When a Government is in trouble, it often looks for a quick fix to a problem that doesn’t exist! This usually starts with a ‘consultation’-and very rarely does that consultation conclude with “actually, everything is OK, existing legislation is working well” take Scottish Airgun Licencing-all the evidence showed that Airgun crime was a small -and reducing -problem and that existing powers-if properly used and enforced -were more than up to the job.

What happened was a new, draconian system was brought in, at great cost and succeeded in over 20,000 airguns, being scrapped without compensation, less than 30, 000 licences being issued. Where does that leave the other 400,000+ airguns that are suggested to be in the hands of shooters in Scotland?

Applying for an Airgun License comprised going through several pages of documents and supplying information including past medical history and any previous law infractions.
It also costs £72 for a 5 year license.

If a similar licencing regime were to be introduced in England & Wales, it would be undoubtedly be the death knell for smaller gun shops and other shooting related business’s.

Also bear in mind, currently the authorities are taking several months to process firearms licenses, this would only get much worse if airgun licenses are added to the load.
If licensing came in, if you have applied for one and do not get it by the deadline, by law you would have to put your guns in storage either with another license holder or a registered dealer with the attendant costs that will incur.

I’m not sure how powerful petitions can be -but I would urge you to sign the one below-If it gets over 10,000 signatures, the Government is obliged to consider it. What is certain, if we don’t even do this small thing, we only have ourselves to blame if airgun ownership ‘goes Scottish”



Thanks for taking the time to read this email. Click on the link below now:-

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/211656