The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Firearms sections @5:50-12:05 and 23:40-29:30

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b ... le-valley#

I was off in the opening couple of minutes!

"A key issue is peoples medical suitability to own a gun, in the past anyone applying for a license or renewal ticked a box to say there was no medical reason why they should not be granted one, but under the new guidelines your doctor is asked to verify this"

Well actually by signing the form you are granting the police access to your medical records and GP, that's why you have to provide their details, so its not just 'ticking a box' to say, "Yer guv, I've got nothing to hide, honest" <big wink>, as its implied throughout!

Well reported, but it didn't help..

Personally, my practice get money for me being on their books, and have not seen me in the 5 years I have had a licence, so this will be the only thing I ask of them this year..

Mrs Hrun take pain meds which can be used for depression, and on her application the police asked to contact her doc.. she got her certificate.

It will be interesting to see what happens this year, but I will pay whatever, even if I question it after the fact ..

I am guessing a potential terrorist wishing to legally buy a gun, will never visit their GP and also pay..

Tinfoil hat time..

This falls into the hands of the anti gun lobby.. after enough complaints, they will recommend a full overhaul of the process and make it even more expensive/difficult for us to enjoy our hobby.

Drip drip, will the last gun owner please turn out the lights!

i read this somewhere recently..........

'I do find it strange that a doctor can afford to send a letter to you saying that he cannot send a letter to the police as there is a cost involved!!'

I found the item on Countryfile annoying as they kept referring to rural gun owners, as if you had to live in the country to own a gun.

I think 90% of firearm and shotgun owners would happily pay a fee if it was a standard amount across the entire country and the GPs actually completed and returned the paperwork to the police in a timely fashion so as not to delay the application/ renewal process which is long enough in some areas.

But as is often the case with things in this country, information comes out from the powers that be as guidelines - hence they will always be interpreted differently from one person/organisation to the next and be as clear as mud.

Hope this helps anyone thinking of arguing..

https://www.bma.org.uk/advice/employmen ... z/firearms

Also an interesting read..

https://www.bma.org.uk/connecting-docto ... ce-for-gps

I wonder what psychological assessment the police and armed forces go through before gaining access to firearms................anyone know?

Pete

What is also a concern to me is all my Doctors are Asian all my Wifes Doctors are Asian. Just because they are doctors does not mean they are not sympathetic to extremism. If one of them or one of their colleagues wanted to obtain an illegal firearm they have access to a database with names addresses age state of health etc. Who vets the Doctors that are vetting us as to their suitability to carry out this task..

Pete wrote:I wonder what psychological assessment the police and armed forces go through before gaining access to firearms................anyone know?

Pete

This is my bête noir and I have challenged the College of Policing on it several times and got absolutely nowhere!

The CoP did inform me that Armed Policing is governed by the National Firearms Curriculum and entry requirements which include vetting are part of this. They refuse to allow the general public access to this document for operational & security reasons, which in fairness I do understand to a degree as it would likely include tactics etc... and it is only right and proper that this information should be restricted.

However I do take issue with the blanket approach to lumping everything into a restricted category. I see no reason why the general public shouldn't know to what standards an armed police officer is held in terms of mental health. They are forever telling us to what level they can get to at the bleep test! Whats the difference between the physical suitability of a candidate and their mental suitability.

Why aren't we allowed to know to what level of marksmanship an AFO must achieve to be considered competent? Anecdotally I'm told the standard is lower than you might think due to lack of resources for training that the average AFO receives. Granted SFO's are different, but by how much and would that really matter if, as unlikely as it is, you were unlucky enough to end up on his two way range?

Armed policing is becoming normalised but we are not being given answers to legitimate questions. It is sobering to think there are more individuals with semi-automatic firearms on our streets than any other time in history and yet the only difference between them & us is a uniform. If guns really are the problem then what difference does a uniform make?

Change the bloody doctors' contract so that providing the initial 'no concerns' letter is part of their duty.
Being charged £50 for 10 minutes' work is taking the wee & in any case the process could be done using an online form.