldest son buys a Browning, all three of them will have the Beretta and Browning on their certificate.

Or you have to have 3 cabinets.

 

[Al-Nitro]

After an hour of ringing around, i managed to get hold of the officer. He was very pleasant and exceptionally helpful in every way. He is making some adjustments to visit tomorrow, as we are all there.

Fingers crossed all goes well, and i can start looking for my first gun. Happy days

Thanks for all the input and the pointers, notes taken

 

[Les53]

Do not tell them that you want to use it for home defense, just in case a burglar breaks into your house! It may not go down very well! :wink: :.:

 

[ExSCA]

Standard wisdom is chocolate hob-nobs as well - make sure you offer him a decent biscuit.

 

[Les53]

Standard wisdom is chocolate hob-nobs as well - make sure you offer him a decent biscuit.

Yeh and don't mention PLEBS or PLODS!!! :.: :.:

 

[Al-Nitro]

Yeh and don't mention PLEBS or PLODS!!! :.: :.:

I will write them down in BOLD letters on each hand to remind myself I was told 20 mins tops, so one choc should do the trick, is 2 pushing my luck i still have some lying around from christmas :wink:

 

[Les53]

I will write them down in BOLD letters on each hand to remind myself

I was told 20 mins tops, so one choc should do the trick, is 2 pushing my luck i still have some lying around from christmas :wink:

Don't go too heavy on biscuits mate, they may think you are trying to bribe them. :.: :.:

 

[Richard V]

I remember my visit....

"Tea Ged?"

"No thanks."

"How about a biscuit?"

"No thanks."

Got the biscuits especially for that visit (generally don't have food unless it has a reduced sticker on).

Good Luck!

 

[Angelfire]

A bottle of malt works wonders.

 

[Les53]

A bottle of malt works wonders.

The word "corruption" springs to mind! :.: :.:

 

[RobertBeard]

A bottle of malt works wonders.

And he arrived by car and left by car after home measures!

Sounds like he was tempted and fell to be hypocritical

 

[Al-Nitro]

Biscuits on the ready and no show