Licensing - Here is my take on the subject, What's yours????

[ovenpaa]

I certainly do not agree with the idea of an FAC holder sitting on a collection of 100 half or full automatic firearms if only for their own safety. It would make the person a perfect target for every criminal in the county. Imagine the scene, break one door in, give the person a bit of a kicking and then threaten his/her partner with a knife to the throat unless the keys to the cabinet were handed over and job done, the bad people are filling the back of a transit van with a spectacular haul of firearms and ammunition in under 30 minutes.

No thank you.

[Sim G]

If that was a real risk, why hasn't that happened before with a frequency to cause concern? There are already FAC holders with a substantial number of firearms held at home. There are RFD's with very large stock numbers holding them and dealing from home. How many have been robbed how you describe? I know a S5 dealer who works from home and has an eye watering amount of guns of all types. is he at any more a risk than a bloke with one clay gun?

[ovenpaa]

I also know a part time S5 RFD with an eye watering collection of Vietnam era Colts. He also has a strong room and monitored alarm system but then again I know Dromia has a gun room and we have a series of cabinets plus a grade 3 monitored alarm system and a security company who are on an immediate response priority, we also have routine drive-bys from the police which is always amusing as we live in a very quiet row of cottages leading to a Church. Our security requirements may be slightly different to some RFD's by nature of our particular business, who knows as RFD's seldom compare notes.

Now if a person was licensed and was prepared to go to the lengths we were asked to do then great. However do they honestly need 100 weapons in the house? (Police definition not mine) By all means licence the person however put a reasonable cap on the number of firearms that can be legally kept. Some countries use a points system so different types of firearm attract different points up to a maximum number.

[Mikaveli]

I was reading the some stats about Wales a few weeks back - there were 2 or 3 private individuals (not dealers / RFDs) with over 100 firearms each.

I'd be interested to know if there security is as strict as most RFD's are required to provide.

[Sim G]

Some countries use a points system so different types of firearm attract different points up to a maximum number.

Which really is contrary to my hypothetical suggestion. Regardless of the person, the item is still then "ticketed".

My point purely revolved around if a person can be trusted, a person can be trusted. Type is really immaterial to that "trust", as is amount. The practicalities may very well play it differently...

And what's this "need" thing? Very, very few of us need our guns. We have them because we want them either for sport, hobby or study. Want, that is another entirely. Just off the top of my head I could, hypothetically, easily fill a gun room with well over 100 guns, without trying.....!

[Dougan]

I think the current system works fairly well, and I definately think that any 'training' should stay at club level.

Apart from the obvious discussion about pistols and semi-autos; the one thing that I'd like to see changed is the way firearms (I only use that term as we're talking FACs) have to be individually and specifically identified on your cert - One full bore rifle, whether 6.5, .303 or .308 carries the same responsibility as another...

...so why can't you just agree on a total number of rifles with your FEO (based on justification and security) and then be able to freely buy or swap guns....imagine being able to turn up at a meeting with a couple of guns you don't use much, and coming away with something completely different...

...this may sound unreallistic, but there is already some element of trust in the current system, and you already have to notify of any changes (just that it takes time) - so why not have an online notification system (backed up by mail) of changes to FACs.....and then just strictly enforce the law on anyone found with more firearms of a type than they should have...?

[Sim G]

...so why can't you just agree on a total number of rifles with your FEO (based on justification and security) and then be able to freely buy or swap guns....imagine being able to turn up at a meeting with a couple of guns you don't use much, and coming away with something completely different...

...this may sound unreallistic, but there is already some element of trust in the current system, and you already have to notify of any changes (just that it takes time) - so why not have an online notification system (backed up by mail) of changes to FACs.....and then just strictly enforce the law on anyone found with more firearms of a type than they should have...?

I like this...

[Blackstuff]

so why not have an online notification system (backed up by mail) of changes to FACs.....and then just strictly enforce the law on anyone found with more firearms of a type than they should have...?

Its in the pipeline, probably will be rolled out next year and will cover applications, renewals, sales/disposals and variations