Firearms licensing has ‘come a long way’, says shooting expert

Firearms licensing has “come a long way” since 1996, according to Alexander Stoddart, director of the Dunkeld-based Scottish Association of Country Sports, who dismissed Robin Bell’s proposal.

Describing Police Scotland as “very proactive” and “well ahead of every other force in the UK in terms of looking at its procedures, policies and licensing”, the director of Scotland’s largest shooting organisation said: “Licensing now is very, very strict. If there is any evidence of a criminal record – even something minor that happened as a kid – the chances are that will preclude you from having a certificate in future. It is actually difficult to get a certificate but it is far easier to lose one that you have.

“It is clear to us that Thomas Hamilton, in the current context, would never ever have had a certificate.

“He would also never ever have been allowed to work with kids. It just wouldn’t have happened.”

Mr Stoddart said the police no longer saw gun licences as “a paper shuffling exercise like giving out a fishing licence”, and applicants were now looked at in “intimate detail” both at a national security level and in terms of local police intelligence, he added.

“It should also be remembered that very few licensed shooters come to the attention of police. We are statistically the most law abiding segment of the population. That is a fact.

“We take our collective responsibility to public safety extremely seriously.”