Medical certificate for shotgun licence renewal

Tim G

Member
Livestock Farmer
When I renewed a couple of years ago, I had to register with the doctor first. They then sent a bill for, I think, £80 for the letter thing. When I looked into it, the doctors only need to write if they believe you are not fit to have a gun. In most cases the only thing they do is send a bill to the applicant. I didn't pay them but still got licence okay. Maybe the law has changed now?
 

farmerm

Member
Location
Shropshire
When I renewed a couple of years ago, I had to register with the doctor first. They then sent a bill for, I think, £80 for the letter thing. When I looked into it, the doctors only need to write if they believe you are not fit to have a gun. In most cases the only thing they do is send a bill to the applicant. I didn't pay them but still got licence okay. Maybe the law has changed now?
The law hasn't changed, its just some forces have changed how they interpret the law....
 

marcot

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Bury St Edmunds
Just renewed mine in Suffolk and the form required that I gaive permission for the Police to contact my GP. The GP then contacted me to give them £30 before they would tell the police that I might not be mad.
It seems that no two police authorities act in the same way....
 

California

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
South Lincs
I'm in same timeframe - shotgun renewal due end March and downloaded form yesterday so this had me panicking. But having checked form I do not have to send a letter - just give permission for police to contact my GP. There is also nothing in the renewal letter about a letter from GP. Does this vary between forces then? I am in Leicestershire and have always found them very good to deal with on firearms/shotgun issues.
I guess it must vary depending on which county you are in then. I am in Lincolnshire who used to operate the same system that you mention (giving details of my Dr. and permission to for them contact the doctor at no extra cost) on all the previous occasions I renewed. So this new system of needing to get a letter signed by your doctor before being allowed to aply rather caught me by surprise. I had assumed it was a new nationwide thing but obviously not.
I'm sure the Lincolnshire doctors must be pleased. He said he had done lots of them in the last few months and at £50 a pop for an autograph (which I believe goes to the Dr rather than the NHS) it must he a handy little earner for them!
I can see the reasoning behind it of course but it seemed like a bit of a waste of time and money when the old system seemed to work perfectly fine.
 
Any GP refusing to support a firearms application on 'moral grounds' is utterly wrong in my book and failing their duty of care to their patient. Coming from a rural background this issue really gets my goat- some people rely on firearms for their livelihoods and others use them in a sporting or social capacity. No one is granted a firearm certificate for the purpose of going out and murdering other people- plenty of people only shoot clays so there is no automatic moral argument to be had. I view a gun the same way as I would an axe- its a tool with a job that may cause great harm if the owner is not if sane mind.

To deny people solely on the above grounds is wrong IMO- people need jobs and social lives to maintain their wellbeing- this is well recognised hence the rise of 'social prescribing'. Doctors taking that kind of stance really get on my wick im afraid- if you are truly motivated by your desire to help those in need then their needs should override any personal conflicts you may have in my opinion.

I believe if you are renewing your ticket you should be asked to attend a consult and similarly if you came to me feeling depressed one of my first questions would be have you got a firearms license and may we have a chat about that? Again, I have an insight into the lives of rural people that some 18 year old oik educated in Eton does not.

Doctors cannot have it both ways. Its a similar discussion to when I allow an elderly person to continue to drive despite that fact they maybe should not- it doesnt take much for some old dear to kill 3 children on a zebra crossing by accident.

I must say however that there is no way I would grant my signature for £50 no questions asked. I would need to know you and see you first.
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
Somewhere on a Doctors forum there's a newly qualified GP asking about a letter they've been asked to write for someone they've never actually met to say they are fit to use a shotgun.

First reply?

