TattooedGun wrote:
Where in the Home Office Guidance does it suggest that I need to have shot any amount of ammunition to be considered for an increase in ammunition allowance?
If there is some limit, or some justification for them asking for what they asked for (showing how much I had previously bought) I would have provided it. all the HOG suggests is that it is reasonable to possess upto 6000 rounds to ensure consistency in performance for someone who is in a county or national squad. What I therefore provided was evidence that this was the case. How much I had bought and or shot previously does not at any point come into question from the legislation. If it is a legislative procedure, people should be made aware of it and it would have avoided all this hassle. As far as I'm concerned I was acting in accordance with Home Office guidelines...
You really don't get it, do you?
Where in the guidance does it say that the Chief Constable "will" or "shall"? It doesn't. The guidance is exactly that, guidance. And that guidance as far as limits for authority is concerned is what would be deemed acceptable, once good reason has been satisfied. Because that is the cornerstone of the process and the Chief Constable has a legislated duty to ensure that any applicant demonstrates good reason for any firearm or ammunition to which a certificate relates. s27(1)(b) Firearms Act.
You did not demonstrate good reason. You quoted the guidance, and illustrated you shot at county level. Where did you prove your good reason to have your ammo authority raised to 6000 rounds. You didn't. As far as you were concerned, the guidance and county level shooting was good reason enough. I told you it wasn't. You did not show how much ammunition you personally got through. Once you did, your authority was upped. So why would you continue to question such a process? Particularly as it is evident you didn't "do enough"? So who's fault is that? The FEO because he just should have taken it at face value and granted it straight away? I'm afraid I don't think so. And judging from some of the replies, others don't think so either.
By all means, read and refer to the guidance. But also the primary legislation and case law pertaining. Plan your variation applications properly and submit the required justification to satisfy good reason. Go about it that way and you'll save yourself a lot of time, effort and a huge headache. Likewise, you won't clog an already stretched system which has a knock on for everyone else.
That's all that's offered. A way to go about a particular mechanism. I've had my FAC for over 30 years. I currently hold 32 firearms with 6 vacant variations and 6 shotguns. I have an ammo authority for 28000 rounds. I have never had a variation knocked back.....
It's fair to say I have a fairly good handle on how it works...
