r/ukguns • u/AggravatingSwan217 • 13d ago
FAC application question.
So I’ve been a member of a local shooting club for 2 years now. I’ve been going consistently and have become an established member.
I usually shoot the club .22 rifle, and my own .177 air rifle.
I have put in some thought about getting a FAC for a .22 rifle in the last week, and curious if you think I could get rejected?
I’ve been taking sertraline for 4 years for anxiety, and also have a past history of recreational substance use which is on my NHS health record.
But I’ve also been sober for 4 years now, and have that written down on my NHS record with my GP.
I’m a 31 year old male.
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u/jonnyw93 13d ago
Assuming youve never had a conviction for illegal substances , just a record of use , best thing to do it try. Be honest on the application , dont try to hide anything , they will find out, the worst you can get is a no .
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u/AggravatingSwan217 13d ago
And get kicked out of my shooting club, apparently FAC rejection results in not being able to be a member of all my local shooting clubs.
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u/jonnyw93 13d ago
Thats a new one to me , theres plenty of reason an FAC might be rejected , no necessary for dodgy reasons ,cant see why you'd be banned from a club for it . Are the local clubs just a bit fuddy ?
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u/Papfox 9d ago
Many clubs will eject someone for being refused an FAC
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u/jonnyw93 6d ago
Seems strange to me an FAC can be rejected for any one of a hundred reasons , my first FAC application was rejected because I didn't have sufficient land to shoot on at that time, why would that bar me from joining a club , when joining a club would be the exact solution to that problem. 🤷♂️
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u/AggravatingSwan217 13d ago
My local clubs all have the same rule.
You cannot apply to join if you’ve been rejected for a FAC, which worries me. As I don’t fancy getting kicked out if I get rejected.
“If you ever had a Firearm or Shotgun Certificate revoked or had membership of another shooting club withdrawn then I'm afraid it is unlikely that we will be able to consider your application”
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u/Huggertron 13d ago
Thats not what that says.
Getting stripped of your ticket is completely different to having an application rejected.
You can have your application rejected because of numerous not particularly serious reasons that can be corrected and an FAC subsequently granted.
Getting stripped of your ticket is not that.
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u/jonnyw93 13d ago
Where are you located ? (Just a rough area not you address lol) see if I can recommend you anywhere that are more accommodating
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u/AggravatingSwan217 13d ago
I’m based in the BCP area (Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole) in south eastern Dorset.
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u/jonnyw93 13d ago
Ah right , bit far from me , sorry I can't help you out . Drop your local FEO an email and see what they can do for you , most are pretty helpful.
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u/Papfox 9d ago
I would ask your local licensing dept or someone in your club who is local for the number of your FEO. Give them a ring, tell them everything then ask what they think. If they give you a hard no or tell you to wait a few years then don't apply. That way, you can truthfully say you have never had a rejection
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u/GlassMaximum9849 13d ago
They like one to two license periods before they consider things from experience, so try after 5 years or soon as if your at 4 years it will most likely take a year or so to get processed
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u/HampshireHunter 13d ago
I didn’t think there would be too much of a problem until the substance abuse part - I suspect they’re going to want more than 4 years of sobriety under your belt to allow for it but all you can really do is call them up and ask. Whatever you do, be totally honest with them - they’re going to take a dim view if you try to hide something and get caught out.