Medical declaration for variation of FAC

[Racalman]

Thanks for your helpful comments. If the answer to this question was a number then I'd take an average but that won't work in this case :)

The form in question is for a variation. The police guidance for an application states:

Personal health and medical declaration. You must disclose any physical or mental health
condition that may affect your ability to safely possess and use a firearm (including a
shotgun). This includes for example epilepsy, stroke, stress related illness, depression,
alcoholism, heart disease, cancer etc. If in doubt, consult your GP. The police may contact
your GP and/or specialist to obtain factual details of any medical history in respect of your
application.

On the basis of the statement in bold I have nothing to declare. I have none of the above conditions, I'm not taking any prescription medication and my GP knows I shoot and has no problem with it. I think the correct answer might be Yes, followed by "none relevant to this application". Anyone tried that?

[phaedra1106]

Don't confuse them, if you don't have any condition/s which affect your suitability to hold a firearm then the answer is no.

[Dark Skies]

A common sense approach needs to be taken rather than a slavish listing of your ailments. Just ask yourself if your condition warrants concern if you were handling a live firearm. Dodgy heart pills / anti-depressants / heavy painkillers - then yes. Infected ingrown toenail, acne, dermatitis and so on - no.

Never volunteer information that isn't needed or some pen-pusher will find the time of day to pursue the most trivial details.

[joe]

This is getting stupid ! It used to be "are you being treated for depression or any other mentel illness"
Has the law changed or is it acpo making it up ! This is a very slippery slope ! Soon it will be total privilege to own firearm and wereby they could revoke / not grant because of any physical problem
This suits acpo gun ban agenda

[joe]

I declared my Asthma. The Met requested a letter from my GP. Both the GP and the FEO asked me I'd declared it as it wasn't relevant!
The Met approach seems to be if you declare it, then they require a medic to sign off that it doesn't interfere with your ability to have a firearm.

I wonder if the met put this much vigor when annually assessing their CO19 firearms officers !

[Polchraine]

Interesting that there is a difference between the Application (201) and Variation (202) forms.

The 201 is a lot more specific:
IMPORTANT: Please read notes 5 and 6 BEFORE completion.
(A) Do you suffer from any relevant medical conditions?

and the note says:
5. Personal health and medical declaration. You must disclose any physical or mental health condition that may affect your ability to safely possess and use a firearm

Whereas 202 states:
9. Do you suffer from any medical conditions? with no reference to the notes.

Why the difference?

[Dahonis]

I required treatment for a mental health issue two years ago, including therapy and medication.

The treatment took a year to complete.

I contacted my issuing force straight away and was impressed at how much common sense they used to deal with the matter.

They contacted my G.P to verify what I had already told them, I was allowed to keep my firearms and continue shooting.

On each variation I still declare what I had.

[scotsman]

I have a medical background so I thought I would chip in.

We have a lot of laws in this country (understatement) but in particular, public bodies must be very careful about discriminating against people with medical conditions.

If a police officer, without medical training, chose to make a decision about your health then I would question his basis.

Anything your GP writes about you is accessible. Ask for copies of everything, making a Freedom of Information request if necessary.

Their decisions must be evidence based.

The example of a migraine being treated with over the counter medication is spurious. If that happened to me then I would claim discrimination straight away. Ask them if they refer all of their migraine patients to the DVLA to stop their driving licence if it is that serious.

The average GP would not want to defend their decision if they have no evidence base.

[Gazoo]

If you have erectile dysfunction will they put a condition in to only allow you to fire blanks?
ooooh that was bad even for me!!

[Polchraine]

If you have erectile dysfunction will they put a condition in to only allow you to fire blanks?
ooooh that was bad even for me!!

It will be hand-loads only!