>__Skye shooting: Dunblane victim’s father calls for tighter gun laws__
>Michael North, now 74, campaigned successfully for tighter gun laws after his daughter, Sophie, was killed in the Dunblane massacre
>A man whose daughter was killed in the 1996 Dunblane massacre has said there is scope to tighten gun ownership laws after a fatal shooting on Skye.
>The UK’s gun control laws are considered robust but are likely to come under scrutiny after the island community was rocked by the death of John MacKinnon, a 47-year-old father of six, and a series of related violent incidents.
>Michael North, whose five-year-old daughter Sophie was one of the 16 pupils killed by Thomas Hamilton in Dunblane, near Stirling, said that more could be done to restrict gun ownership in the UK.
>The tragedy prompted a campaign by parents, including North, for tighter gun controls in the UK that led to a ban on private ownership of most handguns. Under the present rules, individuals must have a reason — such as for work, sport or leisure — to own or use a weapon. Firearms certificates are issued by Police Scotland after thorough background checks, which include considering an applicant’s medical records.
>New checks are carried out when licences are renewed every five years but North, founder of the Gun Control Network, has now suggested that this period should be reduced to two or three years in line with countries such as Macedonia, Belgium and Brazil.
>“There has been talk on shooters’ websites of extending the licence period from five years to ten years but we feel the period should be reduced, not extended,” said North, now 74.
>North said that the Home Office should also consider increasing the £90 licence fee for owning a firearm or shotgun to £200, to help the police cover costs. He said it should also be mandatory for an applicant’s close family members and even former partners to be interviewed to assess an applicant’s suitability.
>Colin Shedden, director of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation Scotland, said that the procedures used by Police Scotland for assessing a person’s suitability to hold a firearm or shotgun certificate were “rigorous”.
>“For the last five years an application or renewal will not be processed until a GP has confirmed that the individual does not suffer from a number of relevant illnesses, including acute stress, depression or anxiety and dementia,” he said. “The GP will also mark the individual’s medical records to show that person is a certificate holder so that, if a relevant illness does come to the GP’s notice, the police can be informed.
>“Certificate holders are also under an obligation to inform the police if they are diagnosed with or treated for such a medical condition.”
>The association has produced a firearms and mental health leaflet advising that if a certificate holder, or his or her friends and family, have concerns they should not be afraid to discuss them with their GP or someone else qualified to provide advice and support. “This leaflet will be made widely available and sent to all those renewing their firearm or shotgun certificates in Scotland,” Shedden said
How much tighter can they get? When they are some of the strictest on the planet currently. They are seen as a privilege not a right.
Medicals must be done, the police can inspect at any time. As much as a spelling mistake can void a licence.
Illegal guns are the issues in this country not legal ones and if you can’t realise that you are a fool.
Ban shotguns.
There is no legitimate reason why regular citizens needs to own a shotgun.
With the exception of farmers who need them for pest control, but that should be very strictly licensed. Automatic disqualification if they have health issues, health and wellbeing check every six months…
5 comments
>__Skye shooting: Dunblane victim’s father calls for tighter gun laws__
>Michael North, now 74, campaigned successfully for tighter gun laws after his daughter, Sophie, was killed in the Dunblane massacre
>A man whose daughter was killed in the 1996 Dunblane massacre has said there is scope to tighten gun ownership laws after a fatal shooting on Skye.
>The UK’s gun control laws are considered robust but are likely to come under scrutiny after the island community was rocked by the death of John MacKinnon, a 47-year-old father of six, and a series of related violent incidents.
>Michael North, whose five-year-old daughter Sophie was one of the 16 pupils killed by Thomas Hamilton in Dunblane, near Stirling, said that more could be done to restrict gun ownership in the UK.
>The tragedy prompted a campaign by parents, including North, for tighter gun controls in the UK that led to a ban on private ownership of most handguns. Under the present rules, individuals must have a reason — such as for work, sport or leisure — to own or use a weapon. Firearms certificates are issued by Police Scotland after thorough background checks, which include considering an applicant’s medical records.
>New checks are carried out when licences are renewed every five years but North, founder of the Gun Control Network, has now suggested that this period should be reduced to two or three years in line with countries such as Macedonia, Belgium and Brazil.
>“There has been talk on shooters’ websites of extending the licence period from five years to ten years but we feel the period should be reduced, not extended,” said North, now 74.
>North said that the Home Office should also consider increasing the £90 licence fee for owning a firearm or shotgun to £200, to help the police cover costs. He said it should also be mandatory for an applicant’s close family members and even former partners to be interviewed to assess an applicant’s suitability.
>Colin Shedden, director of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation Scotland, said that the procedures used by Police Scotland for assessing a person’s suitability to hold a firearm or shotgun certificate were “rigorous”.
>“For the last five years an application or renewal will not be processed until a GP has confirmed that the individual does not suffer from a number of relevant illnesses, including acute stress, depression or anxiety and dementia,” he said. “The GP will also mark the individual’s medical records to show that person is a certificate holder so that, if a relevant illness does come to the GP’s notice, the police can be informed.
>“Certificate holders are also under an obligation to inform the police if they are diagnosed with or treated for such a medical condition.”
>The association has produced a firearms and mental health leaflet advising that if a certificate holder, or his or her friends and family, have concerns they should not be afraid to discuss them with their GP or someone else qualified to provide advice and support. “This leaflet will be made widely available and sent to all those renewing their firearm or shotgun certificates in Scotland,” Shedden said
How much tighter can they get? When they are some of the strictest on the planet currently. They are seen as a privilege not a right.
Medicals must be done, the police can inspect at any time. As much as a spelling mistake can void a licence.
Illegal guns are the issues in this country not legal ones and if you can’t realise that you are a fool.
Ban shotguns.
There is no legitimate reason why regular citizens needs to own a shotgun.
With the exception of farmers who need them for pest control, but that should be very strictly licensed. Automatic disqualification if they have health issues, health and wellbeing check every six months…
Have the Mc Plods found the second shooter yet?