Firearms licensing: frequently asked questions
Unexpected possession of a firearm - what should I do?
There have been many incidents where unlicensed people, through no fault of their own, have suddenly found themselves in "possession" of firearms or shotguns. The first criteria is not to panic into doing something silly or even illegal.
Such an incident could be, for instance, when a certificate holder dies and the widow or widower is left with their weapons. In such circumstances the police are empowered to issue a temporary permit to allow lawful access to the firearms, thus allowing time for the weapons to be disposed of properly.
For "What is a firearms permit?" see below.
If you find unlicensed weapons in your "possession", for instance discovering them in your loft having just moved into a new address; do not handle them , they could be loaded and in a dangerous condition. Immediately call your local police who will make them safe and dispose of them for you.
Should you find yourself "inheriting" firearms you have a number of choices. If you are a certificate holder then you can request that they be added to your own certificate. This would depend on the weapons not being lost or stolen, and you having capacity to store them and, in the case of a firearms certificate, the authority to possess that type of weapon. You could also request the required authority but would need to satisfy good reason.
If you are not a certificate holder you could first request a permit allowing you access to the weapons, this would give you the time to get them to a Registered Firearms Dealer for storage, whilst you decided what to do next. You could then apply for a certificate yourself to allow you to keep the guns, but remember you would need to satisfy good reason.
Another alternative is to have the weapons deactivated which would remove them from all legislation relating to firearms. They would still retain the original appearance but would be incapable of discharging a missile.
In all case of doubt, contact your local Firearms Licensing Department. They will deal sympathetically with your problem and help you find the right solution. The last thing anybody wants is for unlicensed firearms to get into the wrong hands