BUT GUN CAMPAIGNER SAYS:“MAKE IT NATIONAL”
FIREARMS regulations campaigner Bobby Turnbull has welcomed the news a gun hotline could be rolled out in County Durham.
Bobby lost his mum, sister and aunty in the 2012 New Year’s Day shootings in Horden.
The trio were shot dead by gunman Michael Atherton, who legally owned a deadly haul of weapons, despite having a history of domestic violence. He then turned the gun on himself. Since the murders, Bobby has campaigned tirelessly for tighter gun laws and hoped to introduce a gun hotline that would allow people to report any concerns about firearms licence holders.
So far his efforts have been thwarted and earlier this year a Home Office minister said he had no plans to introduce a hotline.
But Bobby has now been given fresh hope after Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner Ron Hogg held talks with Crimestoppers over introducing new gun control measures.
These include the possible trialling of a gun hotline in County Durham, we understand.
Bobby, a cable jointer from Hesleden, welcomed the news.
He said: “I am over the moon to hear that Mr Hogg is doing all he can to help reduce gun crime. I have campaigned endlessly for tighter controls and strongly believe they could be the difference between life and death.
“I know for a fact my mum would have used a gun hotline to report her suspicions, if she had been able to.
“Britain has some of the tightest gun controls in the world but they could always be tighter. This is nothing against law-abiding gun owners but there are a small number of idiots who manage to slip through the net and get their hands on deadly weapons.”
Atherton shot dead Bobby’s mum Alison Turnbull, 44, his sister Tanya, 24, and his aunty Susan, 47, in the massacre.
The taxi driver legally owned weapons, including three shotguns.
Following the deaths in 2012, Bobby launched a campaign to change Britain’s gun licensing laws.
Bobby, 28, added: “I would very much welcome a gun hotline in County Durham but the overall aim is, and always has been, for a national roll out.”
Mr Hogg said: “I am very sympathetic to Bobby Turnbull and keen to see what I can do to help to reduce gun crime. I am working with Bobby, and with members of the firearms community, to identify a sensible mechanism by which people can report their concerns to the police. If anyone does fear that a gun crime might take place, they should tell the police and they will be taken very seriously.” six