Britain Beefs Up Controls on Firearms
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said Wednesday it was tightening
up firearms controls, including new restrictions on shotguns
and raising the minimum age for owning a gun to 18.
Home Office Minister Charles Clarke unveiled a package of
new measures but stopped short of banning under 16-year-olds
from using weapons because it may hamper Britain in future
sporting events.
The clampdown follows a jump in violent crime, especially
gun-related offences. The government said increasing use of
illegal firearms in crime was ``a very significant threat to
public safety.''
``Our firearms controls are already among the strongest in
the world, and these new proposals will increase their
effectiveness,'' Clarke said in a statement.
Police swiftly hailed the move, as ministers vowed to help
them beat gun-related crime. Chief Superintendent Peter Gammon,
president of the Police Superintendents Association, said:
``The number of offences involving firearms has increased.
Drugs play a part. But what we've seen is a propensity to use
more weapons.
GANGLAND SHOOTOUTS, GUN-TOTING VILLAINS
In the wake of gangland shootouts in London and robberies
by gun-toting villains, some commentators feared a shift toward
U.S.-style gun culture. But Gammon was skeptical:
``We ought to put it into perspective. The UK is still at
the bottom of the world league tables for gun crime.''
While police welcomed the new measures, they angered the
countryside lobby -- a staunch defender of shooting for sport.
``While we are pleased the government is recommending
stricter controls on the criminal use of guns, legitimate gun
use should not be prejudiced,'' the Countryside Alliance said.
The clampdown was announced after Britain won a gold and
silver in the Sydney Olympics shooting events.
Mindful of that, Home Secretary Jack Straw said he would allow
Britain to hold the Commonwealth Games 2002 pistol shooting
competition.
The new proposed gun controls include:
+A ban on the unsupervised use of deadly firearms by people
aged under 16.
Raising the minimum age to own a lethal firearm and
certificate to 18, from 17.
Regulating legitimate shooting sports and curbing
activities which might foster a ``gun culture.''
Establishing a national database of firearms certificate
holders, with the possibility that it could include details of
the firearms held.
But the government rejected the idea of licensing air guns
despite admitting they were open to misuse. Instead, it
proposed monitoring air gun technology and measuring their
dangers.
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