New legislation to tighten access to air weapons in Scotland has been announced by the Scottish Government. It is estimated that there are currently around half a million unlicensed air weapons in the country.

The Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill sets out new proposals for a range of licensing issues including air weapons.

With reference to air weapons, the Bill will:

- clearly define the air weapons which will be subject to licensing;

- broadly follow the principles and practices of existing firearms legislation;

- enable a fit person to obtain a licence to own, possess and shoot an air weapon in a regulated way, without compromising public safety;

- ensure appropriate enforcement of the new regime with robust offences and penalties to deal with any person who contravenes the new regime.

Proposals for the air weapons regime were apparently the subject of extensive consultation with Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority, the Gun Trade Association and other members of the expert Scottish Firearms Consultative Panel, which was convened by Kenny MacAskill in 2011 to advise on air weapon licensing. A public consultation on this issue attracted over 1,000 written responses.

Mr MacAskill said:

“We have a longstanding commitment to tackle the misuse of all firearms. The licensing scheme for air guns will help address the problems that these weapons can cause to individuals and communities in the wrong hands.

“We are not banning air weapons outright but there has to be a legitimate use for them. We do not believe that there should be half a million unlicensed air weapons in 21st century Scotland, and believe this legislation strikes the right balance between protecting communities and allowing legitimate shooting in a safe environment to continue.”

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