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MacAskill vows to raise concerns over Scotland's 500,000 air weapons



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Published Date: 08 May 2008
By Michael Howie
MORE than 500,000 air weapons are in circulation in Scotland, a firearms summit heard yesterday.
The figure emerged at a discussion between politicians, police, campaigners and other experts on ways to tackle firearm crimes.

The summit, chaired by Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, led to unanimous calls for the UK government to have a
fresh look at firearms legislation, which was described as "a guddle" and "not fit for purpose".

Mr MacAskill said he would write to Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, voicing their concerns over existing gun laws.

He also said he would offer Scotland as a "pilot" for future initiatives, possibly including a licensing scheme for airguns.

Mr MacAskill said: "What is quite clear is that the current legislation we have is inadequate.

I'll be seeking to make it clear to Jacqui Smith that the view of Scotland is that the current legislation doesn't properly protect our communities."

Recorded firearms casualties in Scotland rose by a quarter in 2006-7 – one in three of the victims were children and 58 per cent of the incidents involved air weapons. Cases of attempted murder involving firearms were almost three times that of a decade ago.

Bill Aitken, the Conservatives' justice spokesman who attended the summit, said he was "absolutely astounded" by the estimate that there were 500,000 air weapons in Scotland.



The full article contains 234 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 07 May 2008 9:30 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Airguns
 
1

Scotindy,

Los Angeles 08/05/2008 01:15:34
How come westminster allways get in the way of Common Sense?? INDEPENDENCE is the only way forward for SCOTLAND.
2

Guga II,

Rockall 08/05/2008 01:28:48
#1 Not with a total waste of space like Kenny MacAskill involved in government.

This is the numpty that doesn't want to gaol anyone under the age of 18, even if they are violent neds and thugs.

This is the waste of space, and well known drinker, that is trying to tell us that increasing the cost of alcohol will stop underage drinking (have a look at what has happened in Australia when they tried this).

This is the waste of space that would be better suited to spending his time solving relevant problems, like violent neds and thugs roaming the streets, the same neds and thugs being let off with a slap on the wrist, overcrowding in Scottish gaols etc. etc.

This waste of space does not seem to realise that the Firearms legislation in this country is amongst the toughest in the world, and that all that is needed to control such things as air guns is to enforce existing legislation.

This is the waste of space that has reverted back to his Labour Party roots, and we all know just how incompetent that mob are.

This is the waste of space that wee Eck needs to get rid of before he does any real damage.
3

Guga II,

Rockall 08/05/2008 04:39:47
I forgot to mention that waste of space's statistics. 500,000 air guns in Scotland, that means 1 person in 10 (including women, children of all ages and even old age pensioners)has one. I find that figure not only difficult to believe, but impossible. Then again, it is not the first time that a politician has lied to the back of his teeth to try to gain some sort of advantage.
4

Jeeemy,

St Andrews 08/05/2008 05:00:38
"MORE than 500,000 air weapons are in circulation in Scotland, a firearms summit heard yesterday."


Now for the silly question; where did that figure come from?
We all know that 98% of all air weapons have no serial numbers, therefore no traceability, with no traceability no records, therefore no numbers of air weapons can exist.
I do now have to ask why is it that with every printing about air weapons in Scotland the numbers keeps rising.

As the police force’s in Scotland do not know how many legal firearms there are in Scotland although these same Police Chief Constables are the one’s who put their names to each and every firearms certificate; how can they produce numbers of legal ones.

When the Government introduced the ban on the legal possession of hand held firearms in Scotland, England and Wales there was claimed that the number of “Brocock” firearms in circulation were 35,000.
The company who manufactured these firearms which were incidentally serial numbered only made 350.
The 35,000 was created by a civil servant because the starting serial number did not as it assumed start at 1, but was constructed in such a way that the engineer/ gunsmith that put it together along with when it was put together could be identified, just like washing machines do.

So can we get down of this stupid hobby horse and do something constructive for a change, prohibition in any form has not worked anywhere in the world be it prohibiting drugs, alcohol, firearms or news, history we should be learning from, going forward should be the goal of everyone.

5

sam the god,

08/05/2008 08:17:40
Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary is correct in one thing “a guddle" and "not fit for purpose" but this in my opinion refers to the MSP’s as usual they manipulate facts and figures to suit their own needs.
6

Auld Twa,

Edinburgh 08/05/2008 08:44:00
Why does anybody need an air gun ?
7

Linda,

Edinburgh 08/05/2008 08:56:04
# 2 and 5

Kenny MacAskill is highly regarded by Scottish Office officials who recognise him as a master of his brief and someone who does not flap when under pressure.
8

Alan B,

08/05/2008 09:45:42
MacAskill seems by far the best justice minister scotland has had since the inception of devolution and far better than the dreadful home secretaries that westminster comes up with.

