MPs opposed tighter gun laws in wake of Dunblane
SENIOR members of John Major’s government argued against gun control the day after the Dunblane massacre, newly declassified documents have revealed.
Minutes from a cabinet meeting the day after 16 children and a teacher were killed by a gunman at Dunblane Primary School also show the government feared an inquiry would become a rallying point for gun control advocates.
They also feared too much security being introduced to schools, and memos from later that year showed the government’s preferred option of restricting handguns to clubs was coming under pressure from Dunblane victims’ families who were arguing for an outright ban.
The revelations come as new files are released into the tragedy at the Perthshire school on March 13, 1996, when gun fanatic Thomas Hamilton, armed with two revolvers, two pistols and 743 cartridges, walked into a gym and fired indiscriminately.
Files released to the National Archives show Mr Major’s cabinet warned of the ‘danger’ that an inquiry ‘would become a focus for those who argued that firearms controls should be tightened further’.
Conservative ministers, including then Chancellor Kenneth Clarke and Home Secretary Michael Howard, argued that the shooting did not necessitate any ‘substantive change’ to gun laws. The files shed light on the government’s response to the deaths.
Notes from the Downing Street meeting, on March 14, 1996, read: ‘Although there would undoubtedly be strong pressure for a high level judicial inquiry, there was a danger it would become a focus for those who argued firearms controls should be tightened further, and school security should be enhanced beyond what would be sensible.’
Major’s cabinet also sought to diminish the significance of Dunblane – among the worst shootings in British history.
According to the memo, the government agreed ‘the incident did not suggest a need for substantive change to firearms law’.
It added: ‘What had happened in Dunblane was the kind of tragedy against which no society could insure completely.’
Despite their apparent misgivings, the government did eventually announce an investigation – the Cullen Inquiry – into Dunblane.
However, other files in the National Archives release show several ministers – especially Mr Major’s eventual successor, Michael Howard – were reluctant to pursue sweeping reforms to gun laws.
A memo sent to Mr Major by the Leader of the House of
Commons, Tony Newton, in September 1996, suggests the government was keen to avoid a wholesale ban of handguns – later instituted by Tony Blair.
Discussing a paper on gun control written by Mr Howard, Mr Newton said ‘not banning handguns’ was the ‘preferred option’ of a ‘clear majority’ of cabinet members.
Mr Newton also suggested that it would be ‘not necessarily impossible’ to reject any of the recommendations arising from Lord Cullen’s inquiry into the tragedy – which the government had publicly indicated it would implement in full.
Discussing when the report might be released, Mr Newton went on to suggest there was a need to ‘counter’ public pressure to ban handguns that was being drummed up by parents of Dunblane victims.
Mr Major introduced the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997, which banned all cartridge ammunition handguns with the exception of .22 calibre single-shot weapons in England, Scotland and Wales.
But, following Tony Blair’s election victory that year, his Labour government introduced the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997, banning the remaining .22 handguns as well.
‘Not banning handguns’