Legislation

Why do people worry when my gun is safely in its slip?

You don't have to carry your certificate but a photocopy has no legal status

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Should I carry my firearms certificate with me?

Q: Do I need to carry my FAC whenever I go stalking, or will a photocopy suffice?

A: There is no need to carry your certificate – and there are several good reasons for not doing so – but a photocopy has no legal status. So where does that leave us?

The Firearms Act says that a constable may ask to see your certificate and if you do not produce it he may seize the firearm. However, that was written before the days of radios, mobile phones and computerised licensing, so said constable can now check whether you are a certificate holder at any time of the day or night and doesn’t really need to see the certificate.