by TheLoff02 » 20 Mar 2022, 10:23 am
“I have a friend who…” has seen a mental health professional on /off for about a decade, then a few years ago, self-admitted into residential rehab hospital for several weeks to treat drug/alcohol addiction, has now been dry since late 2019. During 2020 they decided to take up new hobbies and sporting interests for whole of life benefits. This included pistol shooting in Victoria which requires NORI paperwork just to hold a handgun under supervision. The NORI includes specific questions about mental health (and also Prohibited Persons, ie proper Criminals). This person got a letter of recommendation from treating health professionals (specifically their GP AND Psychologist). Both letters specifically mentioned NORI and shooting and a phrase like ‘encourage the uptake of shooting as a sporting interest’ ; another version of recommendation letter was obtained when applying for Provisional handgun, catAB longarm, then later General Cat. Handgun (I.e. full) licenses.
No issues, challenges, queries, or delays were experienced along the licensing journey.
The motivation of following this licensing approach was to be transparent and above board with all rules and regulations such that if a question of ‘gun ownership appropriateness’ ever does come into play, there is full traceability.