Firearms licensing fees.

[techguy]

Why's that Sim? You coming to work for me instead?!

[Alpha1]

Sim G

I can retire in 9 years time. It's unlikely, but a possibility. Either way, as big an optimist as I am, I do not envisage spending my retirement shooting....

I can retire in 18 moths time. Its unlikely but either way when I do retire I envisage spending lots more of my time shooting. I just hope I can afford the price of bullets powder and other consumables. The licence fee is a pain but its a one off every five years. Its all the other money club fees travel etc etc that's the crippler.

[bitfield]

The problem is that non-shooters (ie most people) aren't affected by this and, if they're even aware of it, probably think anything that discourages shooting is a good thing. If we all went on strike and refused to shoot, the general public would be delighted.

[subvers10n]

Thanks for the post Dromia, you reminded me that I hadn't filled out the consultation.

I do not agree with the principle of setting the licence fees on a full cost recovery basis - firearm licencing is done for the benefit of public safety, not for the benefit of the certificate holder, therefore I think the full cost of licensing should be borne by the taxpayer.

Just my tuppence worth...

[TattooedGun]

That seems to be the general consensus from around these parts subvers10n - however how do we go from, telling each other, to letting those in charge know this is how we feel, in a way that pushes it through to the folk who make the legislation?
Our national governing bodies seem to have just left us bent over a barrel yet again..



That guy on the left, that's the NRA.. the 2 in the back, thats BASC and A.N.Other shooting council.

[Fedaykin]

All this hyperbole is all very well but what does raging at NRA or BASC actually achieve? However much we dislike it fees are going to be raised, the general public are not going to suffer are whining too far. Would you rather bodies like the NRA or BASC were not there at all trying to argue our corner?

Also as it stands what they are asking for in fees is far less then what I have to pay over a five year period to my club.

[TattooedGun]

Also as it stands what they are asking for in fees is far less then what I have to pay over a five year period to my club.

That's true, however the barb in the hook is the Full Cost Recuperation which leaves us open to being priced out of our sport by bureaucrats. Open to being responsible to pay for the cost of upgrading their systems and the learning curve that comes with it when the nail has already been hit on the head.

We didn't ask for licenses to be mandatory, it is in the public's interest.

Frankly, I've been waiting a month and a half for a variation, which I have paid for and the money has come out of my account. I got my first phone-call regarding this 2 days ago. It was sent off on the 4th November. I had chased it up 4 times by the time I got a phone-call. I still don't have license in hand. And they want me to pay more money for this service...?

How about they make it efficient and formulaic before they start talking about full cost recuperation. If it's on their dime, it'll be much more in their interest to make it streamlined than on our dime where they'll just pass on the elevated cost to us...

[ordnance]

They tried to increase them here, it was rejected.

Northern Ireland Justice Committee once again rejects increase in firearms licensing fees.

[Fedaykin]

Also as it stands what they are asking for in fees is far less then what I have to pay over a five year period to my club.

That's true, however the barb in the hook is the Full Cost Recuperation which leaves us open to being priced out of our sport by bureaucrats. Open to being responsible to pay for the cost of upgrading their systems and the learning curve that comes with it when the nail has already been hit on the head.

We didn't ask for licenses to be mandatory, it is in the public's interest.

Frankly, I've been waiting a month and a half for a variation, which I have paid for and the money has come out of my account. I got my first phone-call regarding this 2 days ago. It was sent off on the 4th November. I had chased it up 4 times by the time I got a phone-call. I still don't have license in hand. And they want me to pay more money for this service...?

How about they make it efficient and formulaic before they start talking about full cost recuperation. If it's on their dime, it'll be much more in their interest to make it streamlined than on our dime where they'll just pass on the elevated cost to us...

I think the argument that it will start us being priced out of the sport doesn't stand up to too much scrutiny, also I would be careful making that argument. Put it this way what is being asked is nothing in comparison to what a rail commuter has suffered in respect of season ticket rises over the last few years. If future annual rises are kept to the rate of inflation it should be a non-issue, remember the reason we are facing such a steep jump now is because they failed to raise it for so long.

This is an eye wateringly expensive sport to participate in already and as I have pointed out club fees are hardly cheap. Pleading poverty over a £38 increase for a grant, £22 for a renewal and £30 for a coterminous grant and £15 for a coterminous renewal which is pocket change when spread over five years should not be ignored by us. I fear that we could do ourselves serious damage with the general public if we don't at least show a degree of magnaminty especially when you consider £2.6bn in cuts to local government budgets have just been announced. I don't think average Joe public would take too kindly to our position when they are seeing local services being cut. We need to pick our fights carefully, a new eCommerce system that should see an improvement in speed of service would be a good for us.

[Alpha1]

Just to put it in perspective.

A firearm certificate valid for 5 years = £50

Club fees a year I'm a member of more than one club. = £350 its probably more than that.
100 rounds of 303 =£60 one hours shooting on a Ministry of defence range. I own 14 full bore rifles.
A tub of N140 from Kranks £72 I get it for £58 pounds
A tub of N160 from Kranks £72 I get it for £58 pounds
One Le Wilson neck die or similar at least £40
A set of dies £30.

If you get into F class or Bench rest then the numbers go through the roof.

A boolit mould from NOE in the States $92 plus postage to the UK.

A range day to morrow I have £140 to fork out for powder and bullets before I fire a shot that's before I pay for the range travelling and grub and any ammo I use on the day.

A meal out for you and the wife taxis etc. £50
A night out on the lash with the lads £50

A firearm certificate is good value for money in my book.