Pilot scheme to restrict sale of airguns in Scotland

Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill has asked the Home Secretary’s permission to carry out a pilot scheme restricting the sale of airguns in Scotland.

In a letter to home secretary Jacqui Smith, Mr MacAskill called for an overhaul of the 1968 Firearms Act, which would restrict the sale of airguns. Ms Smith has previously rejected Mr MacAskill’s call for a review of gun law.

Mr MacAskill said: “Any reformed firearms regime must incorporate stronger controls on airguns given that they are used in around half of all firearms offences. While Westminster has refused to consider transferring legislative responsibility for firearms to Scotland, they should allow us to pilot such reforms if they are unwilling or unable to proceed themselves at this stage.”

The rest of this article appears in 12 June issue of Shooting Times.

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