Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement


Scotland to host summit on air-gun law

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 17 January 2008
By SHÂN ROSS
SCOTLAND is to host a UK-wide summit on reforming the law on firearms including air guns.
Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, yesterday wrote to Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, inviting her to join Alex Salmond, the First Minister, and himself, in hosting the event.

The summit is being welcomed by gun control campaigners, police organisations, and rural and shooting groups.

Attempts to allow firearms legislation, particularly concerning air guns, to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament were rejected last December.

Firearms legislation is reserved to Westminster but SNP ministers argued Scotland had a specific problem with air guns, which have caused three deaths and 1,154 injuries since records began eight years ago.

But Ms Smith claimed variation in laws between Scotland and England would be "confusing and damaging". She wanted to work with interested parties to improve the situation.

The letter to Ms Smith comes ahead of this afternoon's parliamentary debate on gun crime.

Dr Mick North, Sharon McMillan and Andy Morton, who have campaigned for tougher controls, are due to meet Mr MacAskill ahead of the debate.



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 16 January 2008 9:28 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Airguns
 
1

Ross Fyffe,

Scotland 17/01/2008 01:46:50
I wonder who will be representing the criminal gun owners, you could take every single gun, rifle or air gun from legal ownership and there would still be shootings,................
2

Guga II,

Rockall 17/01/2008 03:34:14
That fool Kenny MacAskill is not fit for purpose, and wee Eck should get rid of him as soon as possible, before he does any more damage with, among other things, all the knee jerks he does.
3

GalacticCannibal,

Murrieta,.California ..a captured Mexican territor 17/01/2008 04:23:50
Is this summit some kind of a joke....More of ur taxpayers money being squandered.

Hey Dudes . We can buy guns here in CA anytime .

All that is needed is to show ur driver's License. and pay for the gun.

If U are a scary cat, and need a gun for protection. NEVER EVER buy a pistol (hand gun). The changes of hitting Ur moving target (intruder) is like 1 in 60 chance.

Buy a "short barrel" pump shot gun. U will never miss at close range. U can get one at "The Shootist" for $200 (£100). Don't forget ear plugs.

GC
4

Captain Fantastic,

Anywhere but 17/01/2008 08:37:28
What has the legal and legitimate ownership of firearms got to do with criminal use? Absolutely nothing. Statistics show that legal firearms hardly register in the armed crime statistics. Crimes involving airguns has fallen by half in the last 10 years in Scotland, despite changes in the reporting to highlight them. The banning of pistols had no effect on criminals getting hold of them - handgun crime has doubled (but to be fair, it's mainly one lot of low-life scumbags killing another lot of low-life scumbags). Granted, UK firearms' legislation is over-complex, contradictory and bureaucratic as a result of knee-jerk changes resulting from high-profile incidents, with no proper consideration of potential unintended side-effects. I wouldn't hold my breath that anything useful will come out of this 'consulation'. In 2004 the Home Office launched a four-month nationwide consultation to all interested parties to gather views on how the UK's gun laws could be simplified while maintaining public safety. Apparently it attracted a high number of responses for a public consultation(I was was one of them), but the Home Office never made the results public and no more has been heard about reform. I suspect they got suggestions they didn't want to hear.
5

Mercutio,

FALKIRK 17/01/2008 09:19:42
"SUMMIT"! Some pretension here surely, a collection of local pressre groups or has the FM sent another letter to all the World Leaders
6

Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 17/01/2008 09:24:46
Oh it really is silly season today isn't it? What with reports on people daring to have a conversation whilst they are driving, we are now faced with the "consideration" of yet another knee-jerk ban.

Why can't they just leave us alone and mind their own business? How many people have been killed by air-guns? Very few if any. What the hell is all the fuss about? Why can't these knee-jerk nannies mind their own business?
7

sam the god,

17/01/2008 10:44:59
Here we go again a knee jerk reaction against legitimate shooters by our elected politicians just to look good in the press. Yes it bad that there have been three deaths and 1,154 injuries since records began eight years ago. But what are the same figures for the last eight years in relation to football?
As for Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary people should contact him under the freedom of information act and ask how many people have made official complaints to the police about the Wendy Alexander saga (at least two posters have said they have) but low and behold the police are not involved (the crime is being dealt with internally by the parliament and in my opinion is a whitewash) where is the justice here.
8

Captain Fantastic,

Anywhere but here 17/01/2008 10:55:34
Why doesn't the Home Office publish the results of it's 2004 consulation on this subject? Why have the kept it secret? All the major shooting groups, such as the NRA (UK), NSRA, BSSC, SPA, contributed as did anti-gun groups, police representatives and interested members of the public including legal gun owners. Why waste money on yet more hot air? Unbelievable. I really hate politicians.
9

Allan(handofgod137),

17/01/2008 11:35:46
He'd serve the Scottish people better if he were hosting a summit on the way forward to tackle corrupt politicians, or would that be striking too close to home?
10

Galaman,

Galashiels 17/01/2008 11:55:37
While more and more gun laws have been imposed, gun crime has got worser and worser.
The truth, which will no doubt be unpalatable to some, is that the only losers in all this are law-abiding target shooters and the sport of target shooting.
Any gun-club member will know that gun clubs do not allow just any Tom, Dick or Harry to become members, and that any potential new member who is considered to pose even the most minor of risks,is denied access to any weapon and is refused entry.
11

Lee F. Smith,

Northern California, USA 18/01/2008 04:03:01
I am sorry to see you guy's dealing with this garbage, hang in there and fight back as much as you can.

I must apologize for this dim wit from my state...

GalacticCannibal,Murrieta,.California ..a captured Mexican territor 17/01/2008 04:23:50...

Hey GC pease try not to speak of things you do not know about.
12

Preacher,

Sarasota, FL 18/01/2008 11:19:21
What a pity that Scotland has been taken over by brain-dead Socialists!
Our experience -completely documented- has proven thousands of times that more guns mean less crime and more gun laws means more innocent people die because of being unable to defend themselves!
Gun-free zones means criminals can rob, kill or whatever with no fear of being captured!
It is the liars who are killing innocent Scots by rendering them defenseless!
13

gregg,

north berwick 18/01/2008 13:26:33
new legislation won't stop criminal behaviour.
banning whatever weapons won't stop criminal behavior
however more policing and better sentencing by the courts would be a start...
14

TSynicto the core,

Bellshill.Saltireland 26/01/2008 12:33:06
Every day that passes brings another valid reason for Scottish Independence.
15

The Tin Man,

23/11/2009 19:57:29
Rabbit a la lead.

Yummy.

All because of the drive to go back to slaughtering children with meat-cleavers.

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
  

 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.