Airgun crusaders welcome powers decision

Nov 26 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

CAMPAIGNERS and politicians in West Lothian have given a cautious welcome to the news that powers to ban airguns are expected to be handed over from the UK to the Scottish Government.

The move was one of the recommendations of the Calman Commission review of devolution.

At the moment firearm legislation is currently reserved to Westminster. But the Scottish Government has long argued for airgun powers, saying Scotland has a distinct problem with air weapons which needs to be tackled urgently.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy is believed to have secured an agreement with Home Secretary Alan Johnson to transfer authority over the weapons to Holyrood.

Details of the deal are expected to be in the UK Government’s White Paper responding to the Calman Commission that is to be published soon.

However, the new legislation is unlikely to become law before the General Election due to be held next year.

But Jacqueline Jack – whose brother Graeme Baxter (32) died instantly when he was shot through the heart by an airgun pellet in April 2006 – said that while she would welcome a ban she was concerned it wouldn’t materialise.

The Bathgate woman has been campaigning to have the weapons banned ever since East Calder man Graeme’s death.

She joined forces with the mother of tragic toddler Andrew Morton (2) who was killed by an airgun in March 2005 as he watched a fire engine in his street in Glasgow. The pair addressed the Scottish Parliament in March 2007 and handed the then First Minister Jack McConnell an 11,000-signature petition backing a ban.

But with her goal now in sight Jacqueline said she would not be happy until the ban was secured.

“I would definitely welcome any move to get them banned,” the Bathgate woman said.

“It has taken them a while to get here but at least something may happen now. We have been trying for years to try and get them to sit up and take notice.

“But I will believe it when I see it – it is still all talk from the politicians until then.

“I don’t want to see any other families hurt like this by airguns.”

Her thoughts were echoed by SNP MSP Angela Constance who said she would be raising the issue of airguns in the Scottish Parliament.

Ms Constance added: “I am 100 per cent in favour of the Scottish Parliament getting the powers to do something about the airgun problem sooner rather than later.

“I am very much aware from reading the Courier that there has been a lot of problems with airguns in Livingston and West Lothian so it is something that has always been on my radar.

“Airguns are a scourge on our communities. They maim and injure and there have been tragic situations where people have been killed by others acting irresponsibly.

“The Scottish Government could be dealing with the situation now and improving regulations and legislation in regards to airguns.

“While the UK Government have given warm fuzzy words in giving more powers to the Scottish Parliament to deal with issues like airguns they have really kicked it into the long grass and we will not find out if anything will happen until after the next general election.

“They should get on with it and defer the powers now and I would be very much in favour of that.

“We need strong action and we need it now.

“It is something that I will continue to campaign on.

“Sometimes we have to sound like a broken record until things are sorted.”