How to get your shotgun licence
Before you can get a gun, the first thing you are going to need is a shotgun certificate.
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
You're hooked, and now you want to buy your own gun. But first you must get your licence.
LET'S ASSUME you've had a few shooting lessons and had a great time. You also enjoy the camaraderie at the shooting ground, want to shoot a few club competitions, and maybe venture to other grounds in the vicinity.
In short, you're hooked!
And now you want to buy your own gun.
The first thing you are going to need is a shotgun certificate, and you can get an application form from any police station in England, Scotland or Wales. In Northern Ireland the rules are different, and you will need a Firearms Certificate.
The starting point, again, is at your local police station. The shotgun certificate form asks a lot of questions, so take your time filling it in. You will have to enter personal details like:
- Name and address.
- Height.
- Date and place of birth.
- Nationality.
- Occupation.
- Name and address of your employer.
- Your address(es) in the last 5 years.
You will also have to give details of any convictions, however trivial they may seem to you - speeding tickets, for instance. And do be honest, because the information you give will be checked against the police computer.
You will also be asked a number of medical questions - to identify conditions which could render gun handling dangerous - and provide the name of your current GP, together with permission for the police to access your medical history.
You will then have to give details of where your gun is to be stored.
The next important bit of the form has to filled in by a counter signatory who has known you personally for at least two years. Such a person cannot be a relative, a serving policeman or police civilian employee, or a registered firearms dealer, and according to the wording should be:
"...a Member of Parliament, Justice of the Peace, minister of religion, doctor, lawyer, established civil servant, bank officer, or person of similar standing."
Most police forces give a sensibly liberal interpretation to 'person of similar standing', and accept most people known and respected in the community. If you have any doubt about the validity of your chosen person, just ring up the firearms department at your local police headquarters and ask.
With your application you must also provide four passport-sized photographs of yourself, one of which must be signed on the back by your counter signatory. You then return the form to the police, together with the fee (£50 at the time of writing).
Over the next few weeks you will get a visit from the police, so it's good to be prepared and buy a gun cabinet.
There are many prices and specifications, but all should conform to the accepted British Standard: BS7558:1992. Your local gun shop will help you with this.
The cabinet must be firmly attached to a wall within your home, and the best place is inside a built-in cupboard. The person who calls from the police may be a serving police officer or, more likely these days, a specialist civilian employee. He or she will first go through your application form with you, and you may be asked a number of questions to further explain your written answers on the form.
If asked why you wish to own a shotgun, all you need say is you wish to take part in shooting sports. The examining officer may also wish to look at the general security of your home, particularly if you live in a high-crime area.
Don't worry - you will not be required to turn your home into Fort Knox. Usually the officer's advice will be well worth having to safeguard other valuable property as well as your gun.
After that, it should be just a matter of waiting for your certificate to arrive in the post.
Gundogs Training
Do you have any tips on training my first gun dog?
I'm a shooting man rather than a gun dog man, but I've decid... Read more
Gundogs Events
Northumberland & Durham Labrador Retriever Gun Dog Club
The Northumberland & Durham Labrador Retriever Club held a gun dog... Read more
Gundogs Health
Kennel Mate Dog Bed
Whether it be in the kennel, vehicle, house, stable, tack room, barn o... Read more
August Shooting Gazette
Take on the world's greatest sport with the world's leading driven shooting magazine
Shooting Times & Country Magazine
In this week's issue, Shooting Times heads to the grouse moor for some fast-paced shooting of both the grouse and photographic kind, plus has the time come for shooters to club together to buy communal land?
- Subscribe |
- FAQ |
- Contact us
Latest articles
BBC documentary exposes genetic health problems of show dogs
A recent BBC investigation has found that many pedigree dogs bred for ... Read more
Confidence in 2008 partridge shooting
With just three days to go before the start of the partridge season, s... Read more
WIN a Barbour shooting jacket, waistcoat and breeks!
Barbour and Shooting UK are giving away one ladies' and one mens' shooting jacket, waistcoat and breeks together with a smart wax leather cartridge bag.
Comments