I do take Oakleaf's point, I really do.
The shooting fraternity must really feel that they are being scapegoated to cover up the deficiences in the application of the laws that we already have.
However, those laws in place then, even when applied, did not restrict folks like the two who killed Scottish children....a toddler in his brother's arms and a class of infants just started school
....from legally possessing guns.
That's the rub.
Many believe that if the laws said that someone has to actually prove they require a gun, then those two and others like them, would have had a hard job to acquire them.
Knowing that he shouldn't have the air rifle in the first place would have meant that concerned neighbours would have reported Mark Bonini to the police before he started his stoned out of his skull target practice at the firemen.
What an excuse
when told he'd shot wee Andrew he said he was aiming for the firemen
Another one I hope hell mends him.
Ach, this argument is going round and round.
I think if this proposal does become law, then the majority will not be bothered. It's already law in Northern Ireland; there are parallels, and they manage fine.
Thomas Hamilton killed the children and their teacher using pistols; many club shooters and collectors lost their handguns with no recompense whatsoever. That that rankles is understandable, but that deed's done. If they wish to shoot in clubs and competitions then they need to change public opinion on it. That's a long road I reckon, but, we'll see. Like America's JFK killing, people here mind where they were when they heard about the Dunblane massacre.
I was shopping with a neighbour and the saleswoman put the radio up loud, and the store went silent. Dozens of women shocked to the core, half of them terrified it was their school, and every single one of us wanting home, now.
I don't think any one of those women, or the millions of other mums and dads, grans and grandpas, aunts and uncles, thought that removing all handguns was a bad thing.
How you'll change that, I don't know. I doubt I'll see it in my lifetime, but y'never know.
Sorry Oakleaf; not the vindication you could reasonably have expected from this audience, but a very real discussion.
atb,
M