Not sure whether these would be variations on FAC..

[Alpha1]

Sounds sensible to me but sensible will never work in the UK.

[Chapuis]

Sounds sensible to me but sensible will never work in the UK.

Why won't it work on the mainland? Northern Ireland is still after all part of the U.K. though they do have different firearms laws. It's something that many have been advocating for many years. After all it is only substitution of similar firearms not a total change of calibre or type of firearm. It should really only be an administrative exercise.

[Sim G]

"An administrative exercise" means they would lose control of one aspect of the licensing system. Evidently PSNI have more important things to consider than being heavy handed with one of the most law abiding sections of society...

[Chapuis]

I think you summed it up well there Sim, afraid of loosing control.

Do you remember when someone in the Home Office suggested setting up a National Firearms Control Bureau? Most police forces raised objection to that yet they now complain that they don't have the resources or necessary funding to administer the legislation but at the same time have resisted modernising and simplifying procedures. I think you could call it "Spanish practises".

[ordnance]

I don't see why it could not be the same in the rest of the UK.

The Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2011

For some time a system has been in place to allow "one off - one on" exchanges of shotguns in Northern Ireland. From 1st December 2011 the system was extended to other firearms.

The exchange of rifles and pistols may only take place with registered firearms dealers (not between certificate holders) and firearms may only be exchanged for another of the "same calibre and type". Prohibited weapons are excluded from the provision. Transfers must be notified to PSNI within 72 hours by both the firearm certificate holder and Registered Firearms Dealer.