The news has been posted at Arnies Airsoft 5 days ago, and we are posting here to help out in the campaign not to ban air guns in Scotland. This is not a good development as it will also affect airsoft. With more powers devolved from Westminster to the Holyrood, the Scottish National Party (SNP), which is the largest party in Scotland's Parliament aims to make a move that will further restrict, if not ban, airguns. The basis for this has been the incidents involving air guns (we don't know if airsoft is classified as air guns here) which has killed 3 and injured 1,150 over the past nine years according to the Scotsman.

We haven't seen any document on the actual proposed legislation, restricting/banning air guns.  There is already legislation under the VCRA which regulates the possession of firearms and RIFs.  But some attempts were made to contact Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and that according to officials"There has been no change in policy with regard to legitimate uses.

It is not being suggested that all airguns be removed from Scotland. Those who have a legitimate reason to hold them, such as for pest control or recognised sporting events, should still be allowed to do so. It is those who misuse air weapons we want to target."

Nevertheless, individuals in the Scotland air gun shooting/airsoft community have taken the initiative to petition No. 10 Downing Street:

PETITION TO: DENY SCOTS GUN LAW

"The Calman Report recommends that The Scottish Parliament should be handed control of airgun legislation in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament will undoubtedly use this power to place a ban on unlicensed airguns in Scotland. This measure harms the legitimate sporting shooter and fails to address the real problem; that caused by unlawful use of airguns. Criminal use of airguns by its nature cannot be legislated against by removing airguns from those who abide by the law.

We believe that this ban will have an adverse effect on legitimate sporting shooting, and will provide no deterrent to those who misuse airguns. The Labour Party's own 'Charter for Shooting' (2005) recognises there is no connection between legitimate sporting shooting and gun crime. Airgun crime in Scotland has fallen according to the Gun Control Network's statistics from 1005 offences 15 years ago to 567 last year.

This new legislation would erode the civil liberties of sporting shooters in Scotland and fail to remove airguns from the hands of criminals.

We therefore petition you to refuse devolved power for Airgun legislation in Scotland."

If you are concerned and a citizen/residen in the United Kindom, sign the petition now.