This has been of major concern to those of us that use air rifles in a professional context.
- So far, we know that individuals must apply for a licence from the 1st of July.
The "amnesty" ends the 1st of July, but an amnesty is for "the grant of an official pardon", in other words, if you hold something "illegally". I don't, I am perfectly legal under current legislation, up until the 1st of Jan, and therefore I wont be handing any air rifles to anyone!
The "new" law will run from January the 1st.
So far we do not know how much this will be, although a figure of between £77 and £85 has been mentioned in several publications.
The Licence will run for 5 years.
If you already have a FAC, it will cost you an extra £5 and run concurrently.
If you are between 14 and 18 you will be cheaper for your licence (work that one out).
On speaking to the Police, in fact, one of the coppers who will be dealing with applications and who is advising the cadet forces and local businesses, he has said that if you have applied for the licence but have not heard in the lead up to the 1st of Jan, you are "exempt". However, after the 1st, he does not know how it will be handled as that has not been released yet.
The current waiting time for a FAC in Grampian/Moray is 11 weeks. With the drafted in folk for the air rifle licence, he believed they will not get all applications processed in time.
The application has a section that asks what security measures you have applied to the rifle. It does not, however tell you what is required by law, because that is yet to be defined! Options are Gun cabinet, cable and lock, trigger lock, none and other. I have been told by the police officer that if you put "other", your licence will automatically be declined and you will need to re-apply. (another fee). naturally, none will receive the same treatment, despite the law not telling you what you have to have, if anything.
His recommendation was to get the application in early, make sure every box is filled in and that you have some form of security for the rifle, even if it is just a trigger lock.
If you go to the government website and fill in the "let me know when I can apply" box, you are automatically on the system. However, as you are on the system, if you then decide to not apply and sell your air rifle, expect a knock at the door if you do not tell them before the 1st of January.
Is a Licence going to be effective, definitely not. As with most things, those who work with, enjoy shooting or have a legitimate use for a rifle will comply, those who have none of the aforementioned will not. The Police have already admitted that many air rifles are being handed to people with no questions asked or even dumped in ditches or bins for anyone to pick up.