Firstly, I don't think your reply to your specialist was very smart. These people have yours and other welfare in mind. It would be better to ask to see them again and talk it through. Explain why you want to retain your licence and you are prepared to work with them to find a viable solution.
Second, there are many who have had mental health issues who have retained or been granted a licence. As you can see below, it isn't automatic disqualification. Seek professional advice from shooting orgs like the NRA. You are not the first. Good luck.
12.24 This is a particularly difficult and sensitive area and it is not possible to provide a definition that covers every eventuality. It is impractical for a psychiatric assessment to be conducted on an applicant’s suitability to possess firearms. However, chief officers of police should be alert to cases in which a General Practitioner’s (GP) report reveals that an applicant has exhibited, or is exhibiting, signs of serious depression, suicidal tendencies, or long-standing or intermittent periods of either emotional instability or unpredictable behaviour. Chief officers should also be alert to any of these signs exhibited by existing certificate holders. This includes persons who have been detained under the civil powers of the Mental Health Act 1983 on the basis of their behaviour posing a risk to the public (the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 contains provisions covering similar situations).
12.25 Particular attention should be paid to anyone who has previously been subject to a hospital order, guardianship order or restriction order under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 following the commission of offences. Although there is no correlation between periods of imprisonment and periods of detention under the Mental Health Act, it is important for officers to examine the nature of the offences and the length of the order in these situations.
12.26 The fact that a person has received treatment in the past for certain illnesses or conditions, such as depression or stress does not make them automatically unfit/unsuitable to possess a firearm. It is one of the factors to be considered with all other evidence relating to the applicant’s character and history. In such cases, account should be taken of the latest medical opinion, and particular attention should be paid to whether this suggests the condition is liable to recur.
That's made things a tad easier on the mind...pardon the pun.
The remark who doesn't was a tongue in cheek comment in my post, not to my consultant.
She took me by surprise when she asked me about the FAC
but as things have gone slightly wrong in my force area in the past....duty of care and all that.
I have little practical advice but wish to thank you for your service to our country Dahonis. I've seen a mate go through PTSD and it's not fun but it is conquerable. Remember: you are reacting in a perfectly understandable way to experiences far beyond what most people will ever encounter. I sincerely hope you find some peace.
Unfortunately I can offer little in the way of reassurance when it concerns Durham.
Our dealings with them over the last 2-1/2 years with regard to my sons application for his SGC and FAC have been nothing short of appalling.
My son is almost 24, has never been in trouble with the police, has been shooting for over 8 years, is a full member of 4 different shooting clubs, St Giles Yarners and The Mayfair (both indoor ranges), Tyne Valley (full bore outdoor ranges) and the Beamish Sporting Club (clay pigeon). He has been fully vetted and passed every clubs probationary requirements without any problem whatsoever and has held his NRA Shooter Certification Card for 3 years.
But, because he has Aspergers Syndrome (a mild form of Autism) they have still refused to issue him with a license. His initial application was withdrawn due to an inaccurate and very anti GPs letter, we were advised by the FLM that a letter or report from a more qualified person would do the job. Forward 2-1/2 years, we re-submit with a full report from a consultant psychologist, He (once again) passes the FEO visit with flying colours, Durham then sit on his application for a further 6 months before phoning me to let me know they were going to refuse it on grounds of violence and aggression.
After I point out they have a report which clearly states he has no such issues they suggest a chat with Chief Inspector Ball who sits above the FLM and oversees the department. We have a meeting with him and another officer which last for almost an hour. At the end of it they move the goal posts yet again saying he has a low level of "adaptive reasoning"??, I point out I know 2 shooters in Durham who also have Aspergers and they were granted licenses without a problem, their answer, "well they are either married or have a job" wtfwtf
They also mentioned how careful they have to be as any incident involving him would reflect badly on them like the recent Atherton shootings in Horden. Fortunately I bit my lip and didn't say that the IPCC report shows exactly who was responsible for that tragedy. He said he would discuss the application with the BASC rep who was coming to see him that afternoon. When I rang BASC and spoke to the rep he told me he did no such thing, never even mentioned we'd been in that morning.
As it stands BASC were going to get in touch and see where we go from here, hopefully they will get back to me this week but it's not looking good.
There's room for all Gods creatures, next to the mash and gravy :)
