Firearms Licensing Checks:

Following on from out blog on firearms licensing and social media checks we felt we should also mention the piece on medical involvement in firearms licensing on the firearms page of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC).

Following recent events in Plymouth there has been considerable concern about the uneven use of GP checks by police forces during the firearms licensing process. Some police forces impose mandatory GP screening and BASC say that they are “strongly opposed” to this. Their solution is “We have identified individual BASC members who are doctors and willing to provide verification to medical declarations. If a member experiences a problem obtaining medical verification or their GP demands an exorbitant fee, they can contact the BASC firearms team. Following this, details of GPs willing to assist will be provided to the member. This is an important membership benefit that is not available to anyone who is not a member!“

We have long had concerns about ‘self medication’ often with alcohol, by firearms owners who are suffering from anxiety or depression. This often arises because they are reluctant to go to their GP for help because of the effect that might have on their firearms license. A system that seeks to bypass the currently very limited and unevenly applied GP checks is not going to help ensure that firearms are only given to those fit to hold them.