McConnell and police chiefs clash over boy's airgun killing

Jack McConnell said airguns would be banned if necessary, following the death last week.

The Executive’s justice minister Cathy Jamieson is to consult the Home Office, which oversees firearms legislation, on introducing a total ban on airguns or bringing in a licence for the weapons.

But last night, David Mellor, from the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, said licensing the weapons, which are currently openly on sale in shops to anyone over the age of 17, would be far too difficult and called for existing laws to be rigorously enforced instead.

Andrew died in hospital after being hit in the head by an airgun pellet on the Craigend housing estate in Glasgow. The pellet is believed to have been aimed at a firefighter tackling a nearby blaze last Wednesday night and a 27-year-old man has been charged in connection with the incident.

Some police have admitted the area is so violent that they considered it too dangerous to patrol thoroughly, with youths carrying airguns bought for as little as 5 at Glasgow markets.

Mellor, the deputy chief constable of Fife Police and ACPOS spokesman on the licensing of firearms, said: "The ACPOS view is that it [licensing] would not be sensible in respect of airguns. There are around five million airguns in the UK and to start to license them would be a major administrative task.

"The law in respect of all firearms was recently tightened and it’s now an offence to carry any weapon in public. The age restriction on airguns was also increased from 14 to 17.

"We would ask for the law as it stands to be rigorously enforced in terms of shopkeepers using their common sense when selling airguns."

He added: "If the government decided to go ahead with licensing, everyone would cooperate, but it would be a huge, huge task."

Sharon McMillan, Andrew’s mother, called for a ban on airguns in the wake of his death.

She said: "Anyone who carries them should be locked up."

Her son was struck by the pellet in the back of his head as he walked to a chip shop near his home with his 13-year-old brother Brian.

It was so deeply imbedded that doctors could not operate. On Friday his parents agreed to his life-support machine being turned off and he died in his grandmother’s arms.

McConnell told delegates at the Scottish Labour Conference in Dundee that he would not rule out a total ban.

He said:

"It would be wrong for government to decide new laws within 24 hours of such a tragedy. But equally it would be wrong to rule out a total ban.

"New laws on airguns are already in place, but if more are needed, we must not hold back."

Any legislation that was introduced would have to be UK-wide because gun laws are reserved for Westminster.

A Home Office source said the situation was "under review". He added: "Airguns are seen as part of the whole problem of antisocial behaviour. We are aware of the potential misuse of airguns and the fact that most are cable of inflicting more than a trivial injury."

Yesterday in Craigend, locals laid flowers, teddy bears and children’s toys on the garden fence that has become a memorial for Andrew.

Police stood guard at the home of the man expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court tomorrow in connection with the shooting.

The broken window of the flat betrayed a more violent picture of locals’ frustration over the toddler’s death.

At 9pm on Wednesday, Albert and Mary Simpson, who have lived in nearby Collessie Drive for 20 years, were walking their dog Tip as normal.

Albert Simpson, 63, told Scotland on Sunday: "Just before we went out we heard that someone had been shot, but the radio said it happened in Easterhouse so we didn’t think much about it. But when we saw the police cars, we heard it was a two-year-old boy from here. It’s tragic. Most of the people round here are decent but some of the teenagers are out of control."

Some youngsters openly carry sticks and golf clubs which double as weapons. On Friday and Saturday nights, gangs from the neighbouring estates fight each other. "It’s territorial," said one police officer, who admitted that they don’t usually patrol the area. The nearest police station is two miles away in Easterhouse.

"We don’t hang around, so nor should you," the officer said. His colleague added: "We drive in, do what we have to do, and drive out again. It’s too dangerous."

Firefighters and ambulance crews are subjected to attacks in the area. Stones are the most common missile thrown by youths but air rifles are increasingly common. They can be bought from the Barras or car boot sales for as little as 5.