A petition signed by 1000 residents in Leith was presented to Home Office minister Vernon Coaker by the local MP Mark Lazarowicz who is pressing for UK-wide legislation to stop the potentially fatal weapons falling into the wrong hands.  He wants more control over the sale of toy and replica guns.  There were two separate incidents involving airguns in Leith in May which led to people having to be evacuated from buildings.

 

Mr Lazarowicz expressed concern about the delay in the Lords with the Violent Crime Reduction Bill (see below) (Edinburgh Evening News, 7 July 2006).

House of Commons ‘Early Day Motions'

Tuesday 25 October 2005
781  AIR GUNS

Mr Fraser Kemp

Bob Russell

Mr Alan Meale

Mr Greg Pope

Mr Andrew Dismore

Mr Martin Caton

Mrs Ann Cryer   Paul Flynn   Jeff Ennis   Mr Eric Martlew

 

That this House recognises the terrifying incidences of airgun crimes in the United Kingdom and notes that on Saturday 15th October, Andrew Ross, who lives in the constituency of Houghton and Washington East, was shot in the face by an airgun rifle; calls upon the Government to implement stringent new controls on airgun rifles and all legally held air weapons which have long been demanded by the police services throughout the United Kingdom; further calls upon the Government to raise the age at which an airgun can be held and introduce a strict licensing system; and urges the Government to organise an amnesty day in which legally and illegally held firearms can be handed in.