Consultation over air gun licences

Published on 13/12/2012 00:00

The Scottish Government will launch a consultation on a new licensing system for air weapons later this week.

Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill announced to MSPs at Holyrood that it will get under way tomorrow.

Scotland has a “significant problem” with air weapons and licensing is the “best way” to combat their misuse, according to Mr MacAskill. He announced the consultation when questioned by Glasgow MSP Bob Doris on what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle gun crime.

Mr Doris, an SNP back-bencher, said 38 per cent of all firearms offences in 2011-12 involved the use of an airgun.