It is noticable that labour home secretary refused to come to take part. So we are in the great position of having the home secretary in london controlling firearms for scotland but refusing to get involved with problems that scotland has with firearms.

Labour and westminster both a joke.
9

sam the god,

08/05/2008 10:06:08
#6 auld twa

I use air guns when in close proximity to farm buildings for shooting vermin where it would not be practical or safe to use either a shotgun or rifle. There are also many people that just use them for recreational target practice (a hobby).
The facts and figure quoted by out illustrious justice minister are inaccurate and just used as scare tactics to try to push through his own agenda.

10

Auld Twa,

Edinburgh 08/05/2008 10:28:49
Can't vermin be trapped ? We don't see town chippies shooting rats and mice in their back yards ?
11

sam the god,

08/05/2008 10:39:57
#10 auld twa

trapping works for a limited time and then they get used to it that is why you alternate between shooting and trapping. Town chippies will put down poison which in an enclosed area where beasts are kept is not advisable.
12

Guga II,

Rockall 08/05/2008 11:56:21
#7 Linda. Says who? I assume that you work for the Scottish Office. If they think he's so wonderful, it is probably because they see him as a waste of space that's not going to cause them any work.

The man's a numpty; or do you go along with his proposals, including not gaoling anyone under the age of 18, even if they are violent neds and thugs?
13

Allan(handofgod137),

08/05/2008 12:48:00
Maybe kenny and wee eck could turn their attentions to the far more serious matter of prison overcrowding, and rapists wandering out of open prisons and attacking schoolgirls, matters over which he has jurisdiction, rather than worrying about airguns. Paste link to see police viewpoint
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/05/08/newsstory11327990t0.asp
14

yockel,

08/05/2008 14:51:18
Is McAskill a labour mole undermining the SNP?
The registration of air weapons is utterly pointless but not as crazy as classifying realistic replicas as firearms. That was completely nuts.

"Cases of attempted murder involving firearms were almost three times that of a decade ago".
That legislation stuff the polititians are addicted to real works, duh.
15

Guga II,

Rockall 08/05/2008 15:31:30
#14 yockel.

"Cases of attempted murder involving firearms were almost three times that of a decade ago".

This is true, in ENGLAND, not in Scotland. This is just more of his lies and distortions, like the alleged number of air guns in Scotland.
16

puskas,

East kilbride 08/05/2008 16:13:40
Well Guga and friends what do you suggest. Why should anyone say for example in a city need one...?

Any restriction may not stop all tragedy but surely will help.. Guga have you an air gun, and for what reason.
That question is open to all..cheers
17

sam the god,

08/05/2008 16:51:45
#16 puskas

see my post of #9 why i use them and are you saying that people in cities are not alloud hobbies (target shooting clubs)

18

The Tin Man,

Over the Rainbow 08/05/2008 17:31:03
Kenny McAskill may or may not be the greatest justice minister the Scottish Exec has ever seen, but he is still a plonker.
19

The Tin Man,

Over the Rainbow 08/05/2008 17:32:52
Eeeeeeeeek! DANGEROUS AIR-RIFLES!!! The rabbits are trrrrrembling.....
20

The Tin Man,

Over the Rainbow 08/05/2008 17:36:17
WARNING:

FORK

IF PLACED IN EYE, MAY CAUSE BLINDNESS.
21

2ALAGO,

USA 08/05/2008 22:40:04
Man, I have no Idea what a plonker is tin man, but it sure sounds right!

So My question is when banning air guns fails to solve crime and injury problems, what will they ban next?
22

kepi blanc,

Dunsinane Hill 09/05/2008 03:47:17
All of Scotland will be ever so much safer from the nasty stings and minor flesh wounds which air weapon pellets can inflict, that is, once Kenny MacAskill creates his "licensing scheme" for those right wicked airguns!
23

Neanderthal75,

Rocky Mountains USA 09/05/2008 04:31:58
Hello All,

You know, slowly but surely anything and everything which to do with freedom, is being permanently rent from British Society. I used to think that Scots were smarter than that; to let governmental mindless twits strip them of their freedoms.

I was wrong.

There's no freedom of speech now in Scotland (GB), the criminals and cops are the only ones with handguns (and soon rifles, shotguns, and airguns), traditional Scottish Culture is now viewed as being inherently 'racist' and 'bigoted', and the Scottish Entrepreneurial Spirit has been reclassified as something evil and to be avoided.

Political Correctness and EU dictates have enslaved Brits and more particularly Scots.

It'll come to America as well, but I find it sad to watch a once great people and State succumb to the insidious disease, which is Political Correctness and Socialist Doctrines.

Cheers from the Rockies

 

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