I have long advocated telling people as little as they really need to know and keeping quiet about CLL for the rest.
I am in the process of renewing my shotgun certificate and already my GP has had to complete a detailed health report on me - principally mental health. I had an interview with my Firearms Licensing Officer last week, she asked lots of questions about my general health so I disclosed that I have CLL and Type 2 diabetes. My GP now has to submit a further report on whether or how much CLL affects my suitability to hold a Certificate for assessment by the Principal Medical Advisor to the Firearms and Explosives Licensing Unit. Another report I have to pay for. Should I have kept schtumm about CLL or, as it is a statutory process, was disclosure required under the doctrine of utmost good faith? I believe the latter applies and not to have disclosed it could result in possible future revocation of my Certificate due to making a false declaration.
The whole process has taken nearly six months during which time I have had to 'lodge' my guns with a licensed firearms dealer and my medical file with my GP already has the legally-required 'firearms' flag attached to it. I know our American friends would regard this as risible but that's the law here and it has been progressively tightened up following the most recent Plymouth and Epsom shootings.
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I would have stayed quiet about CLL, if it doesn't hinder you in anyway (does it?)....... I'm not sure you need to tell them.....If they refuse you a licence because of you having CLL, that would be discrimination, possibly.
I think the 'powers that be' want to make sure WE are totally disarmed.....and not for our own good.
I grew up around shotguns as my father was a keen shot (UK). I believe honesty is the best policy and you've done the right thing disclosing your medical history.I'm sorry you've been without your firearms for this protracted period and hope you get them returned very soon. Having a pastime one enjoys and which takes one out of oneself is vital for mental health and as shooting requires absolute concentration I should think you find it a good escape from everyday concerns.
Well here in the US we certainly have our share of shootings on a daily basis. I don't see why having Cll would have anything to do with owning a firearm.
Personally I don't have one however considered one of those cute little ones for protection.
It is my experience the minute you tell someone you have Cll there is a blank look on their face and they want to know what it is. When you tell them, there is a frightened look in their face. Then you begin a little therapy session trying to convincingly downplay Cll as to relieve their panic. After that your relationship is different. So I don't disclose it as much as possible.
In the UK, if you said you wanted any firearm for "protection" or home defence, that would be an instant rejection of your application. In any event, handguns, even ladies' handbag 0.25 pistols are prohibited weapons so cannot be owned by civilians. We can own percussion-lock black-powder revolvers but nothing that takes a metallic cartridge.
In connection with a job offer around the time of diagnosis, I felt bad for the prospective employer and so asked for professional advice from a lawyer.
The following information cost me a fortune: fully legal to accept the job without disclosing.
Ok same position here, type 2 diabetic, high blood pressure all under tablet control and of course CLL W&W and a UK Shotgun cert holder. Renewed my certificate last year and as you say it takes about 6 months. As the medical form states listing all medical conditions and medication taken you need to put it all in Especially as GP has to write a report on you and any changes also need to be reported.I have had my certificate renewed ok with all information declared and as long as you haven't had any mental health issues over this you should be ok.
Wife also has UK Shotgun cert and had to jump thru a few hoops for her renewal due to having Breast cancer diagnosed during lockdown.
Hopefully you are a member of BASC and can get info from them as well .
We both applied for renewal at least 6 months earlier than expiry and both ended up with temp certs reissued twice.
Message me if you want any more information, but don't lie on the form as they seem to be looking for any excuse not to renew
Country-est, Yes, I made a real mistake in not diarising the expiry of my certificate so I could apply for a renewal in good time. Because my certificate had expired by 2 days, they are treating it a a new application. They always used to send an e-mail reminder 6 months before expiry but they no longer do that now. Surrey no longer manage firearms licensing but it is done by a joint FELU with Sussex, based in Lewes. So far, I can't express wholehearted approval of the joint venture. They also have a joint major crimes unit between Surrey and Sussex so perhaps they'll merge into a single Force just as Devon and Cornwall did.
From my perspective only, I do not see the circumstance in the immediate as an A or B decision, rather I would approach the authority for a consideration based on my argument of evidences that prove my disqualification is the result of a shortcoming in the interpretation to qualify.
Given what little I know about this particular law, I would look to find a way within the laws for a desirable outcome.
Ultimately, I am perplexed that in your country there exists a law that would prohibit a person from firearm possession and use based soley on having CLL.
Smakwater, I don't think they are applying a blanket ban on CLL sufferers from holding shotgun certificates. I suspect it is much more an arse-covering process. Devon & Cornwall Constabulary came in for a huge amount of flak for returning a shotgun to a young man after they had suspended his certificate because of mental health issues. He went on to shoot 5 people including a 3 year old child. Their procedures were questioned, their lack of detailed investigation was criticised, their lack of understanding of mental health issues was vilified. Every Force in the UK has tightened up its procedures and D&C Constabulary has spent £1million on completely re-structuring its firearms licensing system. No Chief Constable wants their Force to be the next one to be pilloried in the public press or reported to the Independent Office of Police Conduct. The Home Office has also followed up with a knee-jerk reaction advising all Police Forces to tighten up their procedures. So the simple step is to require doctors to certify that the common cold/diabetes/CLL/NHL/breast cancer/heart disease their patient has does not make them a greater hazard than the generality of the population. A letter on file that can be produced to prove that they were not at fault for issuing a permit following a tragedy passes the kicks onto the doctor and not the Police service.
I would have reported your CLL. Due to massive over-regulation of everything is sounds like they want to evaluate your chances of committing suicide, yuck.
That is a lot of work. I am in Colorado. I won't complain that I had to go to the police station to apply for my concealed carry permit or had to go back a couple days later once the completed the background check (just wanted, just in case) or it took a couple of days to wait for the store to do a background check before I could buy it (it was March 2020). They didn't ask about my health condition.
I am in the US, I don't have a gun and cannot fathom ever wanting to own one. But perhaps if I had always had a gun, I might imagine that the gun is what had kept me safe all along. I might grow to feel unsafe without one. I might see gun laws that restrict me in any way as endangering me rather than protecting society.
I think it is good you were open about having CLL. You will not have to look over your shoulder, worrying that you should have made an admission that you did not make. Honest people who use guns wisely are not a problem, whether they have CLL or not. Eventually you will have your guns back and all will be well. You will be confident that you did all you could to register properly, and will be allowed to keep them.
You have to remember that in the US you have certain rights, as part of a well organised militia, to keep and bear arms. Since the Firearms Act 1936 and numerous follow-up Acts of Parliament there is no right here to have firearms but you can be granted the privilege to hold certain types of arms.
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