Q and A: Colin Shedden

Published on Sunday 8 June 2008 22:10

The director of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (Scotland) discusses Holyrood's attempt to get Westminster's permission for a pilot scheme to restrict the sale of air-guns.

Do you agree it is too easy to obtain an air-gun?

Recent changes in the law make it harder to obtain an air-gun. It is not the availability of the air-guns that is the problem; it is people's attitude towards them and the lack of awareness of current law that poses the problem.

Was last month's firearms "summit" a success?

The summit was successful to the point that it brought all sides of the debate together to work in a constructive manner. But the success of the summit is severely limited by the fact that firearms legislation remains a reserved matter for Westminster.

What do you think about justice secretary Kenny MacAskill's proposal to make Scotland a pilot for a UK licensing scheme?

We do not believe that a licensing scheme is the way forward and are concerned that the issue of air-guns may be part of a bigger political debate on devolution and independence.

What are your concerns about a licensing scheme?

Any licensing scheme would only adversely affect those with a legitimate need for an air-gun, for pest control or sporting purposes for example, whilst doing nothing to address the misuse of air-guns. We also have concerns over how such a scheme would be retrospectively applied to all those who currently have air-guns in Scotland.

Are you happy with the coverage of this issue?

The wider coverage of air-gun misuse has focused on the air-gun, which is simply a tool, rather than the underlying behaviour that sees us in a society where some people do not see that it is wrong to commit acts of vandalism or violence. Unfortunately, it is easier to call for a ban on the tool rather than to address the underlying behaviour.

What should happen now?

Full enforcement of the existing legislation on air-guns would be a good starting point. There is also an opportunity for the Scottish Government to develop a pioneering education programme for young people and their parents to explain the dangers and legal penalties of abusing air-guns.