ehb102
Well-known member
Anyone seen the new issue of Pull! magazine? Whilst flicking through to check for new posters of Ed (lowest pic count in months) I read the article "Medical Matters" by the honorary solicitor Laura Sainsbury. Page 25-26.
I don't know. I don't think if I went to see the doctor for a bit of mild depression I'd be rushing to send my guns off elsewhere, let alone give up shooting (gentle exercise, activity, open air, company - it's recommend treatment for depression). What do you all think?
I am not sure what I think about this advice coming from the official solicitor of the CPSA. The bits in bold make me think if I had received this as advice I'd paid for I'd say it wasn't certain enough. I'm mulling it over, but like so much of the advice around gun control it seems to be not about the law or even on official Home Office guidance on interpreting the law but about opinions and suppositions and in fact prejudices. Personally I'm a big advocate of measures to stop incidents like the Atherton shootings, and very tired of people who like to ignore the fact that if you have a gun it becomes a possibility that you may use it to kill a person, but I think this statement about mental health is stigmatising and needs unpicking. Being depressed is common. Being a risk of suicide is much less common.If you are experiencing an extended period of ill-health (particularly if it is an episode of serious stress or depression as a result of major traumatic events in your life such as divorce or bereavement following the death of a loved one), consider taking a proactive approach rather than simply waiting for it to come to the attention of the police from other sources or on your next renewal. By this, I mean consider placing your guns in temporary storage with a dealer or a friend who has capacity to keep them until such time as the particular difficultly has passed and your health has improved. You should notify the police that you have done so and, in the more serious cases, you may even wish to consider volunteering that you will temporarily surrender your certificate to the police.
This all may sound like a brave move, but it may be the lesser of two evils. Surely it is preferable if it avoids revocation of your certificate you have to embark on the costly and slow process of an appeal to the Crown Court. Your open and upfront is approach is likely to be welcomed by the police, as they place a considerable value on developing a relationship of trust with certificate holders. It will probably be interpreted as an indication that you are a responsible gun owner who has some insight into your current problems and your capacity to handle them, rather than being in denial. As a result they may well be prepared to work with you or agree a temporary compromise (such as storage elsewhere than your home address( until your difficulties have been resolved.
I don't know. I don't think if I went to see the doctor for a bit of mild depression I'd be rushing to send my guns off elsewhere, let alone give up shooting (gentle exercise, activity, open air, company - it's recommend treatment for depression). What do you all think?