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Government hosts firearms summit Call for tightening of airgun law
(5 days later)
Measures to control the use of airguns and other weapons are to be discussed at a firearms summit hosted by the Scottish Government. A summit meeting to discuss Scotland's gun laws has ended with calls for Westminster to take action to deal with the problem of air weapons in Scotland.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has refused to attend the meeting, saying firearms legislation is reserved to Westminster. Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said he would be writing to the home secretary pressing for a tightening of the law.
But Holyrood ministers said Scotland has distinct problem, particularly in relation to airguns. Members of the the police, gun control lobby and sport-shooting groups attended the Edinburgh meeting.
The parents of two-year-old Andrew Morton, who was killed by an airgun pellet, were due to attend the event. Mr MacAskill described the current law as "inadequate".
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has said he was "alarmed" by the UK Government's "complacency" towards gun laws. Speaking after the summit, which he described as "constructive", Mr MacAskill said he would be seeking to put Scotland forward for pilot schemes with a view to getting tighter controls on air weapons across the whole of the UK.
Airgun murder He added: "What is quite clear is that the current legislation we have is inadequate and inappropriate for the 21st Century."
He said the number of casualties caused by firearms incidents had increased by 25% in the past year to 247, with one in three of the victims being children. Mr MacAskill said he would be making representations to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith in the wake of the summit, adding: "Action has to be taken".
The Scottish summit is to meet at Bute House in Edinburgh. "I'll be seeking to make it clear to Jacqui Smith that the view of Scotland is that the current legislation doesn't properly protect our communities," he said.
Among those invited are the police, representatives from rural and sport shooting interests, and gun control campaigners - including the parents of Andrew Morton. Mr MacAskill had written to Ms Smith in January inviting her to attend the summit.
The death of the toddler in Easterhouse, Glasgow, three years ago met with widespread shock. What is quite clear is that the current legislation we have is inadequate and inappropriate for the 21st Century Kenny MacAskill Justice Secretary
Mark Bonini, 27 was jailed for his murder and the child's parents, Sharon McMillan and Andy Morton, have campaigned for a change in the law. But she declined to take part, saying that firearms legislation was reserved to Westminster.
Mr MacAskill wrote to the home secretary in January inviting her to join the Scottish Government for the summit on firearms misuse.
Ms Smith said she did "not believe it would be timely to hold a joint national firearms summit" and dismissed calls for an immediate review of the 1968 Firearms Act.Ms Smith said she did "not believe it would be timely to hold a joint national firearms summit" and dismissed calls for an immediate review of the 1968 Firearms Act.
The parents of toddler Andrew Morton, who was killed by an airgun pellet in the Easterhouse area of Glasgow three years ago, said they were disappointed that the summit did not achieve more.
Mark Bonini, 27, was jailed for the murder and Andrew's parents, Sharon McMillan and Andy Morton, have campaigned for a change in the law ever since.
Mrs McMillan said: "I thought the summit was positive but it did not go far enough.
"Andrew would have been six on Friday and his memory is always with us."