Write to: The Editor, The Field, Future Publishing PLC, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR
Email: field.secretary@futurenet.com
LETTERS MAY BE EDITED FOR CLARITY OR SPACE
FIREARMS LICENSING
There are about half a million people in the UK holding a firearms or shotgun certificate and most have several close relationships, which means many people may hear about the inefficiencies in the system that BASC sometimes refers to. People form their view of organisations based on experience. As such, perhaps several million consider the police hugely inefficient. Almost by definition, to hold a firearms or shotgun certificate means you have limited contact with the police, so what alternative conclusion can be reached if a simple process takes many months? It is baffling that the police miss this opportunity to build positive relationships with such a large group.
The workload is highly predictable in volume, time and requirement terms, so an efficient system should be simple. Having checked a reasonable requirement, there are only two issues. The first is whether the person is safe to have a gun: every time he or she pulls the trigger they will make a proper risk assessment of where the projectile will go, ensuring public safety. The second is whether the storage arrangements are reasonable and appropriate.
My experience is that the whole
