Originally posted by griff:
Just had this sent to me:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ScottishGunBan/The Calman Report recommends that The Scottish Parliament should be handed control of airgun legislation in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament will undoubtedly use this power to place a ban on unlicensed airguns in Scotland. This measure harms the legitimate sporting shooter and fails to address the real problem; that caused by unlawful use of airguns. Criminal use of airguns by its nature cannot be legislated against by removing airguns from those who abide by the law.
We believe that this ban will have an adverse effect on legitimate sporting shooting, and will provide no deterrent to those who misuse airguns. The Labour Party's own 'Charter for Shooting' (2005) recognizes there is no connection between legitimate sporting shooting and gun crime. Airgun crime in Scotland has fallen according to the Gun Control Network's statistics from 1005 offences 15 years ago to 567 last year.
This new legislation would erode the civil liberties of sporting shooters in Scotland and fail to remove airguns from the hands of criminals.
We therefore petition you to refuse devolved power for Airgun legislation in Scotland.
regards
griff