gazzthompson
09-10-2011, 09:23 AM
Hey guys and gals, i know alot of you here have numerous weapons and are mainly american so might be interest in the process of obtaining a firearm in england? Well if you are, i just started the process and will keep this thread updated for anybody interest in seeing how we do it.
First and most important part, the licence. You need a licence before you can legally own a firearm or shotgun (two different licences) . Ive decided to get a shotgun, a firearm is a little more complicated and harder to get (Firearm being limited to really bolt action rifle of really any calibre like .223, .308 , .50 ) But because we dont have what i call "dynamic ranges" Ie we cant run around on an official range shooting targets like you do in the US, we are more limited to firing on a military style range at a fixed target in a fixed position, im not really interested in it for now. Living in the country side tho i know people with land, so obtaining a Firearm certificate wouldn't be that hard for me.
So ive decided to go for a shotgun licence, Ive taken a few lessons at my local Clay Target Centre (which happens to be on/next to a US military base, RAF Lakenheath):
http://www.lctc.co.uk/clay-pigeon-shooting-suffolk.html (The lesson i take costs $87 for 50 clays, cartridges and gun/instructor hire)
This is not necessary for my licence but i wanted to take a few lessons to make sure i enjoy the sport, as its quite expensive to get into. Now that ive Decided to get a Gun and take up the sport i legally require two things. A licence and a gun cabinet, the latter is needed to have my licence granted. The process is quite simple tho, i download and print off the licence from my local constabulary here:
http://www.norfolk.police.uk/aboutus/ourservices/firearms.aspx
"Shotgun Certificate.pdf"
All pretty simple stuff, medical history and criminal record checks. The main thing is the countersignature, The countersignature must sign a photo of me and be a resident in Great Britain and who has known me personally for at least the last two years. The countersignature must be:
"A relative must not countersign
A countersignatory must also be a Member of Parliament, Justice of the
Peace, minister of religion, doctor, lawyer, established civil servant, bank
officer or person of similar standing. Serving police officers, police
employees and registered firearms dealers cannot act as countersignatories."
A fee of £ 50 or $79 must be paid with the licence , and it returned to my local Firearms Licensing Department . The local Firearms Licensing Department will contact me (might take a month or two :( ) and arrange for a firearms officer to come visit me and go through my licence. This is where the cabinet comes into play, for my licence to be accepted i need a cabinet to store my gun and it needs to be fixed to a solid wall. I can either get one before the officer comes and he will grant it on the day, or if i dont have one when he comes he will approve everything else but come back at a later date when i have the cabinet and check it, then if acceptable approve it on the day.
then i can get a shotgun :D im probably going to get a second hand Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon or something. Feel free to ask any questions, ill keep this updated but the process my take a month or two.
First and most important part, the licence. You need a licence before you can legally own a firearm or shotgun (two different licences) . Ive decided to get a shotgun, a firearm is a little more complicated and harder to get (Firearm being limited to really bolt action rifle of really any calibre like .223, .308 , .50 ) But because we dont have what i call "dynamic ranges" Ie we cant run around on an official range shooting targets like you do in the US, we are more limited to firing on a military style range at a fixed target in a fixed position, im not really interested in it for now. Living in the country side tho i know people with land, so obtaining a Firearm certificate wouldn't be that hard for me.
So ive decided to go for a shotgun licence, Ive taken a few lessons at my local Clay Target Centre (which happens to be on/next to a US military base, RAF Lakenheath):
http://www.lctc.co.uk/clay-pigeon-shooting-suffolk.html (The lesson i take costs $87 for 50 clays, cartridges and gun/instructor hire)
This is not necessary for my licence but i wanted to take a few lessons to make sure i enjoy the sport, as its quite expensive to get into. Now that ive Decided to get a Gun and take up the sport i legally require two things. A licence and a gun cabinet, the latter is needed to have my licence granted. The process is quite simple tho, i download and print off the licence from my local constabulary here:
http://www.norfolk.police.uk/aboutus/ourservices/firearms.aspx
"Shotgun Certificate.pdf"
All pretty simple stuff, medical history and criminal record checks. The main thing is the countersignature, The countersignature must sign a photo of me and be a resident in Great Britain and who has known me personally for at least the last two years. The countersignature must be:
"A relative must not countersign
A countersignatory must also be a Member of Parliament, Justice of the
Peace, minister of religion, doctor, lawyer, established civil servant, bank
officer or person of similar standing. Serving police officers, police
employees and registered firearms dealers cannot act as countersignatories."
A fee of £ 50 or $79 must be paid with the licence , and it returned to my local Firearms Licensing Department . The local Firearms Licensing Department will contact me (might take a month or two :( ) and arrange for a firearms officer to come visit me and go through my licence. This is where the cabinet comes into play, for my licence to be accepted i need a cabinet to store my gun and it needs to be fixed to a solid wall. I can either get one before the officer comes and he will grant it on the day, or if i dont have one when he comes he will approve everything else but come back at a later date when i have the cabinet and check it, then if acceptable approve it on the day.
then i can get a shotgun :D im probably going to get a second hand Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon or something. Feel free to ask any questions, ill keep this updated but the process my take a month or two.