Get an agent.;)
 

Bobthebuilder

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
northumberland
Did both my shotgun and rifle cert renewals last June no need for any medical certificates or letters just had to sign the form allowing them to contact my GP and give their details, had a visit from a very pleasant lady to do the cabinet/security checks and had the new certificate through the post in a month
 
Just had my renewal through the post yesterday. Big red form that needs filling in by Dr. If I hadn't been to the drs three weeks ago it was his predecessor I saw back in 2004.
On the front it says, I am applying for a shotgun cert etc. This form must be filled in by my GP and I realise there will be a fee from for filling it in and I am happy to pay said fee !!!(sounds a bit like the red tractor lot !) and no form means no renewal etc. Answers must be fact and not an opinion, 12 yes or no questions. And I will be £50 lighter for the privilege.
What gets me though BOLD words on the opening letter that they are busy and the completed forms and fees should submitted at LEAST 8 weeks before the expiry date !
Mine arrived with 7 weeks to go 🤦
 
Just had my renewal through the post yesterday. Big red form that needs filling in by Dr. If I hadn't been to the drs three weeks ago it was his predecessor I saw back in 2004.
On the front it says, I am applying for a shotgun cert etc. This form must be filled in by my GP and I realise there will be a fee from for filling it in and I am happy to pay said fee !!!(sounds a bit like the red tractor lot !) and no form means no renewal etc. Answers must be fact and not an opinion, 12 yes or no questions. And I will be £50 lighter for the privilege.
What gets me though BOLD words on the opening letter that they are busy and the completed forms and fees should submitted at LEAST 8 weeks before the expiry date !
Mine arrived with 7 weeks to go 🤦
I had a message on the answer phone a couple of weeks ago to ring back dyfed Powys police " as a matter of urgency'". Thinking it was about a speeding ticket or something,I phoned next morning to find out my gun licence tan out in June 😳. Told them very sorry but hadn't had a reminder ( ummm... Found it later...) and she said get the guns onto someone else's licence and storage NOW!!. Taking the forms in to the doctors tomorrow.👍
 

wr.

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Breconshire
I had a message on the answer phone a couple of weeks ago to ring back dyfed Powys police " as a matter of urgency'". Thinking it was about a speeding ticket or something,I phoned next morning to find out my gun licence tan out in June 😳. Told them very sorry but hadn't had a reminder ( ummm... Found it later...) and she said get the guns onto someone else's licence and storage NOW!!. Taking the forms in to the doctors tomorrow.👍
I hope they don't send you for a little holiday. Soap on a rope might come in handy :giggle:
 

MontyK

Member
Sent my S.G &F.A off end of August for renewal, due October and got a letter saying very busy, here is a temp license untill November, show this letter if you need ammo, Humberside police force.
 
I hope they don't send you for a little holiday. Soap on a rope might come in handy :giggle:
In theory,all ok but would have been a different story if I had a rifle though. Haven't had a holiday in years mind,I wonder if they have a view of the sea🤔. Do Hay and Brecon sell soap on a rope? Might get the vat back.
 

farmerm

Member
Location
Shropshire
Just had my renewal through the post yesterday. Big red form that needs filling in by Dr. If I hadn't been to the drs three weeks ago it was his predecessor I saw back in 2004.
On the front it says, I am applying for a shotgun cert etc. This form must be filled in by my GP and I realise there will be a fee from for filling it in and I am happy to pay said fee !!!(sounds a bit like the red tractor lot !) and no form means no renewal etc. Answers must be fact and not an opinion, 12 yes or no questions. And I will be £50 lighter for the privilege.
What gets me though BOLD words on the opening letter that they are busy and the completed forms and fees should submitted at LEAST 8 weeks before the expiry date !
Mine arrived with 7 weeks to go 🤦
Think mine arrived with 9 weeks... GP took 2... new licence arrived in time though 👍
 

yellowbelly

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
N.Lincs
Sent my S.G &F.A off end of August for renewal, due October and got a letter saying very busy, here is a temp license untill November, show this letter if you need ammo, Humberside police force.
Same here. Got the 'extension' letter too.
They must be a long way behind though 'cos I've had an 'extension' letter for my 'extension' letter too :facepalm:
 
Got my renewal paperwork through 3 months in advance from Police Scotland. It contained a prewritten letter to my GP asking for factual information only and telling them to add the electronic marker to my medical records if they hadn't already done so. It also said that by handing them the letter, I agree to pay any fee they may charge. Can't say I'm too happy about that but my GP only takes £25 so it's not worth arguing about compared to what some are paying.

I wish they'd move to an online system but that's another story...
 

Campbell

Member
Location
Herefordshire
I'm still waiting for my medical form to be signed, I took it to the surgery a month ago, being processed they tell me. I know it's not a priority in the present circumstances.....:facepalm:
 

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