Potential new laws for airgun ownership

What is happening?

The Scottish Government is bringing forward legislation that would make it an offence to own an air weapon without a licence.

At present anyone over 18 can buy an air rifle and ammunition and use it to shoot anywhere they have permission.

Those aged 14-17 can borrow an air rifle and use it without supervision on private premises where they’ve been given permission to shoot.

The new legislation, expected to pass into law on Thursday, will make ownership of an air weapon without a licence a criminal offence.

Why is it happening?

The driving force behind the bill to licence air weapons in Scotland is the death of Andrew Morton in 2005.

The two-year old was shot in the head with an airgun by drug addict Mark Bonini, who was sentenced to serve at least 13 years in prison for the crime.

A decade after the toddler’s death, Andrew’s family continue to push for tighter regulation on air weapons.

Former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill met Andrew’s sister Sharon last year to reaffirm his commitment to stricter airgun controls.

is it popular?

Not entirely.

The Scottish Government carried out a consultation in 2012. An overwhelming majority (87%) of those who responded opposed the plan, with some describing it as “draconian” and “heavy-handed”.

The Law Society of Scotland and the British Association of Shooting and Conservation are also opposed to the legislation, calling it unworkable.

However, police and victim groups have thrown their weight behind a licencing system – and it was backed by 76% of Courier readers in an online poll (see left for full results).