31st August 2005…………………………………..immediate release.

Proposals to licence airgun retailers in Scotland, published by the Scottish National Party (SNP), will do nothing to combat airgun crime while imposing pointless and expensive bureaucracy on the police and retailers according to the British Association for Shooting and Conservation.

The plans call for the licensing of individual retailers and for each airgun to carry an identification number.

Dr Colin Shedden, Director of BASC Scotland said “Airguns over a certain power limit are already subject to the most stringent form of firearms licensing in the UK. Licensing retailers will not stop airgun misuse and insisting on identification numbers is pointless.”

“Kenny MacAskill of the SNP is merely repeating policy options already discussed at a meeting between BASC Scotland, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson and officials from the Police Division in June. He is trotting out old ideas. A significant number of airguns are already sold through registered firearm dealers in Scotland. Both the SNP and Cathy Jamieson should recognise that such sales are not problematic. Imposing licensing on other retailers will not address either mail order or internet sales.”

“The vast majority of airguns already sold, estimated at half a million in Scotland, have no individual identification number. It would be impossible to include them and to make such a complex scheme workable.”

“Official statistics show airgun offences in Scotland have decreased significantly in recent years. BASC is against the criminal misuse of airguns and seeks sensible, practical solutions to the problems of gun crime. This is not one of them.” ENDS

For more information contact Dr. Colin Shedden on 07770 990222