Thread: FAL application interviews

Just after a year since I applied for my FAL, I just got a call from the vetting office saying they want to schedule interviews next week for my wife and I. Is there anything in particular I should know before going into the interviews? What sort of questions am I likely to be asked? Any tips you guys can give me? Shall I bake some fresh bread to make the house smell nice and put cookies out?(kind of serious/not so serious with that last one). Cheers.

the questions will be VERY intrusive at times...bottom line,be nice to your wife ALWAYS...you should be anyway.
make DARN SURE you wife knows she CANNOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES open gunsafe and cant do so as doesnt have access to keys etc unless she also has licence.... there have been folks tripped up by this one and have lost licence etc because of it.

Just answer honestly.

Don't make dumb jokes about stuff like violence (domestic or otherwise), self defense, etc

There was always one question that trips people up - would you use a firearm to defend yourself? One answer has been 'not if it's in the safe cause it will take too long to get the damn thing out, assemble it and load it...'.

I don't think it's appropriate to coach someone online with ideal answers to the interview questions.

Originally Posted by gimp

I don't think it's appropriate to coach someone online with ideal answers to the interview questions.

I agree with this statement. If I regurgitate something someone has said online then I won't come across as genuine. I'm not asking others what I should be saying to "X" question. I'm just wanting to be prepared for the day, y'know?

Most of the questions for your wife (in your absence) will be about your personal life together, threats, violence, alcohol, drugs, etc. and whether she feels safe about you having firearms. Concise honest answers are all that are required. They have a habit in asking the same basic question in different ways just to see if there is any variation of consequence in the answers. Would you use a firearm for self-defence? 'I would never use a firearm for an unlawful purpose'. A concise and correct answer.

They may ask about speeding / traffic offences and criminal record. Answer fully and honestly as they have your record in front of them and are just testing honesty

I've heard of the Aussie cops asking the wife where she kept her jewelry & "can I have the keys so I can check the safe ?" and other tricky questions to see if an unlicensed person had access to the safe. Other than that just be honest and don't stress would be my best advice.

My advice to the Mrs was don't volunteer info they are not asking for and dont talk to fill the silence, just answer the question honestly and wait for the next one.

In my experience, the vetters are not scheming detectives trying to catch you out, the ones I have dealt with have all been really nice people.

Don't say any more than you need to and be careful you don't trip yourself up with small talk.

Honesty is the answer, otherwise a firearms license is really not for you.
You and only you should know where there the keys to the safe are. Later you might want a licenced mate to hold your spares but that is waaay down the track.
I reiterate, honesty

Chur

It's not the vettor who is the problem it is their boss, one problem at the moment is the washers behind the bolt heads in the gun safe may not be big enough.

Originally Posted by imaca

Honesty is the answer, otherwise a firearms license is really not for you.
You and only you should know where there the keys to the safe are. Later you might want a licenced mate to hold your spares but that is waaay down the track.
I reiterate, honesty

Chur

They have actually changed tack about the keys since my last inquisition.

Originally Posted by DavidGunn

It's not the vettor who is the problem it is their boss, one problem at the moment is the washers behind the bolt heads in the gun safe may not be big enough.

That's quite funny. 6mm safe wall thickness, 4mm thick washer not big enough! Gold!