10th
December 2007
McNeil
Raises BB Gun Menace with Minister
The easy availability of cheap BB
airguns on Greenock’s streets has been raised with the Justice Secretary by
MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil.
Mr McNeil took action after a
Telegraph investigation uncovered that
pistols can be purchased in local shops for under £4.
He said:
“Rather than wringing his
hands about what he can’t do, I want to know what powers the Justice Secretary
actually has – and what he proposes to do with them.
How can he make it harder for these weapons to get into wrong hands and
make our streets safer?”
In letter to Cabinet
Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, Mr McNeil said:
“You
may be aware that, while presiding at Greenock Sheriff Court over the case of a
16-year-old youth who pleaded guilty to possession of a BB gun and ammunition,
Sheriff Rajni Swanney raised her concerns over the availability of the weapons.
“I
too am concerned, especially at the ease with which these weapons can be
obtained and their price. A recent
investigation by the Greenock Telegraph,
for example, found that pistols can be purchased for under £4.
“These
weapons are being used to target innocent members of the public in the street,
intimidate victims and, according to animal protection organisations, to attack
pets and wild animals.
“Accordingly,
I would welcome your views on what options are open to the Scottish Government
to restrict the sale of these weapons.”
ENDS
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