Good Reason

rsole1

I know membership of a range is good reason for a firearm on the application. I also know that written permission from land owner (s) is another good reason. But I need clarification on membership of gun clubs. Is that in itself a good reason, as you can shoot club permissions. Or would you require your own permissions as well as being a gun club member?

German pointer

Gun club membership is good enough reason to apply for a licence

BattleCorp

I'm not trying to split hairs but if you are in a gun club and intend to shoot club permissions, then hunting is your reason for applying for the licence.

If the gun club also does clay pigeon shooting, then target shooting is your reason.

It's perfectly acceptable to put down both reasons when applying for your gun.

Range membership or club membership shows you intend to do the activity you want to do (hunting/target shooting) but it isn't itself the reason for applying for a gun.

Being a gun club member should be enough without getting your own permissions. You'd need proof of club membership and maybe proof of where club members are permitted to shoot though. If the Gardaí insist on you getting your own permissions, it should be easy enough for the club to organise this.

Cass

BattleCorp wrote: »

If the gun club also does clay pigeon shooting, then target shooting is your reason.

Gonna split that hair a little more.

Clay pigeon shooting is NOT classed as target shooting, by law. Its why clay ranges don't have to have range authorisation as pistol or rifle ranges must. Legally once you have permission for the land you're on, and it's safe, you can set up a clay range anywhere.

If the Gardaí insist on you getting your own permissions, it should be easy enough for the club to organise this.

Goes against the reasoning for being a gun club member. Any Garda demanding an applicant's own permissions when the applicant is a gun club member needs a boot up the arse as well as a big glass of "cop on" juice.

rsole1

Cass wrote: »

Gonna split that hair a little more.

Clay pigeon shooting is NOT classed as target shooting, by law. Its why clay ranges don't have to have range authorisation as pistol or rifle ranges must. Legally once you have permission for the land you're on, and it's safe, you can set up a clay range anywhere.


Goes against the reasoning for being a gun club member. Any Garda demanding an applicant's own permissions when the applicant is a gun club member needs a boot up the arse as well as a big glass of "cop on" juice.

So it looks like gun club membership on its own will be enough then. The reason I needed clarification was I already have a shotgun and rifle , and am a member of a pistol and rifle range for good reason. Fancy trying something different that's all.

Thanks for all the replies.

Cass

For clarity sake, Battlecorp is correct in making the distinction between the two disciplines and how you need to declare your intent. That is:

• If you intend to use your firearms for hunting you need to tick the box on the FCA1 that says "Hunting" and supply land permissions OR gun club membership details.
• If you intend to use your firearms for target shooting (as described by the Act) you need to tick the box on the FCA1 that says "Target Shooting" and supply details of your membership to an authorised range.
• If you intend to do both then you tick both boxes on the FCA1 and supply details of both.

My post was only to mention the stupidity of asking someone that is a member of a gun club for private permissions. It also highlights that clay pigeon shooting is not, legally, a form of target shooting.

If in doubt, and you wanted to hunt with a shotgun and do some clay pigeon shooting, you could tick both boxes and when asked fro details of a range you're a member of highlight the fact that clay pigeon shooting is not officially/legally a target shooting sport and hence no membership is needed.

In law/legal terms it's fairly black and white, but it does lead to confusion both on the part of the applicant and the Garda processing as some/most Gardaí may not understand that clay pigeon shooting does not require authorisation like rifle/pistol shooting or to be a member of an authorised range.

IF you are a member of both a gun club and authorised range then your reason for the firearm(s) is covered, just tick both boxes and you're good to go.

cookimonster

Just to add to Cass detailed response.
If your a member of a gun club - then the Secretary of that club will issue you a generic letter of membership for the purpose of firearm renewals or application.

This is standard practice for most gun clubs as sometimes the gaurds are unfamiliar with the likes of a NARGC membership card.