North Wales Police - Spot checks on firearms

[SidesGary]

According to the BASC website North Wales Police are apparently completing "cold call" spot checks on firearms holders looking for illegally held weapons ? Not that we have anything to hide but i dont think this is very "PC" excuse the slight joke ! For me, i think the time would be better spent improving variation turnaround times and getting rid of illegal firearms on the street over visiting genuine law abiding holders............... I am not aware of any power of entry so this feels like a potential total waste of time and money ?

 

[Growl]

I agree, seems a sad waste of a resource

 

[Sampop]

Thanks for the heads up Sidesy!  Renewed my licence this year and the officer did elude to a crackdown on guns owned for 'sentimental' reasons, and also a potential hike in licence fee.  Agree with you that they would be better off resourcing licence application/renewal process...am getting bored of having to badger them every time I renew - you think they would learn something from all the feedback!

Not sure I want an officer turning up at the house uninvited ....don't fancy all of the curtain twitching!

 

[RobertBeard]

The words "Search Warrant" spring to mind!

I have nothing to hide but if they inconvenience us then it can happen the other way as well.

Perhaps a letter to the new Police Commissioner might be worthwhile.

They would be better employed trying to stop illegal imports from USA, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Afghanistan etc

 

[Westward]

I've got a vague feeling that when you sign the SGC application you are agreeing to waive your right to refuse entry to the police if they want to check your fireams.

This thread though is another sorry example of the ever widening chasm between how the police think they should behave and how the public thinks they should. I wonder sometimes if their training includes a sort of indoctrination that says there's no such thing as a  law abiding citizen. It's as if they think everyone's a law breaker; they just haven't all been caught yet. Are they incapable of perceiving that someone who has a connection with illegal guns or any other kind of serious crime is not going to make themselves known to the police by applying for an SGC or FAC. 

And that of course is why the whole gun law legislation serves only to make life more expensive and uncomfortable for law abiding sporting shooters who are no threat to anyone, whilst doing nothing at all towards stopping wannabee gangsters from spraying each other with automatic weapons