Can I object to my dad getting a gun licence?

[bkgirl]

Hiya, my dad is mid 70's had a gun since his twenties. Recently he has left the house unlocked etc and gone to visit friends....my poor mum is so annoyed about it. Frankly someone could waltz in and if they spied the cabinet, well I hate to think. His licence is up for renewal, to be fair I don't think he has dementia or anything in particular....we would all just be happier if it was no longer about. We have asked him nicely, it didn't work but now we are really pushing him. If the police officer comes to collect it, could he go behind our backs later and get it again? He has good friends who are gps so he could get an application signed easily. He also has this persistent shake in his hand.....and refuses to do anything about it (he conceals it quite cleverly). Any advice welcome.

He is a grown adult engaging in a legal activity in a legal manner.

Shall we stop you going shopping if you forget the milk one time?

There must be more to it than him leaving the house unlocked?

And as far as I know (though I admit I'm no expert) I think it has to be his own GP who has to sign the application as his friends wouldn't be privvy to his medical records.

Have heard it all now!

YABVVU. I think that would be really rotten to try to get his licence removed, he isn't dangerous so why on Earth not let him keep the gun? If it's locked in a cabinet it's safe from thieves anyway! Why aren't you happy about it? My late Father kept his guns 'till he died, I have them now, I wouldn't have dreamed of trying to get his licence revoked, they were beautiful antique guns and he was very attached to them, as I am now. I can't see that a hand shake would make him incapable of handling a gun safely if he has been using them for years.

Worra, yes you are right.I can't go into other details here other than to say we live in Northern Ireland and it would be valuable to certain people who would take life. This would be reason for a break in and no it wouldn't be safe in a cabinet, they would at the very least beat the householders to a pulp to get it.A lady police officer I spoke to recently here told me this happens here - fact.

He stored it until recently at the local police station (no problem with it there)but my mum really objects to it in her home.

Pony also hand on heart I cannot say he isn't dangerous, he has quite a violent nature, he left it into the police station years ago because he was tempted to shoot a certain person who had defrauded him (he did tell them this). He also left us severely black and blue growing up, he was and remains thunderous. He hasn't hit my mother but he is a definite bully (very capable of tossing the kitchen table)and to be frank she is very nervous when he gets into a black mood.I just could see someone breaking in and without any problem causing my mother harm to get the weapon. I really don't think it's fair. She deserves at this stage in her life not to feel threatened by anyone.

ps he is good friends with his own gp.

Jesus! Get rid of the gun!

Ok well that's totally different to your OP to be fair.

It sounds as though leaving the house unlocked is the least of your problems here.

But that said, if he's had the gun since his twenties with (I assume) no real problems, I'm not sure why it's suddenly a problem now?

The cabinet will be locked and as you say, people would actually 'break in' to the house to get to it anyway.

It sounds as though the problem is more to do with the fact he no longer leaves it at the Police station?

Not sure how the law lies in NI, but can't you get it decommissioned and keep it?

I thought you could contact police and express your concerns as they have to agree gun licence. I am a bit shocked though that they didn't revoke it when he took gun to police station so he didn't shoot someone!

Why does your father own a gun? What sort is it?

No, sorry - we have had a background of problems....hence the gun was for protection, even I was shown how to shoot (my sister and I as young teens were the targets of a paramilitary kidnap) to name a minor incident.

But the ceasefire/anglo irish agreement is here, we are no longer targets unless we make ourselves targets....I grew up with this, it really is unhealthy and frightening. (PS we were not security forces and were non-political, we just ran a shop in the wrong place).

I just want my dad to let go of the spectres and be the nice old kind man he can be. This weapon invites a terrifying past to reoccur.

I have no idea about decommissioning but my sister is undergoing counselling at the moment and all of this including the gun has been discussed. Seriously, it would be better for all our mental healths if it was no longer about.

If he was in the Dales or Chilterns and wanted to shoot clay pigeons - no problem. I wish it was like that.

Its a shotgun.

Oh I'm sorry to hear that.

To be honest, I did think the gun was for hunting or clay pigeon shooting but your subsequent posts put a different slant on things

I don't know what to say really other than old habits die hard and I know a lot of the older generation in Ireland have the 'troubles' running in their blood.

It's probably a generational thing and if he's been brought up in the midst of it all and suffered at the hands of people due to it, it's probably a part of him if that makes sense?

Sorry, I have no advice to offer other than talking to him and trying to persuade him to let go of the past...but that's going to be hugely difficult for him to do by the sound of it.

Agree with Worra.

I'd keep the gun and get rid of your dad if he's that much of a bully??? You say he's kind, you say he's a bully, will the gun make a difference one way or the other to him being the man you want him to be?

Really beef up security, new front door too, one that doesn't need locking manually when it closes.

I'm not in Northern Ireland, I realise things are different there and will be for a long time even with the ceasefire, the old school will always be twitchy.

