lxtav Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Just read that the Scotland Bill that will devolve more powers to the Scottish parliment is at the final stages in the house of Lords and is likely to become law soon. I see that the issue of devolving Airgun laws for sub 12ft/lb airguns is still there. This in my opinion is a worrying move as the SNP government is determined to bring in licencing for all airguns. I don't have much of a problem with registering the airguns in a similar way to a car is registered so that we know who is the registered owner of the gun but not a licence along the lines of a SGC/FAC having to prove good reason etc it should just be a simple piece of paper issued by the shop with the gun with the keepers name on it similar to a cars log book (i.e no checks just a few quid to have it logged in the system). In the Lords the arguments were about how much it would cost - Lots, how it's going to be enforced - with a lot of trouble, how do we know how many guns there are and where are they - we don't. It will just cause more problems than it solves. The counter argument was that devolving the power doesn't mean it will be used and airguns are already controlled in Northern Ireland. Last time I looked the security situation in Northern Ireland was somewhat different to the one on mainland Britain and hence the tighter gun controls. It will be used as it is a good political vote winner as the general public don't want to listen to a resoned argument that airgun offences are dropping all the time and it is a very small minority that abuse them they just seen them as guns and all guns are bad and why would you want one. Also trusting politicians to come up with sensible reasoned legislation is a bit of a laugh just look at the dangerous dogs act, banning handguns etc all these are badly thought out legislation that has not done much good. If airgun licensing is brough in in Scotland it will just lead to the same situation as the handgun ban there will still be lots around unlicenced and the general low lifes that commit airgun offences are not going to bother getting a licence so we will still be no further forward. It will only be the law abiding that are penalised. Would be interesing though if you were issued a SCG/FAC under the national home office guidance and able to use high powered centre fire rifle but were refused an airgun licence under a Scottish system for a sub 12ft/lb gun. A far greater number of assaults/murders are commited using knives than guns in Britain so wait for the next installment when you have to go through a serious of police checks and get a licence for the knives in the house so you can eat your dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 Just read that the Scotland Bill that will devolve more powers to the Scottish parliment is at the final stages in the house of Lords and is likely to become law soon. I see that the issue of devolving Airgun laws for sub 12ft/lb airguns is still there. This in my opinion is a worrying move as the SNP government is determined to bring in licencing for all airguns. I don't have much of a problem with registering the airguns in a similar way to a car is registered so that we know who is the registered owner of the gun but not a licence along the lines of a SGC/FAC having to prove good reason etc it should just be a simple piece of paper issued by the shop with the gun with the keepers name on it similar to a cars log book (i.e no checks just a few quid to have it logged in the system). While that system is fine - it's how everything starts. Not all that many years ago you just bought a shotgun licence (50p I think) from the post office, it was simply a license to own a shotgun. Since then it's moved on a bit, and I expect it to end up the same a section 1 at some point in the future. If airgun licensing is brough in in Scotland it will just lead to the same situation as the handgun ban there will still be lots around unlicenced and the general low lifes that commit airgun offences are not going to bother getting a licence so we will still be no further forward. It will only be the law abiding that are penalised. Sadly this is too true, it won't do any real good whatsoever and is far too impractical to do. But lets's throw money at it anyway... A far greater number of assaults/murders are commited using knives than guns in Britain so wait for the next installment when you have to go through a serious of police checks and get a licence for the knives in the house so you can eat your dinner. That's probably less likely to happen, as it would affect everybody and the gov can't afford to lose all the voters who have knives as there would be nobody left to vote. A bit unlike SGC/FAC holders who are such a tiny minority that our votes are insignificant. In short, if it goes through it will be a further knock for all forms as shooting, as it will be harder to get air guns, a few won't be able to and most won't even try. As that's how a lot of people start shooting it really could be bad news. I don't like air guns (useless for anything but plinking and rats/pigeons) but even I'll accept that to lose the availability to almost everybody as a starter to real guns is a bad thing. I wonder how long until it happens in England? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenhunter Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 I wonder how long until it happens in England? That will depend on how easy/difficult to administer, the resulting costs and how effective it is on cutting airgun crime in Scotland. If it proves expensive(which it probably will) and also ineffective in reducing incidents ( which it probably will) then it may never happen in England! Assuming commonsence prevails(which it probably won't!) That's J MHO GH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimcam Posted April 16, 2012 Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 (edited) It Is a bit off puting.I have 18 acres of land I can shoot on 24/7.(Permission).If this goes ahead I'll not only lose the use of the land but I'll probably like any other law abiding shooter have to hand my guns in too.(Pure ****)If the bams accept "Independence"God I'll need to get a visa and a new "Scottish"Bloody passport to visit my friends South of the border.(Please stay in the Union).Jim.(Night Owl).Sorry but thats the rant over. Edited April 16, 2012 by jimcam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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