Firearm licenses are difficult to get, see the gov.uk website for details. You need to be registered with a GP and part of the checks involves your medical records. There will be an interview and possibly a home inspection - more likely in your case as you won't really appear UK systems for a while.
Even just Depression is grounds for not being issued a license. Any mental health issues which you must declare will preclude you from having a license. That is until you can have medical professionals write letters stating that you are a fit and proper person.
Figure 1 shows there were 147,140 firearm certificates on issue as at 31 March 2023, a 3% decrease (-4,078), compared with 31 March 2022 (151,218). The number of firearm certificates on issue has decreased over the last 4 years, following a steady increase prior to 2019.
In 2019, there were a total of 732,233 firearms licences issued, with just under ¾ of those relating to shotguns. The UK population was 66,840,000, which gives proportion of just over 1%.
The revised fees are as follows: Grant of a firearms certificate: £198. Renewal of a firearms certificate: £131. Grant of a shotgun certificate: £194.
The United Kingdom has had few spree killings or mass shootings. The most well known are the Hungerford massacre of 1987, the Dunblane school massacre of 1996, and the Cumbria shootings of 2010. After Hungerford and Dunblane, firearms legislation was amended, tightening firearms restrictions in the United Kingdom.
Being convicted anywhere of a felony or serious offense. SERIOUS OFFENSES, AS DEFINED BY §265.00 (17) OF THE NYS PENAL LAW, ARE AS FOLLOWS: PRESENT PENAL LAW 120.45 Stalking in the fourth degree 120.50 Stalking in the third degree 125.60 130.00 Issuing abortional articles. Offenses defined in Art. 130.
How long does the process take to obtain a pistol license? You should expect it to take a minimum of six (6) to seven (7) months from the time of application until a license is either granted or denied.
No license for shotguns just need a license for hand guns and semiautomatic rifles. You need to be 18 for long guns and 21 for handguns. Look for a gun store in your area and they can help guide you.
Now with that being said in NY state obtaining a pistol permit is not a small hurdle. It's generally not a difficult process for most people it's just long. I would start the handgun process immediately as there is a lot of wait time built into that process.