Licence Renewal

BIG BANG

Hi all
This has just been posted up on the ICPSA web site. Hope it will be of help.
Notices regarding the current firearms licencing transition period, .
We would like to remind members that the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 recently commenced and will facilitate the enactment of the remaining sections of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 thereby introducing the three year firearms licence. This new legislation will provide for the transition phase during which time all current licences, which are due to expire on 31 July 2009 will be extended. The extensions will be from a minimum of 3 months up to a maximum of 12 months: i.e. until at least 1 November 2009 up to the latest 31 July 2010. These extensions will be assigned on a random basis to facilitate the phasing in of the new 3 year firearms licence and will ensure that all licences will not expire on the same date in the future.
In early July 2009 the Garda Commissioner was supposed to write to each licence holder and outline the period of time that the licence has been extended for. He will also advise the holder when they can apply for a new firearms licence - up to 3 months prior to the date of expiry of the extended licence. The ICPSA has been in contact with the Firearms Policy Unit at Garda HQ and we have been advised that the letters referred to above are currently with the Superintendants for distribution. Any member who needs this letter urgently, for example to apply for a PSNI visitors permit should contact their local Superintendant immediately. We have also been in contact with the Department of Justice, Garda FPU and the PSNI Firearms Branch with regard to the current Northern Ireland legislation which allows for the grant of a visitors permit while the holders Garda permit is in force and the current interim may cause difficulty with this. Any member who does experience any difficulty with any of the above should contact the General Secretary or the ICPSA FCP member Cian Merne.
Please note that upon receipt the letter from the Commissioner must be attached to the existing firearms licence and carried by the licence holder. It will be recognised by the Garda Síochána as being a valid licence for the extension period outlined in the letter. These extended licences will be free of charge. All existing firearms licence holders will not now be required to renew their licences on form PC20 and instead will be required to apply under the new legislation - on the new application form FCA1 - following the expiry of their extended licences. The application form is available at www.garda.ie The collection of fees for firearms licences will be outsourced and no money will, in future, be accepted at Garda Stations for firearms licences. The Garda Commissioner will shortly publish Guidelines on firearms licensing. These Guidelines will be available to the public and the Gardaí alike and should be of assistance to all firearms licence holders during this period of major change in the firearms licensing processes.

freddieot

Thanks for posting the info. Answers a couple of questions I had earlier

At least there appears to be a hymn-sheet, even if everyone does not agree on the final music yet..

Hibrion

Anyone notice that revolver is an option on the new application form??

Didn't think they used them too much in Olympic pistol shooting:rolleyes:

Traumadoc

The extensions will be from a minimum of 3 months up to a maximum of 12 months: i.e. until at least 1 November 2009 up to the latest 31 July 2010.


He will also advise the holder when they can apply for a new firearms licence - up to 3 months prior to the date of expiry of the extended licence.

So if your expirary date is the 1st of November do you only have one month to get your application in?

BornToKill

Traumadoc wrote: »

So if your expirary date is the 1st of November do you only have one month to get your application in?

Wouldn't that mean you would have to apply now? August, September, October = 3 months.

Traumadoc

Technically would it be too late?

rrpc

Traumadoc wrote: »

Technically would it be too late?

The magic three months is the time allowed for a Superintendent or Chief to make a decision on a firearms application.

As all 'renewals' this year are being treated as new applications, that three months is how long theoretically it can take. So if you've got a three month extension, you'd best apply immediately providing you have your letter.