Police cautions and shotgun license

Why do you have to declare something they presumably already know or can easily check? I mean, they'll check your response anyway, won't they? I imagine they don't just take your word for it which makes the question redundant surely?
 
[FnG]magnolia;25659333 said:
Why do you have to declare something they presumably already know or can easily check? I mean, they'll check your response anyway, won't they? I imagine they don't just take your word for it which makes the question redundant surely?

Because rightly or wrongly, having a history of drug usage will drastically influence how they are perceived. Kind of important when applying for a firearm.

Personally I can see the need for the question. Assuming that the policeman who reprimanded the OP was decent and didn't officially log it, it would take away a large part of the stress.
 
Not personally as i didnt have anything to declare when applying for shotgun cert and firearms licence but I know someone who applied and got through OK, the caution was for something silly. Not saying they wouldn't check but for old near spent cautions it should be OK.

Best check before
 
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Because rightly or wrongly, having a history of drug usage will drastically influence how they are perceived. Kind of important when applying for a firearm.

Personally I can see the need for the question. Assuming that the policeman who reprimanded the OP was decent and didn't officially log it, it would take away a large part of the stress.

You've missed my point. Why do they ask the applicant to answer a question which they will certainly check anyway? Why bother?
 
even if you didn't have a caution for it i would still declare.

on my interview the guy brought up things like old speeding fines which i did declare buy also 13 years ago got stopped for not having tax on my car which i didn't declare. i apologised, he said its ok just remember next time when you renew.
 
Because a Firearms Licence, as is a Driving Licence, is a privilege - NOT a right.

You are not entitled to one and in the spirit of keeping firearms out of the hands of the wrong people denying someone with a Class A record seems like a sensible thing to do.

It's a shotgun cert, not firearms he's applying for. You have a right to own one unless there is good reason for you not to be granted the certificate.
You don't need a reason to own one either.
 
Declare it, if it was long ago it'll be taken into account "Stuff you do when you're young" type affair, and as they let you off with a warning it'll probably count for nothing.

I won't judge, I've done more drugs than you've had hot dinners no doubt. Nothing wrong with recreational drug use, most are safer than drinking.

Mind you, I never did rate coke, remember kids - that was smuggled into the country up a persons ass, a sweaty mexican coke addicts ass no doubt.

Nothing like your drugs swimming in taco poop to give them flavour eh?
 
Because a Firearms Licence, as is a Driving Licence, is a privilege - NOT a right.

You are not entitled to one and in the spirit of keeping firearms out of the hands of the wrong people denying someone with a Class A record seems like a sensible thing to do.
A shotgun certificate is somewhat different to a firearms licence. With an FAC, you have to show good reason to have it, for a shotgun cert to be refused, they have to show a good reason for you not to have it.
 
I would have thought it depended more upon your current circumstances than old cautions, if you're still living in a dingy bedsit surrounded by soiled mattresses then it's a no-no.

If you're happily married with 2 cute toddlers and a nice hidden safe to keep your gun in you'll stand a better chance.
 
I'd suggest joining BASC (if you aren't already a member) they should be able to offer you advice on how to approach your application.

It may also be worth checking out the Pigeon Watch forums, they have a section on licencing and the members are pretty helpful.
 
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