Misguided Scottish Airgun Regulations To Take Effect

Plastic Toy Gun
Misguided Scottish Airgun Regulations To Take Effect
Countryside Alliance Ireland
Countryside Alliance Ireland

Scottland –  -(Ammoland.com)- Since the Scottish Government announced plans two years ago to licence the estimated 500,000 airguns in Scotland, we have been vocal in our opposition.

At the time, we pointed out that the legislation was needless, came against falling airgun crime statistics, would not make the public safer and was not welcomed by the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, who warned that a licensing system would be unwieldy and expensive.

Now, two years later, as the way is prepared for the Air Weapons Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2016 to come into force, calls for a reasonable and logical fees system have also fallen on deaf ears.

This week, the Scottish Government published the regulations, due to come into force on 1st July 2016.

Sadly it looks as though owning an airgun will be as complicated and as expensive as owning a shotgun or firearm licence; the price of the Main AWC (air weapon certificate) fee is £72 for five-year certificate (see the fees section here.)

Neither these regulations and the charging of fees to legal airgun holders, nor an ongoing airgun amnesty, which suggests that having an airgun is somehow wrong, will have any effect on those who wish to use them illegally.

We have repeatedly pointed out that new rules for the law abiding will never touch the criminal element at whom any legislation is aimed.

This new layer of bureaucracy will add countless hours of work to already overburdened Scottish Police forces, whilst efforts to catch real criminals are neglected. We hope this serves to warn law makers outside of Scotland: proceeding with legislation against consultation advice or the warnings of experts will only end in failure.

Tim Bonner
Chief Executive
Follow on Twitter @CA_TimB

A Q&A is available at www.airweapon.scot. Those who own or use an airgun must be aware that from 1st July 2016 you can apply for an air weapon certificate by downloading an application form from and sending it to Police Scotland.

About
Countryside Alliance Ireland has been active since the early 1960s, providing Irish sportsmen and women with high levels of information and advice and representation. Over the years as the political environment has changed we have evolved into a highly effective campaigning organisation. Countryside Alliance Ireland is governed by an elected “Board” made up from members throughout Ireland. The Board sets policy and oversees financial and operational matters. Countryside Alliance Ireland partner groups nominate members of the “Board” also, making it truly representative of country sports interests in Ireland. Visit: www.countrysideallianceireland.org

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Tog

man those people are idiots. paintball guns are more dangerous than those toys.

Pistol Pete

What can you expect from men who were dresses

Denny D

It’s time that people vote these clowns out, you get what you asked for. It’s not much different over here. All these lazy liberals voted in Obama and we’re not much farther behind your country in the stupid regs being voted in, that’s why Trump is popular over here and the wacky left is so againest him. He may not be the best but he’s dam sized better than anybody else right now. We the people are sick of politics as usual, it’s time for a change

diamondearthday57

Lets not worry about the muslims

usa2rkba

After breaking in my new CO2 powered, full auto M712 replica I raised my glass of Islay to the north east in a salute to idiocy. May that level of stupidity never take hold on this land.

Bill in Lexington,NC

Ya know, I thought Scots were men and would stand up against this nonsense. Apparently I was wrong. You’ve got to fight like men or bend over like women.

fishunter

It seems that ignorance is world wide and one cannot legislate stupidity out of the mix. Also control of others is a biggie and I believe necessary to form the one world order it seems so many politicians want. Many of us will die before giving-in to the New World Order, of this I am sure. I suppose revolution may be in our future, sorry to say!

2nd Amender

The rabbits and other rodents will run amuck……they’ll be praying for St. Patrick’s return, soon enough. Or perhaps, import dome snakes from the US!

throwedoff

I just can’t comprehend a reasoning for an “airgun license”. Why should little Angus have to have register his airgun and have a license in order to own it? What is the purpose? Was the Scottish government looking for a revenue stream and hit upon the idea of registering and licensing airguns?

Wild Bill

I think that the purpose of an air gun certificate is to get the subjects used to complying with the demands of the state.

hijinx60

If you go to YouTube and search ‘airguns’, you will see some in .357 cal. that can break a cement block at 50 yards. The old ‘Red Rider’ is a toy, but some of the new ones are amazing. One clip shows the takedown of a hog with one. I want one when I can afford one .. they cost over $1000 bucks. Look for the USA to call for background checks for these purchases soon.

Dean

It’s fac air rifle it’s called Benjamin rogue the licence is for sub 12 ftlbs air weapons if u want one of those toys u need to register on your firearms certifacate if an airgun is look after in the right way they are no more dangerous than household bleach to a child and for Andrews law its a bunch of shite 89 percent said no is there no Supreme Court we could take parliament to

Whit

How sad. It’s especially sad that they can’t even see how silly this looks like to the outside world.

That said the USA has plenty of silly laws and regulations so no country is immune.

Whit

Earl Bollinger

Sounds typical for them. Another revenue stream. Torture the law abiding citizens and have an excuse to make them criminals too. it must really suck to have to get a permit that costs 72 pounds just to play with a 25 pound airsoft gun. I suppose permits for dangerous cricket bats is next. They will probably regulate kitchen knives and forks next. I am sure that many people have died at the hands of someone wielding a knife. The knives were much more dangerous than air guns, I only read of one person being killed with a airgun in the… Read more »

Jim in Conroe

The English are already working on the knife problem. https://www.truthrevolt.org/news/england-may-ban-knives

Mike McAllister

I am of Scottish decent and this just shows how stupid a government can be. Wonder when they will try something like this on bats and clubs.

Matt in Oklahoma

Maybe this weak attitude is why they lost