Shotgun Certificate reminders ?

[steveR]

A friend of mine says "never start shooting sheep, you won't know when to stop".

ROFL......

 

[Steevo]

I got a very funny look from the retired police officer who came to inspect my gun safe, when I told him I only really use the shotgun to euthanise casualty animals. He also didn't like the fact I had an elastic cartridge holder on the stock with half a dozen cartridges in it, so the shotgun and cartridges were in the gun safe together.

Sounds like he’s bringing his own views into it rather than applying the law as it is.

Would he prefer you kept the cartridges just outside the gun safe then?

Perfectly legal to keep them anywhere you wish. In the kitchen cupboard for all anyone cares….or even sat outside the front door.

On top of that…anybody in the UK with or without a shotgun cert can store them or be given them by anyone else.

 

[oilcan]

How much ammunition do they expect you get through with 6 rifles on your FAC?

(just asking as I'm always concerned about using enough during the 5 years)

Don't worry about ammo quantity used,if you homeload nothing is recorded on your certificate.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

When I had a FAC, I was advised to put in for a large amount of ammo, and then told if they query it, say, you need that amount to be able to get discount on the purchase!

 

[Steevo]

Just heard a phrase used on tv “the process itself is a punishment”.

Reminded me of this thread, and the Natural England thread on here.

 

[grainboy]

Available, left hand Anschultz.

17 hmr

 

[David.]

Went to see practice nurse for routine blood test Monday, she taps into system to find me, and up flags FAC!
That is a new development..
She commented that it was probably a good idea, "what with the things that happen in the world"
I gently explained that there must be plenty of 'keepers, farmers, etc, who need their guns, who go unseen for years with easily treatable and probably non-threatening mental well-being issues; because they dare not go to the doctor for fear of The Knock on the door.
Having thought on it, she agreed this was an unhelpful state of affairs.

 

[dun tilling]

Went to see practice nurse for routine blood test Monday, she taps into system to find me, and up flags FAC!
That is a new development..
She commented that it was probably a good idea, "what with the things that happen in the world"
I gently explained that there must be plenty of 'keepers, farmers, etc, who need their guns, who go unseen for years with easily treatable and probably non-threatening mental well-being issues; because they dare not go to the doctor for fear of The Knock on the door.
Having thought on it, she agreed this was an unhelpful state of affairs.

Same with my surgery, also got stopped recently one evening first thing the officer asked was if In had any firearms with me.

 

[ollie989898]

Available, left hand Anschultz. View attachment 115335417 hmr

Cripes, a left handed bolt. I would sooner shoot right handed (I am left handed) but even if I shot from my left I'd still want my right hand to work the bolt?

 

[ollie989898]

Went to see practice nurse for routine blood test Monday, she taps into system to find me, and up flags FAC!
That is a new development..
She commented that it was probably a good idea, "what with the things that happen in the world"
I gently explained that there must be plenty of 'keepers, farmers, etc, who need their guns, who go unseen for years with easily treatable and probably non-threatening mental well-being issues; because they dare not go to the doctor for fear of The Knock on the door.
Having thought on it, she agreed this was an unhelpful state of affairs.

It should definitely be in the doctors notes at your GP surgery. It could save someone's life.

 

[steveR]

Same with my surgery, also got stopped recently one evening first thing the officer asked was if In had any firearms with me.

Did a number plate check and linked it with FAC/Shotgun Cert?

 

[grainboy]

Cripes, a left handed bolt. I would sooner shoot right handed (I am left handed) but even if I shot from my left I'd still want my right hand to work the bolt?

Its weird, I’m right handed,
The only thing I do left is shoot,

 

[David.]

It should definitely be in the doctors notes at your GP surgery. It could save someone's life.

But my point is just that. The people who probably most need the help when they are not doing so well daren't seek it.
Then they remain undiagnosed, and may descend into mental illness proper, and become a danger to themselves and perhaps others.

 

[Steevo]

But my point is just that. The people who probably most need the help when they are not doing so well daren't seek it.
Then they remain undiagnosed, and may descend into mental illness proper, and become a danger to themselves and perhaps others.

Precisely that.

They risk judgement and punishment rather than support…..especially given the attitude of the police that has been seen in recent years.

 

[Phil P]

I’ve been waiting 3 weeks for my doctor just to tick a couple of boxes so I can get may fac application in. Rang today and got told the doctors now on annual leave .
However the secretary at the surgery only had to looked at my online medical notes to see I had put the fac form in. Everything is paperless.

 

[David.]

Never forget that the man who caused the Dunblane tragedy was well known to the Police already.
Making life as difficult as possible for the responsible vast majority is not a proper system, the existing powers to weed out the wrong'uns should be enforced properly.
Meanwhile illegal weapons flood in from Eastern Europe, enabled by the men who live largely untroubled, in the nicer houses in London.

 

[ollie989898]

But my point is just that. The people who probably most need the help when they are not doing so well daren't seek it.
Then they remain undiagnosed, and may descend into mental illness proper, and become a danger to themselves and perhaps others.

What is the solution then? GPs are to remain in the dark about firearms ownership and remain oblivious and pretend nothing can go wrong? Or am I supposed to ask every person that sets foot in the door if they have a weapon?

I'm not talking about people who are a danger to others mind; my concern is the far more likely event of someone becoming depressed and offing themselves because they have ready access to the means to do it.

A doctor should never be judgemental about such things. If they don't agree with firearms ownership on a personal level that is fine by me but someone has to deal with it. Not every person with depression (or any other illness for that matter) has suicidal ideation so it's wrong to assume everyone should have their certificate taken away.

 

[ollie989898]

Its weird, I’m right handed,
The only thing I do left is shoot,

Would you prefer to work the bolt with your right hand or your left?

 

[David.]

What is the solution then? GPs are to remain in the dark about firearms ownership and remain oblivious and pretend nothing can go wrong? Or am I supposed to ask every person that sets foot in the door if they have a weapon?

I'm not talking about people who are a danger to others mind; my concern is the far more likely event of someone becoming depressed and offing themselves because they have ready access to the means to do it.

A doctor should never be judgemental about such things. If they don't agree with firearms ownership on a personal level that is fine by me but someone has to deal with it. Not every person with depression (or any other illness for that matter) has suicidal ideation so it's wrong to assume everyone should have their certificate taken away.

No right minded doctor would ever go on record as opining that "Mr xxx is fit to hold a SGC, and poses no risk to others or himself, as his bipolar disorder is satisfactorilly controlled by medication" would they?
The problem is that the system promotes extreme risk management and arse covering, from the medical pros to the Police. It is probably thought better to revoke 1000 certificates unnecessarily, than have one unsuitable cert holder?
FAC holders are already held to higher scrutiny than almost any other individual in the country. Holders names are screened every week on Police databases.
Do we think the public are safer now than they were when I was 15, and was granted a postcard style SGC with no photo ID, and my gun lived in the wardrobe sleeved in a seahose sock?

 

[Steevo]

No right minded doctor would ever go on record as opining that "Mr xxx is fit to hold a SGC, and poses no risk to others or himself, as his bipolar disorder is satisfactorilly controlled by medication" would they?
The problem is that the system promotes extreme risk management and arse covering, from the medical pros to the Police. It is probably thought better to revoke 1000 certificates unnecessarily, than have one unsuitable cert holder?
FAC holders are already held to higher scrutiny than almost any other individual in the country. Holders names are screened every week on Police databases.

Added to that, I think the power goes to the professional’s head. More and more we see people (more often than not in the public sector) who use their job as a method to push their own agendas and make the rest of the population conform to their view of the way the world should be.