Scottish gun figures reach 10-year high

Shooting Times

May 19, 2009

The statistics show the number of firearms and shotgun certificates issued in Scotland in 2008, as well as the number of guns held on each certificate.

The key findings of the report showed there were 26,416 firearms certificates issued in 2008, an increase of one per cent from the previous year. The number of firearms listed on certificates was 69,481, an increase of four per cent from 2007. The number of shotgun certificates held at the end of 2008 was 50,022, an increase of two per cent from last year and the number of shotguns held on certificates was 137,881, which is three per cent higher than in 2007.

Despite the fact that the increase is of legally held guns, Kenny MacAskill, justice secretary, said he will continue to push Westminster to review the firearms legislation in Scotland: We know that some people have a legitimate reason for owning a firearm, for example those who belong to shooting clubs or farmers who need them for pest control. But we also know that in the wrong hands guns can injure or kill. That is why I will keep pushing the Home Office to review and update the law.

The rest of this article appears in 21 May issue of Shooting Times.