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UK Call for tighter air gun controls
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Call for tighter air gun controls Sep 27 2002
By Steve Evans
Borough councillors in Nuneaton and Bedworth are being urged to back calls for stricter controls on the sale and use of air rifles and air guns.
They are asked to support a campaign launched by Gateshead Council, which is urging the government to introduce a formal licensing scheme.
Gateshead wants to ensure that only responsible adults are able to buy the weapons - and to increase the age limit for those who use the weapons from 14 to 18.
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council's licensing committee will meet next Thursday to consider Gateshead's call.
It will be discussed under the borough's corporate aim of making Nuneaton and Bedworth "a safe, clean and healthy place to live, work and visit."
Alan Davies, the council's corporate services manager, says in a report: "Gateshead's campaign has been brought about by the increase in the number of incidents involving these weapons both nationally and in their area, where there have been a number of serious shootings.
"They state that during the last year, more than half the Armed Response Vehicle deployments were for incidents involving air weapons."
Police say that 10,000 air weapon crimes were reported nationally in the last year - including one death, 600 serious injuries, 1,200 slight injuries and 7,000 incidents of damage to property.
There are estimated to be between up to six million air weapons in circulation.
Nuneaton and Bedworth borough councillors will be told that the vast majority of air weapons are used legitimately and responsibly and that any restrictions may seriously interfere with the up-and-coming sport of airgun target shooting.
http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0125nwarksnews/page.cfm?objectid=12233827&method=full&siteid=50003
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
By Steve Evans
Borough councillors in Nuneaton and Bedworth are being urged to back calls for stricter controls on the sale and use of air rifles and air guns.
They are asked to support a campaign launched by Gateshead Council, which is urging the government to introduce a formal licensing scheme.
Gateshead wants to ensure that only responsible adults are able to buy the weapons - and to increase the age limit for those who use the weapons from 14 to 18.
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council's licensing committee will meet next Thursday to consider Gateshead's call.
It will be discussed under the borough's corporate aim of making Nuneaton and Bedworth "a safe, clean and healthy place to live, work and visit."
Alan Davies, the council's corporate services manager, says in a report: "Gateshead's campaign has been brought about by the increase in the number of incidents involving these weapons both nationally and in their area, where there have been a number of serious shootings.
"They state that during the last year, more than half the Armed Response Vehicle deployments were for incidents involving air weapons."
Police say that 10,000 air weapon crimes were reported nationally in the last year - including one death, 600 serious injuries, 1,200 slight injuries and 7,000 incidents of damage to property.
There are estimated to be between up to six million air weapons in circulation.
Nuneaton and Bedworth borough councillors will be told that the vast majority of air weapons are used legitimately and responsibly and that any restrictions may seriously interfere with the up-and-coming sport of airgun target shooting.
http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0125nwarksnews/page.cfm?objectid=12233827&method=full&siteid=50003
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
A FORRES mother has said she was astonished to learn her son had legally bought a gun within days of celebrating his 14th birthday.
The woman claimed her son bought the air pistol, which fires plastic pellets - more commonly known as a "BB gun" - from the Tackle Shop in Forres, without her knowledge.
"The first thing I knew about it was when police officers came knocking at my door at the weekend," she said. "But they said it was not illegal to buy the weapon under the age of 14."
She, said she felt very let down and disappointed when her son bought the gun with his birthday money.
"He is a teenage boy and has always had a particular fascination with weapons," she said. "It's something we've always been aware of, but I was astounded when the police arrived at my home and said they had confiscated the gun from him. I had no idea he had bought it in the first place."
She said she was further horrified to learn her son had been in a dispute with other boys who had similar weapons.
"I wouldn't have expected him to use the gun on animals, as he is not cruel," she added. "But I was not happy to hear he has used it to `protect himself' against other boys. And worse still, from what I have learned, these weapons are `quite the thing' among teenage boys at the moment."
A spokesman from Grampian Police in Forres said they had investigated alleged incidents of improper use of the gun which had occurred at Forres Skate Park, and although no charges had been brought, they had confiscated the weapon.
A spokesman for the Tackle Shop in Forres said that the P99 air soft gun, which cost ?29.99, fires plastic pellets and has a plastic body. It is recommended for use by people over the age of 14 years.
"Strictly speaking, the BB gun is classed as a toy gun," he said. "But it could be dangerous in the wrong hands."
He said no identification was required when selling the gun, and youngsters often came to buy the weapons, accompanied by adults.
He said he was not aware that claims had been made by parents that youngsters are buying the weapons for uses other than target shooting.
"I went down to the shop myself at the beginning of the week," said the boy's mother. "Two men were behind the counter and I got the impression that they didn't view the situation as serious at all. But legal age or not, 14-year-olds are not mentally ready to own a gun, and not all are as mentally prepared as others and should not be allowed to buy these guns. I was horrified."
She said she had "a big-time talk" with her son about the incident, and was planning to speak to his guidance teacher at Forres Academy about the situation and would be bringing it to the attention of her MSP, Mrs Margaret Ewing.
Meanwhile, Moray Councillor, Rex McIntosh said he was very concerned about the situation and worried that the law allowed young people to purchase the weapon legally.
"It may only fire plastic pellets, but I would imagine it could do serious damage to someone's eye," he said. "In my opinion, the situation should be reviewed. This is bordering on the dangerous."
"These days, if something takes a teenager's fancy, they can just go and buy it," said Councillor McIntosh. "A gun like this could be seen as good fun. But it should not be so easy to buy when injury can be inflicted."
He said he would recommend to the lady that she speak not only to her MSP, but to her MP as well.
His comments were made on the same day as Dr Mick North, whose daughter Sophie was killed in the Dunblane tragedy in 1996, called for a review in the law on air gun sales which allow purchase from the age of 14 upwards. Dr North urged the Government to impose an age limit of 17 on the ownership and use of guns.
http://www.forres-gazette.co.uk/news.asp?storyvar=2269&head_font=2&body_font=1
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878