Thank you for your interest in the

Gun Control Network

The Gun Control Network was established to campaign for tighter controls on guns of all kinds in Britain and a greater awareness of the dangers associated with gun ownership and use

 

CONTACT US                                            INFER TRUST

CONTACT US                                            Support for Victims

CONTACT US                                            of Gun Crime

Gun Incidents

Gun Control Network monitors media reports of incidents involving firearms throughout Great Britain

and compiles monthly lists and reviews

                     Incidents              

                     Review - March 2013

                     ^{See Also:     Gun Deaths          Domestic Violence          Airguns}

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Latest News

 

Taxpayers Subsidise Gun Owners to the Tune of £100 Million - Further Fall in Gun Crime in Scotland and England & Wales - Book published on Reducing Gun Violence in America following Sandy Hook school massacre - Common Decency Campaign to amend the ‘Game Act’ - Sports Shooting: From Criminology to Cruelty - Three women killed by licensed gun owner: bereaved family launch e-petition campaign for tighter licensing - Arming for self-protection increases your risk of a gun related death - Annual Firearms Crime Figures in England and Wales Show Seventh Consecutive Fall - Lowest Scottish Gun Crime Figures for 32 Years - New Law on Airgun Security - Power to Regulate Airguns to be Devolved to Scotland - BMA in Talks with ACPO about Tagging Medical Records of Patients holding Firearms or Shotgun Licences

View News Stories

 

Taxpayers Subsidise Gun Owners to the Tune of £100 Million

GCN Press Release - 27 February 2013

The terrible events of 1 January 2012 in which legal gun owner Michael Atherton murdered his partner, her sister and his niece, are about to be scrutinised again at the Inquest in Co. Durham on 3 March.

The Gun Control Network has been working with the family and in particular with Bobby Turnbull, whose mum, sister and aunt were killed by Atherton with one of his legally owned shotguns.

Bobby joined members of GCN at a meeting on 25 February with Damien Green MP, Minister for Policing, to call for ‘real reforms’ of the gun licensing laws.

Gill Marshall-Andrews, Chair of the Gun Control Network, says:

‘It is not generally known that at least half of all gun deaths involve a shotgun - probably legally owned. It’s clear we need to tighten up the licensing of these weapons and ensure that people like Michael Atherton, with a history of domestic violence and alcohol abuse, can’t own a gun.

Currently, the police do not have the resources to do a proper job of making sure someone is a suitable person to own a gun. Gun owners pay only £50 for a licence which lasts for 5 years. So for £10 per year, around the price of 4 cups of coffee, a man can own as many shotguns as he likes.

Gun ownership is a privilege that people should pay for – and there should be no element of subsidy from the taxpayer. Police estimate that the cost of issuing a licence is £200 which would mean that the current level of taxpayer subsidy is over £100m. With a more rigorous licensing regime this subsidy will rise even higher. GCN wants to see a fee of at least £250 for a firearms or shotgun licence. With this level of resourcing the police would be able to consult family members, neighbours, doctors and ex-partners about an applicant’s suitability. And they would be able to set up a ‘hotline’ for professionals, family, colleagues and neighbours to register their concerns about a gun owner’s behaviour.

Currently women have no right to be consulted about their partner having a gun and GCN has evidence that guns are frequently used as instruments of threat in the home. We need to address this issue and hope we can prevent the horrific murders that disfigure our society’.

 

 

Gun Deaths 2012-13

 

Published 11 March 2013

• 87 deaths were reported, including 45 deaths that were apparently self inflicted

• In at least 51% of all gun deaths the weapon used was a shotgun; at least 64% of self-inflicted deaths involved a shotgun

• 77% of female gun victims were killed in domestic incidents by a partner or family member

• 31% of all gun homicide victims were murdered in domestic incidents

 

 

Data compiled from British media reports for incidents in England, Scotland and Wales from 1 January 2012 to 11 March 2013

 

 

Firearms Crime in England and Wales Fall Eighth Consecutive Year

 

Annual Total of Firearms Offences in England and Wales

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If you experience any gun crime contact your local police force

or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

 

If you have any concerns about gun ownership and use please write to us at:

contact@gun-control-network.org

It helps us to know why you are interested in gun control and, if appropriate,

 the institution or group you represent

If you, your family or friends have been affected by gun violence, or have particular issues with guns or gun culture please contact Infer Trust.  Infer Trust is a National Registered Charity which raises awareness of public health and safety issues, with particular reference to use of firearms and imitation guns etc. The Trust offers support, advice and networking opportunities to those affected.

 

If you are young you can also visit the website of The Kids Taskforce Charitable Foundation, a charity dedicated to providing information to young people on how to stay safe

 

 

GCN Press Releases and Comment

Gun Deaths in 2010

Home Affairs Committee Report on Firearms Control Published

GCN's Evidence to Home Affairs Committee;

Supplementary Evidence

Licensed Gun Owner Kills 12 People - June 2010

Cats Continue to be Targeted in Airgun Attacks - May 2010

Young Britons' Foundation and Liberal Gun Laws - March 2010

Gun Crime Figures - February 2010

> View Other Recent Press Releases

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Latest Statistics

 

Gun Ownership in England and Wales

Home Office data given on The Guardian Website provide details of the number of legally-held guns in each police area in England and Wales

 

  Update for England & Wales (excludes Airgun Crime)

 

Annual Figures for England & Wales (include Airgun Crime)

> see Comment

 

Gun Offences Decrease in Scotland

 

Data Released in Parliamentary Answers: Court Proceedings - Imitation and Air Weapons, Hospital Admissions, Firearms Crime per 100,000 Population, UK Gun Deaths, Misappropriated Firearms

 

Gun Homicide Rates by Country

(graph shows how much lower gun homicide is in Britain in comparison with most other countries)

 International Comparisons Updated

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What Can You Do?

Issues Raised by Correspondents to GCN

Cats Killed but Police Seem Unable to Act ● Neighbours using Airguns ●

Teenage Son is left a Tetraplegic as a Result of Airgun Shooting ●

The Long Term Effects of Gun Crime on a Victim

 

What Happens to Guns when an Owner Dies ● Gun Sales in a Toy Shop ● Inadequate Responses to Gun Incidents ● Access to Guns by Unfit Persons

 

 Pet Owners Factsheet

GCN receives e-mails from pet owners whose animals have been shot with guns, usually air weapons.  The factsheet provides some practical advice.

 

> See GCN Comment on Cat Shootings

 

Guns in Advertising

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Announcements

GCN was very saddened to learn of the death of Janice Collins.  Following the murder of her son Brendon Lawrence who was shot dead in St Ann's, Nottingham, in 2002 Janice became a tireless campaigner against gun crime.  She was a key member of Mothers Against Guns and ensured that the voice of the families of gun crime victims did not go unheard.  There are tributes to Janice in an article in the Nottingham Post.  We offer our sympathy to all her family and friends.

 

Other Campaigns and Activities

> Hampshire Police FAKE Campaign

 

> Winnenden Families' Campaign

Families of students and teachers killed in a school shooting at a school in Winnenden in March 2009 are campaigning for stricter gun laws in Germany

 

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Parliament

Violent Crime Reduction Bill

Parents of Airgun Victims Write to MPs

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Last updated Tuesday, 07 May 2013