Posted: 5/31/2008 11:30:37 PM EDT
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What is the situation regarding an American coming over here to work and a firearms certificate. I have a friend who works for Shell and has been here just over a year now, will probably be here for at least another 4 years. He wants to apply for a license here in the UK, initially shotgun only, but he'e being told he must wait for 2 years before he can apply for a license, is this correct. The main problem I see is that he has not known anyone here authorised to sign as a reference for 2 years as he has only been here for about 14 months. Oh, he is a license holder in the states if that makes any difference. Any help appreciated. |
His best bet would be to find a local gun club, they could probably point him in the right direction. I'm sure the UK boys can assist when they wake up. |
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Hum, thats a difficult one... If he is not a UK citizen, then it may be difficult to obtain a firearms certificate. As Lancair said, the best option would be to find a local shooting club to join, and then borrow other members guns (a lot easier to do with shotguns, but also possible with firearms), or use club guns. ETA: I would have thought that you need to be a UK Citizen to apply for an FAC, but i can't actually see this anywhere in law, so once he has been here 2 years, and can get suitable referee's, then he should be able to apply for an FAC. |
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Link Under section 17 of the 1988 Act a visitor to Great Britain may, if he is granted a visitor's permit, have in his possession firearms, shotguns or ammunition without holding a certificate. The holder of a visitor's firearms permit may have in his possession any firearm (but not purchase one), and purchase, acquire or have in his possession any ammunition, to which section 1 of the 1968 Act applies. The holder of a visitor's shotgun permit may have in his possession, purchase or acquire shotguns and is exempt from the requirement to produce a shotgun certificate when purchasing cartridges. Both permits are valid for a period of up to 12 months and must show the full details of weapons covered and, in the case of a firearms permit, show details of the quantity of ammunition to be purchased/acquired and held. Similarly, territorial and other conditions as would appear on a firearms certificate, will normally be imposed on a firearms permit. Separate permits for each police area are not required as both permits will cover the visitor throughout Great Britain. |
I think thats basically as we discussed yesterday Mike. 
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What he should have done was apply for an Overseas Visitors Firearms permit to have it before he arrived. It can be done retrospectively but depending on which force area he is in, and he may have already recieved duff advice , by the time they've sorted it he'll be almost going back...................... ...anyway, he hasn't got time for shooting, he should be driving the price of fuel down  .....but if he does find the time he might want to join a local firearms club and have some of their types put on his permit so he can rent/borrow them in other areas... |
