In an update from CyberShooters.org Steve mailed over a Hansard Debate listing for the Commons (you can find it here). For those of you who are worried that it’s rare to hear a sensible and educated view tabled by an MP, there is some hope. Specifically in relation to the proposd changes in law, Mr. Djanogly talked in a very positive way, here’s an extract from his speech:
Fewer than 50 per cent. of airguns are sold by registered firearms dealers. The majority are sold by sports shops, fishing shops and similar outlets. No evidence has been produced to show that airguns sold through registered firearms dealers are more or less likely to be misused than those sold through other retail outlets. There is no evidence that retailers who are not registered firearms dealers are irresponsible in selling airguns to the public. Nor is there evidence to suggest that the proposed restrictions will improve public safety.
A simpler system would involve creating a lawful check on the sale of firearms, but without the need for registration. One such system could involve ensuring that any person who wished to sell air weapons should apply in writing to the police for written authority to do so. This would essentially be a much simpler system of licensing. If the police believed that the applicant was not a fit person to sell airguns, they could refuse to give their authority. The applicant could then be given the right of appeal. As we said in Committee, a modified form of licensing would be more acceptable, but no changes have been forthcoming from the Government since then. Rather than requiring full registration, regulation could be achieved by using simpler, less restrictive regimes. What I continue to find most bizarre is that the Home Office consultation paper of May 2004 stated that
“we do not therefore believe that there should be a system of licensing or further restrictions on the sale of air guns”.
I must ask the Minister why the Government are ignoring their own advice.
Banning the sale of air weapons except through registered firearms dealers approved by the police is an impractical, draconian, burdensome and disproportionate measure, and the Government have failed to provide any evidence that it will have any effect on violent crime. It will serve only to penalise business people and sports persons involved in shooting.
In the Home Office regulatory impact assessment, the Home Office recognises that licensing all air weapons would result in a significant decrease in sales of air weapons and a significant impact on business. The assessment stated:
“We understand that the majority of air weapons are sold through small dealers and tackle shops, so small firms would be affected disproportionately.”
It remains unclear exactly how many small sellers would actually convert to getting a firearms licence. The cost and inconvenience could be disproportionate, and again, business as well as sport could suffer.
The more important point for the Minister to show is exactly how that will reduce violent crime involving air weapons. While the clause will make it more difficult for lawful users to acquire air weapons, there is no evidence that that will affect the level of misuse. Mr. Djanogly, (House of Commons Hansard Debates)
Sadly there are an equal number of somewhat irrational statements made in the text such as this by Mr Jim Sheridan:
A frightening development in gun crime has been the conversion and modification of imitation guns so that they can fire live ammunition, in which there has been a 66 per cent. increase in the 12 months up to this year. I have said that no area is exempt or excluded from the threat of gun crime. However, if further proof is needed, last week in a neighbouring constituency to mine in Renfrewshire, the police raided a flat and removed a 12-bore pump-action shotgun, a bolt-action .22-250 rifle, a 12-bore single-barrelled sawn-off shotgun, a converted replica pistol, and 98 bulleted cartridges. I hope that this legislation will enable the police to do even more to get guns and knives off our streets. Jim Sheridan, (House of Commons Hansard Debates)
One only has to wonder why Mr Sheridan is unaware that the possession of a reactivated firearm and ammunition is already prohibited and legislated for, and that the shotguns and other firearms he lists in his example are all prohibited unless held under appropriate licenses. Quite how further laws and legislation would in any way help the Police in that example are beyond me.
