I had a quick read of the thread about dealing with "authority figures" after it was locked. One piece of advice I will give is if you have to deal with "authority figures" always try to have a witness.
Some time ago a friend purchased a 92 Winchester, when the registration papers arrived, the old gun was registered as being the property of the local prison, where my friend was working. He contacted the Firearms Licensing Branch to get this fixed, and was told to ring back at a certain time and ask for a certain person.
I knew the of "lady" (using the term very losely indeed) he was to contact and advised him to have a witness to any conversation with her. At the time I was on the State Executive Comittee of the SSAA. When he rang her back, we used a "tie line" for the call, I said nothing but just listened in.
This lady was rather abrupt, there was no way that her department got it wrong, the gun was the property of who the registration certificate said it was. If he wished to take possession of the firearm he'd have to apply for an "application to acquire" and wait the mandatory 28 days, as it was a centrefire he may or may not get the permit. If he was found in possession of the firearm prior to this without permission from the prison, he may be in a good deal of trouble. She would be checking the paperwork he submitted and if he had made an error in making the application, he may have just lost his licence.
I got the feeling she was trying to get the caller angry so she could use anything he said in anger to justify cancelling his licence. Every time he spoke she would just talk over top of him.
At this point I told my mate to stop talking and took over the call.
She stopped pratling when she realised someone else was on the line. I said something along the lines of "Hello, my names M*******, SSAA State Executive Committee, Mr P****** is one of our members and I've been listening in to this call. You're giving my member grief, do we sort this out here and now, or do I sort it out in the Police Minister's Office tomorrow morning" She blustered and I went on "When can Mr P****** expect to receive his new registration certificate?"
Instant attitude adjustment, no problem we can fix it right away, Mr P****** just needs to send back the old certificate.
At this point I said no, Mr P****** will be sending back the certificate when he receives the new one, and it will being returned to the Registry via the Office of Mr P****** local Member of Parliament to demonstrate the lack of quality control in your office.
Mr P****** received his new registration certificate about two days later and I understand the lady got a very severe rap over the knuckles over the matter.
Always try to have a witness present.
I think the story also serve to show Americans just how heavy handed firearms licensing can get if you're prepared to let it happen. At voting time remember, "if he's anti, he's got to go."
Some time ago a friend purchased a 92 Winchester, when the registration papers arrived, the old gun was registered as being the property of the local prison, where my friend was working. He contacted the Firearms Licensing Branch to get this fixed, and was told to ring back at a certain time and ask for a certain person.
I knew the of "lady" (using the term very losely indeed) he was to contact and advised him to have a witness to any conversation with her. At the time I was on the State Executive Comittee of the SSAA. When he rang her back, we used a "tie line" for the call, I said nothing but just listened in.
This lady was rather abrupt, there was no way that her department got it wrong, the gun was the property of who the registration certificate said it was. If he wished to take possession of the firearm he'd have to apply for an "application to acquire" and wait the mandatory 28 days, as it was a centrefire he may or may not get the permit. If he was found in possession of the firearm prior to this without permission from the prison, he may be in a good deal of trouble. She would be checking the paperwork he submitted and if he had made an error in making the application, he may have just lost his licence.
I got the feeling she was trying to get the caller angry so she could use anything he said in anger to justify cancelling his licence. Every time he spoke she would just talk over top of him.
At this point I told my mate to stop talking and took over the call.
She stopped pratling when she realised someone else was on the line. I said something along the lines of "Hello, my names M*******, SSAA State Executive Committee, Mr P****** is one of our members and I've been listening in to this call. You're giving my member grief, do we sort this out here and now, or do I sort it out in the Police Minister's Office tomorrow morning" She blustered and I went on "When can Mr P****** expect to receive his new registration certificate?"
Instant attitude adjustment, no problem we can fix it right away, Mr P****** just needs to send back the old certificate.
At this point I said no, Mr P****** will be sending back the certificate when he receives the new one, and it will being returned to the Registry via the Office of Mr P****** local Member of Parliament to demonstrate the lack of quality control in your office.
Mr P****** received his new registration certificate about two days later and I understand the lady got a very severe rap over the knuckles over the matter.
Always try to have a witness present.
I think the story also serve to show Americans just how heavy handed firearms licensing can get if you're prepared to let it happen. At voting time remember, "if he's anti, he's got to go."
