Does this guidance apply to all the countries of the UK?
No. It does not apply to Northern Ireland – as firearms legislation is devolved. It applies to England, Wales and Scotland, with the exception of airgun licensing in Scotland.
The press has reported this as a tightening of firearms licensing? Is this correct?
The main tightening comes from the improved level of consistency provided by the licensing departments. The majority of licence holders have already experienced medical verification – the new guidelines simply align the process for all applicants across all police force areas. Through BASC’s medical panel we are ready to deal Read more…
Shouldn’t BASC be making sure that the police do their job?
BASC exists to serve the interests of their members. To this end, BASC will always try and work with police forces to achieve the best outcome for its members. This is best achieved by working collaboratively with licensing departments and, as stated in Q13, the new guidance should help achieve Read more…
Are there any positives for shooters in the introduction of the new guidance?
Yes. Because it is statutory, a Chief Constable must justify on an individual case-by-case basis if they depart from the guidance. There are also timeline requirements for things such as suitability reviews that were not in place previously.
Could these new guidelines prevent me from getting a firearm?
There have always been a small number of refusals when people apply for either a shotgun or firearms certificate. It may be expected that people with certain mental health conditions would be refused a certificate. This is to be expected, but many mental health conditions are transitory or can be Read more…
I’ve heard that police will be checking my social media accounts and speaking to my neighbours. Is this correct?
The police will not be consulting your neighbours. This was in the original draft of the guidance but was removed after strong representation by BASC and other organisations. There is provision for further background checks to be conducted if standard checks raise concerns. As covered in Q3, this covers social Read more…
Will this lead to more delays in firearms licensing departments?
A number of forces have been using GP verification for some time. For those that haven’t, there are likely to be some initial issues as the system beds in. But it would be hoped that these are teething issues and will not cause long-term problems. For members experiencing problems, BASC Read more…
Is there an increased security risk with GPs being involved in the licensing system?
In absolute terms, yes. But GPs and all healthcare staff are bound by data protection laws. However, owning a smartphone, going on the internet, driving a car with a sat-nav, having a bank account and many other aspects of modern life potentially compromise security, because you leave an electronic record Read more…
Does this mean that my GP can stop me from having a firearm?
No. The decision of granting certificates lies entirely with the Chief Constable of each police force. It should be noted that the police have always consulted with the medical profession where there are potential medical issues; the new guidance simply details additional medical reviews that can be conducted by a Read more…