Steven Mace
05-17-2002, 02:54 PM
Mullin’s non sequitur
By Wesley Stanton
17/05/2002
Poor old Chris Mullin. He tries hard but he frequently grips the wrong end of the stick. It’s encouraging to see that the Prime Minister is at last beginning to use his head when it comes to managing some of his more colourful back benchers.
Mullin’s latest suggestion to Government – that the regulation of air weapons should be examined because someone used one in a criminal act of violence – has met with a remarkably sensible response from Tony Blair.
Back bencher Mullin cited the case of a 14-year-old boy in Sunderland who was shot in the back by an out-of-control youth with an air weapon, and drove home his emotive point by stating that doctors are unable to remove the pellet from the poor youth’s back.
Although the Prime Minister recognises Mullin’s work, he pointed out that the occurrence was an offence already covered by the Firearms Act – and then noted that the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has launched its own air gun safety campaign in conjunction with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). Nevertheless, Blair stated that the Government would look urgently at what more needed to be done.
BASC echoed the Prime Minister’s remarks and said it was willing to work hand-in-hand with Government in the urgent examination of what more might need to be done.
“BASC is committed to defending the rights of legitimate shooters to carry out their sport. The abuse of air guns is a serious problem for both the shooting community and the whole of society,” said BASC spokesman Simon Clarke. “Our safety campaign shows we are also committed to tackling unsafe and illegal practice.”
“The answer to air gun crime is to make sure the existing firearms laws are adhered to and enforced, and that everyone who wishes to shoot is taught to do so in a safe and responsible manner. In October 2000 the Government told the Home Affairs Committee that it wanted to see local strategies between police forces, schools and community leaders to reduce the misuse of air weapons. BASC is taking the lead in making that happen”
BASC is accelerating the safety programme. Around 110,000 copies of a code of practice are being made available to the police, schools, air gun manufacturers and retailers as well as the general public. The code, produced in co-operation with ACPO, contains details of the law and the safe use of airguns.
http://www.leadshot.com/story.asp?id=556
Steve Mace
By Wesley Stanton
17/05/2002
Poor old Chris Mullin. He tries hard but he frequently grips the wrong end of the stick. It’s encouraging to see that the Prime Minister is at last beginning to use his head when it comes to managing some of his more colourful back benchers.
Mullin’s latest suggestion to Government – that the regulation of air weapons should be examined because someone used one in a criminal act of violence – has met with a remarkably sensible response from Tony Blair.
Back bencher Mullin cited the case of a 14-year-old boy in Sunderland who was shot in the back by an out-of-control youth with an air weapon, and drove home his emotive point by stating that doctors are unable to remove the pellet from the poor youth’s back.
Although the Prime Minister recognises Mullin’s work, he pointed out that the occurrence was an offence already covered by the Firearms Act – and then noted that the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has launched its own air gun safety campaign in conjunction with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). Nevertheless, Blair stated that the Government would look urgently at what more needed to be done.
BASC echoed the Prime Minister’s remarks and said it was willing to work hand-in-hand with Government in the urgent examination of what more might need to be done.
“BASC is committed to defending the rights of legitimate shooters to carry out their sport. The abuse of air guns is a serious problem for both the shooting community and the whole of society,” said BASC spokesman Simon Clarke. “Our safety campaign shows we are also committed to tackling unsafe and illegal practice.”
“The answer to air gun crime is to make sure the existing firearms laws are adhered to and enforced, and that everyone who wishes to shoot is taught to do so in a safe and responsible manner. In October 2000 the Government told the Home Affairs Committee that it wanted to see local strategies between police forces, schools and community leaders to reduce the misuse of air weapons. BASC is taking the lead in making that happen”
BASC is accelerating the safety programme. Around 110,000 copies of a code of practice are being made available to the police, schools, air gun manufacturers and retailers as well as the general public. The code, produced in co-operation with ACPO, contains details of the law and the safe use of airguns.
http://www.leadshot.com/story.asp?id=556
Steve Mace