If no one knows the gun is there NOW, then I don't think there's a huge risk regarding intruders wishing to steal it, if its locked in a cabinet that can't be seen from simply peering in (or walking into the house) but he'd need to keep his counsell on that wouldn't he?

My neighbour had five shotguns robbed about 4 weeks ago. It was travellers (I am NOT saying they all are like this, but every year one team targets this area..) but we couldn't understand why it wasn't luck... no one broke into our house, or any other house on the lane, how did they know that the guns were upstairs locked in a cabinet in the spare room, and how did they know which ones to nick in the 2 minutes it took to start and finish the job?

They knew because my neighbour had been chatting to his mate at the bar in the local pub and so the theives knew exactly where to find them and which to take.

Idle tongues and all that.

I'm not sure you issues will be resolved if the gun is removed, I'm not sure your Dad will even see that as an option. So, compromise. Up security.

What you see as security (no gun) he sees as risk (no gun).

You have to try and meet in the middle.

From my limited experience as a UK ex partner of a gun owner the Police would take a very dim view of lacksadaisical security on the part of a weapons license holder. Surely too there has to be a reason given for holding a license, eg clays, hunting etc? Having a gun for protection surely can't be permissible? What reason does your dad give to the authorities upon his license application?

I admit to being no fan anyway unless a gun's purely owned for clays or target shooting and so bearing in mind what you've said I'd have no hesitation in speaking to the Police for further advice.

You are right Worra, he dragged badly injured survivors and dead from a bombed building when he was being ordered to get out because there were more bombs present. He was always stubborn and brave, but to this day the cries and images haunt him. As a kid I saw him pull an incendery device out from under a portacabin/business we owned (the police held me back). My sister and I learned to climb out of our house over the roof apex 3 stories high) in case any terrorists burst in ( we had planned to take our little brother if we could get to him). He stood up to terrorists from both sides and boy did we as a family pay for it.

It is a generational thing and I am so pleased my own children are so ignorant of my past. They can walk in a city street and I expect there to be no explosions/shootings. I refuse to give them my demons.

Thank you for saying "It's probably a generational thing and if he's been brought up in the midst of it all and suffered at the hands of people due to it, it's probably a part of him if that makes sense? "
Maybe that's why he still has it indeed, I think it is how he has handled things. A bit like a security blanket.

Incidentally, he never used it for recreation.

Graham,he tells the police it is for shooting foxes (they live in the country) and indeed his friends/farmers around do let him if he wants to (but he doesn't) because they do kill the sheep (I believe they give him a reference) It is no longer officially for protection (if it ever formally was) but the police know his history and frankly many senior officers certainly did have a lot of time for him and what he has done to save life.

I think he will give it up tomorrow (I said I would see him at midday) so hopefully the problem will then be solved. If not I will be totally honest with the police - he fully appreciates this already and is not best pleased.If a fox is about and attacking his beloved dog he can call the farmer to shoot it (yes, that was his excuse today).

No thanks needed honestly

My Dad (Southern Irish) used to work at Fords in Dagenham (England) during the height of the 70's IRA bombings...and the majority of people at that plant were Irish.

He got 'leant on' and threatened at work by some IRA members who wanted him to use our family home as a safe house (Dad had nothing to do with IRA or any of that stuff) and when he refused, they threatened to burn our house and kidnap his wife and us ( his kids)

It was an awful time and I knew nothing about it until I grew up. All I remember was my Mum and Dad telling us (kids) we weren't allowed to answer the phone and we never knew why til we grew up

The whole thing is so sad, dangerous and complicated but I'm so glad it seems to by dying out, so the younger generation really don't have to 'understand' what the older generation went through

But for your dad it's probably still a way of life as he'll have been through far to much to be able to start trusting now at his age.

There's more chance of the dog attacking the fox than vice versa, as I'm sure the Police will know. It's a sad situation. I never thought there would be "peace in my time" but am so glad I'm wrong. Hopefully you can convince your brave dad that those times are over and it's time to lay down his arms too.

aldi as you probably know people that have been in wars/conflicts can act in ways that they wouldn't normally do in a civilised situation, it really does brutalise but despite this the same people can be utterly selfless. I have forgiven him but I know its always there......I guess its why counselling is so vital in these situations.

Worra, jeekers, that's tough! I didn't know they would do that in England! Your mum and dad were clever!!! I got quite blase about the phonecalls and used to sing to them as they threatened to blow up our car.

Thank you all you have calmed me down and I appreciate your advice, I don't actually talk about this normally (yes indeed loose lips) but you have steeled my resolve - there will be peace all round! Thankfully, the local police I know will be helpful and I think I can now persuade them to see the flaws in any future sneaky applications.

Take care all.

Wow thanks for sharing your story OP. what an eye opener (for me).

You could try and object....if you feel you have a vallied reason.