Gloucestershire suspend all certificate applications

[Skeetstar]

Warks police did my renewal in less than 48 hours, and that included time in the post from them to me.. I hand delivered the docs to them. My view is that Warks take an eminently sensible view on shotgun licensing, and are adequately resourced. And warks is one of the smaller forces.

 

[SteveN]

BASC are getting stuck into this:

https://0ld.basc.org.uk/?wysija-page=1&controller=email&action=view&email_id=1749

 

[wildoliver]

Truth be told the system could be improved enormously by dumping the section 1/2 split, when you really think about it, it's a nonsense. A firearms certificate to hold any legal firearm would make more sense. I don't even see the sense in slots, variations or getting land approved. You should have a gun limit according to storage and some limit based on common sense and security of property, but that's about it. Why an fac air rifle is treated as more dangerous than a shotgun by the licence requirements makes zero sense. Someone suitable to hold a shotgun should be just as suitable to hold a .223. Tie calibers in to compulsory courses if you must. Get your certificate then pass a course at a gun club/range/stalking school to hold a 12b/fac air/rimfire/centre fire etc.

Why is my judgement trusted about shooting a shotgun on land that's not pre approved but not if shooting fac. I appreciate a bullet can carry far further than shot, but a poor choice with a shotgun can have the same devastating consequences as with a rifle.

They should simplify and apply common sense, but also sanction hard those acting irresponsibly.

 

[PeeJay]

Truth be told the system could be improved enormously by dumping the section 1/2 split, when you really think about it, it's a nonsense. A firearms certificate to hold any legal firearm would make more sense. I don't even see the sense in slots, variations or getting land approved. You should have a gun limit according to storage and some limit based on common sense and security of property, but that's about it. Why an fac air rifle is treated as more dangerous than a shotgun by the licence requirements makes zero sense. Someone suitable to hold a shotgun should be just as suitable to hold a .223. Tie calibers in to compulsory courses if you must. Get your certificate then pass a course at a gun club/range/stalking school to hold a 12b/fac air/rimfire/centre fire etc.

Why is my judgement trusted about shooting a shotgun on land that's not pre approved but not if shooting fac. I appreciate a bullet can carry far further than shot, but a poor choice with a shotgun can have the same devastating consequences as with a rifle.

They should simplify and apply common sense, but also sanction hard those acting irresponsibly.

The FO explained it to me about the potential for harm over distance. A shotgun needs to be relatively close (I was surprised just how close it can be) whereas a rifle can kill from a long way away.

 

[wildoliver]

The FO explained it to me about the potential for harm over distance. A shotgun needs to be relatively close (I was surprised just how close it can be) whereas a rifle can kill from a long way away.

I do appreciate that, but think it's fairly fanciful that we have a queue of people lining up to play at being sniper murderers. If we are looking at worst case scenarios there is most likely more chance of a nutter going tonto in a town centre.

 

[FESkent]

careful what you wish for the section 1 / 2 split has benefits, especially for section 2 if the Police had their way all guns would be section 1. With each gun being justified, just think how many shotguns that would remove from owners.