NEWS
POINT OF CONTACT Useful numbers for your business
The Gun Trade Association (GTA)
Tel: 01684 291868 Fax: 01684 291864
enquiries@guntradeassociation.com www.guntradeassociation.co.uk
Consultation starts on Scottish airgun licensing
Airgun owners and buyers will need a licence under plans now being discussed by the Scottish Government. Justice Secretary Kenny
Angling Trades Association (ATA) Tel: 024 76414999, ext 210 Fax: 024 76414990
ata@sportsandplay.com www.anglingtradesassociation.com
British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) Tel: 01244 573000 Fax: 01244 573001
enquiries@basc.org.uk www.basc.org.uk
MacAskill has launched a consultation on how the new licensing regime for air weapons will work north of the border. T e consultation proposals
will aff ect anyone who currently owns an air weapon and wants to continue to do so, those buying new air weapons, or those who wish to bring an air weapon into Scotland, for example to competitions or on holiday. Under the new scheme,
anyone wanting an airgun would need to demonstrate that they had a legitimate reason for doing so. Detailed proposals on
Angling Trust Tel: 0844 7700616 Fax: 0115 981 9039
admin@anglingtrust.net www.anglingtrust.net
Countryside Alliance Tel: 0207 840 9200 Fax: 0207 793 8484
info@countryside-alliance.org www.countryside-alliance.org
off ences and penalties will be announced in the future but, before any new law comes in, people will be able to hand in unwanted airguns to the police. T e consultation will look
at the types of air weapon to be covered, legitimate reasons for possession and timescales for the system‘s introduction, plus the cost of a licence fee. Mr MacAskill said
that the consultation would seek views on how to make the new licensing regime workable, proportionate and how to help the police tackle inappropriate ownership and use of air weapons. He added: “We are not banning air weapons outright but there has to be a legitimate use for them. We do not believe that there should be half a million unlicensed fi rearms in 21st century Scotland. “We are not consulting on
the principle of licensing – this will happen. While our primary concern is for public safety, we do not wish to penalise those who use air weapons responsibly and who can demonstrate a legitimate use for a gun, such as sport shooting or pest control.” T e campaign to tighten airgun controls gathered momentum after the death of toddler Andrew Morton in Glasgow in 2005, who was shot in the head by a drug addict. However, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation said: “It is estimated and accepted by the Scottish Government that there are half a million low-powered airguns
in Scotland. Bringing all or even a fraction of these into a licensing scheme will be an extremely diffi cult task, which will involve the use of extensive police resources. “We are also concerned
that further regulation will discourage many from starting shooting, which is a vital part of the Scottish countryside and rural economy. Airguns are essential tools for pest control where more powerful fi rearms cannot be used and they are used for training and target shooting up to Olympic standards.” And Jamie Stewart, director
of the Scottish Countryside Alliance, added: “Subjecting airgun owners to stricter controls will involve a massive bureaucratic eff ort and take police off the streets in order to deal with the paperwork that will be required. “Licensing will do little, if
anything, to improve public safety. New regulations will only penalise legitimate airgun owners, and criminals who already ignore the laws against airgun misuse will continue to do so. T ese new laws will only impact on the thousands of law-abiding rural Scottish people who use airguns for pest control and sport.”
Salmon & Trout Association Tel: 0207 283 5838 Fax: 0207 626 5137
hq@salmon-trout.org www.salmon-trout.org
Crimestoppers Tel: 0800 555 111
www.crimestoppers-uk.org 6
0
www.tandgmagazine.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76