Airguns must go

I read with dismay the letter (28 May) from the British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC), which opposes Scottish Government plans to restrict ownership of airguns.

BASC is an innovative name for a body which classes one animal as vermin because it survives by eating another animal which shooters kill for fun. It is also misleading to suggest new laws on airguns are only due to the tragic death of one young lad. While the parents of Andrew Morton brought new and vital attention to the issue, his death was not the only fatality due to airgun misuse.

For decades airguns have been regarded as toys. Their misuse has caused several deaths, many blindings and serious injuries. They are also used to massacre garden birds and kill and injure pet and farm animals. Vandals regard air weapons as popular tools for their trade.

The BASC claims airguns are used to introduce many people to safe gun-handling. That’s exactly the claim made by a man who contacted me many years ago asking me to support his appeal against being banned from holding air rifle target practise “lessons” for young lads at a council-owned sports centre.

His name was Thomas Hamilton, and he had gained his own fatal fascination for firearms as an airgun-owning youth.

BASC states plans for licensing for an estimated 500,000 airguns in Scotland “is fraught with problems and associated cost”.

This will not be the case if, as I hope, only a very small percentage of those guns islicensed and the vast majority confiscated and destroyed.

John F Robins

Animal Concern Advice Line

Dumbarton