Should my club keep my firearms serial numbers safe?

[m7jnu]

My club makes us sign in when we enter the premises and on that same sign in sheet we need to declare the following details:-

-Name of firearm to be used
-Serial number of the firearm
-Amount of ammunition to be used

I have no problem with providing my club these details however I do not want other members and non-members (anyone who signs in) to know my serial number of my firearms.

The question was asked that who cares if people can find out my serial number of the firearm. To which I replied that it is sensitive data and that people could use it or pass it on to others who may make illegal firearms.

I proposed a solution that perhaps there should be a sign in sheet and a separate sheet noting the name of firearm to be used, serial number of the firearm and the amount of ammunition to be used; this could be kept separately and not always visible. I know it is not the best solution but it is better than the current way. This idea was dismissed from the club.

What do you lot think? Is this the norm? Am I just being awkward?

[DanTheMan]

Perhaps consider changing clubs to one where your fellow club members won't steal your serial numbers to make illegal firearms
Seriously though you are worrying about nothing.

[Sim G]

I think there is no reason why you'd club would require this number every time you attend, unless you own say three different "Lee Enfield SMLE, .303", for argument sake, so that the club can show usage.

That said, I also think that you're being a bit over sensitive about it....

[toffe wrapper]

why worry we do not log serial numbers but as Sim G points out clubs need to report on usage when asked. This could be the best method for your club as they may have had to confirm usage of several firearms of same type calibre.
If your that worried about your fellow members its time to bail they may have clocked you car details as well.

[Les]

My club doesn't ask for serial numbers or amount of ammunition to be used, just the rifle that will be used. Tbh, the ammunition thing is not something that I would always know anyway. I would 'guesstimate' that 50 rounds a night would be 'about right', but depending on how the night goes, it could be 20 or 100.

I can understand why clubs ask for this info, especially if you are buying club ammunition at each visit, but for FAC holders I don't really see the point.

[ordnance]

Any club I have being in just require the calibre and type of firearm. How are you supposed to know how much ammo you are going to use. Sounds like a jobs worth making up the rules.

[m7jnu]

Apologies, you write down the amount of ammo used at the end of the session.

[Andy632]

Any club I have being in just require the calibre and type of firearm. How are you supposed to know how much ammo you are going to use. Sounds like a jobs worth making up the rules.

The club is supposed to record the firearm used details as on your FAC.

I suggest you just give the club secretary the details of the firearms, with a number assigned to each one. Basically that's all we do; sign in and say using Firearm #1 or #1,2 &4. Easy peasy, HO rules followed, nae worries.

[25Pdr]

I think there is no reason why you'd club would require this number every time you attend, unless you own say three different "Lee Enfield SMLE, .303", for argument sake, so that the club can show usage.

That said, I also think that you're being a bit over sensitive about it....

As the Club Secretary I handle the six monthly Police visits to the Club. On every occasion the remarks are very well run Club except it was noted that Members were not always recording the serial numbers of the guns used in the gun register. Like you say Sim unless the Member has more than one similar type of gun it should not matter.

Nope, Police bosses kept insisting that Members should record serial numbers, I replied I've mentioned your comments but don't intend to make it compulsory, if you want you can ask them yourself.

Eventually I got a letter telling me to arrange a meeting at (Scottish Police) HQ. Tried for many days to arrange a date but firearms dept didn't answer the phone, eventually I was greeted with a answering machine, left a message but didn't receive a reply.

At last got through arranged meeting, but the Inspector failed to turn up, sent a Sgt. instead.

Bottom line, unless my members fill in the serial numbers Police intend to object to our Club operating license renewal, due soon.

Also the Police insist that every Member sign a yearly declaration stating they are not prohibited from holding guns, I agreed to provide a declaration sheet if they want to sign but again will not make it compulsory.

[Andy632]

I think there is no reason why you'd club would require this number every time you attend, unless you own say three different "Lee Enfield SMLE, .303", for argument sake, so that the club can show usage.

That said, I also think that you're being a bit over sensitive about it....

As the Club Secretary I handle the six monthly Police visits to the Club. On every occasion the remarks are very well run Club except it was noted that Members were not always recording the serial numbers of the guns used in the gun register. Like you say Sim unless the Member has more than one similar type of gun it should not matter.

Nope, Police bosses kept insisting that Members should record serial numbers, I replied I've mentioned your comments but don't intend to make it compulsory, if you want you can ask them yourself.

Eventually I got a letter telling me to arrange a meeting at (Scottish Police) HQ. Tried for many days to arrange a date but firearms dept didn't answer the phone, eventually I was greeted with a answering machine, left a message but didn't receive a reply.

At last got through arranged meeting, but the Inspector failed to turn up, sent a Sgt. instead.

Bottom line, unless my members fill in the serial numbers Police intend to object to our Club operating license renewal, due soon.

Also the Police insist that every Member sign a yearly declaration stating they are not prohibited from holding guns, I agreed to provide a declaration sheet if they want to sign but again will not make it compulsory.

What the club is required to record (to maintain HO approval) is clearly stipulated in the HO Criteria. Simples, I can't see any issues with it.

the club will maintain a register of the attendance of all members together with details for each visit of the firearms which they used and the competitions, if any, in which they took part;

5. The attendance register should be kept for all shooting members of the club although its principal use will be in relation to those members who hold firearm certificates. This is to comply with Lord Cullen’s recommendation that shooters should not have firearms on their certificates which are not used regularly. For this reason, it will be necessary to record in the register the description of the firearm(s) used as given in the member’s firearm certificate. All visiting shooters should be logged in the same way. In the case of competition shoots between clubs, the responsibility for recording the attendance of a team member will lie with the club that the shooter represents. In the case of open competitions, the organising club will record details of competitors. Clubs should retain their attendance records for a minimum of 6 years.