N.I. firearms licensing

Mississippi.

Just heard on breakfast news that the licensing system cost tax payers £900,000 in the last 3 years and the PSNI have been tasked to come up with a plan to recover it from " stakeholders".

Chiparus

Mississippi. wrote: »

Just heard on breakfast news that the licensing system cost tax payers £900,000 last year and the PSNI have been tasked to come up with a plan to recover it from " stakeholders".

£9 per license holder?

Cass

Surely they take in revenue from license holders, but because it goes into the exchequer and not pumped back into the sport (via admin, licensing, etc) they're going to hit lads with another fee?

Down here they take in approx. €3.7 milllion per year in license fees and what do we end up?

• Postcode lottery
• Tissue paper style licenses
• Applications that can take 6 months to a year
• Substitutions that can take months
• A PULSE system that has no clue how many firearms are actually out there
• etc

Sparks

Not hugely surprising, they're facing a massive economic hit over the next few years and they're going to be looking under every sofa cushion for cash for years as a result, whether anyone thinks it's fair or otherwise

Cass

Sparks wrote: »

.......... whether anyone thinks it's fair or otherwise

When has that ever been a consideration for us! :rolleyes:

gunny123

Cass wrote: »

Surely they take in revenue from license holders, but because it goes into the exchequer and not pumped back into the sport (via admin, licensing, etc) they're going to hit lads with another fee?

Down here they take in approx. €3.7 milllion per year in license fees and what do we end up?

• Postcode lottery
• Tissue paper style licenses
• Applications that can take 6 months to a year
• Substitutions that can take months
• A PULSE system that has no clue how many firearms are actually out there
• etc

You forgot dealing with a guard who has the manners of a boar.

gunny123

Sparks wrote: »

Not hugely surprising, they're facing a massive economic hit over the next few years and they're going to be looking under every sofa cushion for cash for years as a result, whether anyone thinks it's fair or otherwise

Its unlikely, but not impossible, that if there was reunification, it could be us paying for it.

Mr.Flibble

Chiparus wrote: »

£9 per license holder?

They're already paying a lot more than that, or is the £900k net of credit for the existing fees?

In any case I'd suggest .90p per person who doesn't get shot - they're the real "stakeholders". If they think that's bad value they must expect they aren't likely to be shot, in which case maybe the security issue isn't as serious as the PTB make out. In that case they should abolish licensing and put the £900k into policing. If they think it's better value in licensing than in policing then they should pay it and be happy.

Grizzly 45

gunny123 wrote: »

Its unlikely, but not impossible, that if there was reunification, it could be us paying for it.

THAT will be almighty craic!:rolleyes: How will AGS deal with;
Integrating an armed police force into their ranks ? As well as dealing with a bunch of die-hard Loyalists who still think "Home rule is Rome rule!"

Dealing with the most heavily civilian armed six counties of the 32 who enjoy more shooting sports like IPSC, black powder shooting, reloading, owning CF handguns and rifles aplenty and a police force who actually knows about firearms on a beat man level? And having to license each gun, not the man? Not to mind delivring an efficent service at half the price and time of the Republic?

Concealed carry? There will be plenty of people even with unification that would be "dissident Republican targets" including the current Garda chief Commissioner. Who cant all be protected by the AGS.So who will sign off on that one,as apparently there is no one in AGS who can sign off to authorise a civilian for carrying a concealed weapons permit[Got that from my local Super apparently even the CC isn't enough anymore,I'd say it is a lot to do with ABC,CYA]

On the positive side. Imagine half the Dail full of grumpy Peter Robinson types saying NO! to everything just for the pure Hell of it.:D Or" the 12 th" Orange parade on O Connell St?Love Ulster parade how are ya! That would make our lot sweat for their wages!

Grizzly 45

From Mike Lindsay,he is a shooter in NI and one of the good guys fighting UK gun laws.His take on the NI situation.

https://mike-lindsay.co.uk/2018/09/28/mla-calls-for-cost-increase-to-fac-in-ni/