Scotland pledges to ban airguns

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Scotland pledges to ban airguns

Airgun legislation should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, according to the controversial Calman Commission report

By Selena Masson

Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Scottish ministers have vowed to ban airguns after a controversial new report recommends devolving airgun legislation from Westminster to Holyrood

Airgun legislation should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, according to the controversial Calman Commission report, published on 15 June.

Led by Sir Kenneth Calman, the report was an independent review of Scottish devolution since 1998. The recommendation comes after Scottish ministers made repeated attempts to get Westminster to ban airguns throughout the UK or to allow the Scottish Government to legislate on the issue.

A Scottish Government spokesman explained that if the proposals are approved, ministers will look to overhaul current airgun legislation: “We are encouraged by the recommendation on airguns. We have maintained that airguns should be licensed to put them on a similar footing with other lethal firearms, but allowing for legitimate use. That is why we will continue to push for an overhaul of the whole firearms regime, to reform the licensing scheme to make it consistent and easier to understand and to enforce.”

The rest of this article appears in 25 June issue of Shooting Times.

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Comments

john

Thu, 12th Nov 2009 22:37:39

I think its rediculous that the government are still trying to ban air guns in scotland. They keep going on about how dangerous they are and they should be under the same cat as an FAC. wHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH. Its not the gun that is dangerous, its the person that uses it. The only air guns that will be left when the government are finished will be the people that are not leagle.

marc

Tue, 14th Jul 2009 14:25:13

The UK gunlaws are starting to become rediculous. Airguns are a very good export product from UK to other countries like The Netherlands. It's a great hobby and sport. Now tell me WHY, this isn't going to solve any criminal things, I mean, when ever did someone get killed or something by an airgun? almost never, that is because airguns are much more expensive then firearms so they are genearally bought by people who take the sport serious. now field target shooters are going get into trouble as well, because an Overreacting politishian wants to help 1 person frustrating thousands of other people. Greetings from Marc, Vlaardingen, Netherlands

BRIAN JONES

Mon, 13th Jul 2009 21:53:48

SEE A ITEM I VIEWED A FEW WEEKS BACK AND COULD ONLY SHOUT ABOUT NOW!!! . Is the rubbish to ban air rifles in Scotland, where the basis of safety takes hold from a early age for youngsters to learn proper safety from the off. A lot of people who shoot serious air rifles for targetshooting and beginner's alike are being throw another brick. Well let's ban dangerous FOOTBALL!!.... IN THE LAST 100 YEARS MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED AT FOOTBALL MATCHES than have died at the hands of registered shooters !! IBROX AND HILLSBOROUGH come right to mind. If Scotland wants to put a another sport out of the reach to all, and then only the TOFFS get to do it by SNEAKING over the boarder !. Like i lost my pistol shooting after Dunblane Knee jerk reactions and the POLICE WHERE WARNED IN ADVANCE!!. IF IT HAPPENS BAN ALL SCOT'S FROM THE BRITISH OLYMPICS SQUAD!!!! THEN BAN HAGGIS HUNTING on the odd days of the month SAVE THE BEASTY hahahahah

donny

Mon, 29th Jun 2009 22:56:53

air gun should never be ban. howera permit for such weapon should be obtain by relevent autourity.

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