Posted: 8/2/2006 3:29:24 AM EDT
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As you all know, or probably know, it was decided after the Cullen Inquiry into the Dunblane shooting that a national Firearms database be implemented. 8 years later and they're just getting it up and running. It's called FLEMS, or something like that. Probably stands for Firearms Licensing Management system or something like that. Anyway, I had my FAC renewal visit a couple of weeks back and my FEO was explaining to me how the system cost £11,000,000 and it doesn't work  When he was going through my firerarms and checking serial numbers against the ones on the FLEMS printout, a few discrepancies came to light. Firstly, if you have a "non-std" calibre such as my 6.5-08/.260 Rem, or my 6BR rifles, the system doesn't recognise them and merely classes them as "calibre-OTHER". Same goes for Spare barrel & action, as many AR owners have authority for. can't remember what it recognised them as, but it was wrong and we had to correct it. I think it might have classed them as either barrels or complete rifles. I even had one complete barrel and action that wasn't accounted for.  I was asked whether I wanted to put it under my RFD but I told them that I have already got it on my FAC and in fact use it regualrly. While all this was being sorted out, we were cross referencing everything against my FAC. Then it came to another couple of firearms, a ASA AR15 and a 10/22. After telling them that I didn't even own these and showing him the copy of my FAC to prove that they weren't mine, it dawned on me that these were the club firearms that I store and the FLEMS system was showing them as mine, even though there are 2 different FAC's. Anyway, I rang them yesterday to see where my FAC & SGC where and they phoned me back today to tell me that there were problems with my licenses.........they can't print them. Why?? I asked. "Because everytime we try to print your FAC, it comes out blank, and this only appears to be happening to FAC holders who also hold RFD's"  .Well, no problem sez I, how long............."We really don't know. We've had to call in an administrator to see if they can figure it out. We're really sorry and embarrassed". "Why they couldn't just give us one like the DVLA's we'll never know" What can you say............ Mark ETA: Perhaps I should put them in touch with Goatboy 
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[cough] NHS [/cough] ....... Agreed
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What a bunch of clowns.... I didnt realise that FLMS was now 'live'.... £11 million for a database containing such a small amount of relatively static data.....?!?! I do feel safer already though knowing that all of our legit firearms are now recorded on a national database....
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No. no , no, you've got it all wrong. Your FEO will now come along and make your armoury and shooting habits fit what it now says on your FAC 
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I've no problem with that, as long as they give me the extra 7.62 rifle I asked for and remove the .303, 7.92 and .30-06 ammo that I don't have guns for anymore
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