Mattnall wrote:
If my police wanted my application 6 months early and the original handed in at that time (so I couldn't buy ammo or firearms as entitled by the license that is still valid and paid for) then I will only have a license for 4.5 years, this is unacceptable to me and unworkable with the way I shoot.
This is something that I need to clarify with our local licensing department.
The letter I received states:
"... note that you will have a new expiry date, which will be five years from the date that we renew. This is reflected in the reduced fee."
If I were to renew now I would lose about a year's worth of valid license as I understand it. The fee for a coterminous FAC/SGC is currently £90 which breaks down to a value of £18 per year so a £25 fee for five years is financially attractive.
However, the faffing around with forms, photos, intrusive home visits, and arguing the toss on introduced non-guidance requirements is something that I wasn't expecting to bother with for another year and a bit.
Shooting being the expensive sport that it is a saving of £65 doesn't really motivate me - it's about the equivalent of a tub of black powder substitute and a box of balls to me.
BUT. If I could cling to my existing FAC for the best part of the year and then renew a few months early but within their useful range ... that'd be worth the candle.