Airguns

[tartanwiz]

Following the death of a 2 year old boy in Glasgow by an airgun shot, should airguns be banned?

[El D]

no

[delilahcat]

Yes

[FP]

No.  We would end up banning anything that could injure or kill - kitchen knives, pokers, hammers, screwdrivers, penknives.  The list is endless.

[THECORBYLOON]

El D and FP, if the same thing had happened to a two year old of yours, I think you'd have a different opinion. Of course in the wrong hands, many everyday items can be dangerous but I doubt many two-year olds have been killed by someone wielding a hammer or a screwdriver a couple of hundred yards away......     

[FP]

I respect your thoughts on this Corbyloon.  However, if I had a two year old that was killed by a motorcyle coming on the pavement I would probably hate motorcycles forever.   But this wouldn't mean that I think they should be banned. 

Perhaps they should be licenced, but not banned.

[ianess]

Why blame the tool instead of the idiot using the tool?

In this silly nanny state we'll soon be banned from doing as much as breathing fresh air in case we inhale some pollution and someone will have to fork out compensation.

The Glasgow incident is an appalling tragedy but there are enough laws already.......it's law enforcement that's the problem.

[smudge]

Our two Granchildren were happily playing in their canvas covererd climbing frame, when our daughter heard the sound of a rifle of some kind. When she looked at the canvas it had several slug pellet holes in it!

She discovered that a couple of teenage boys living nearby, were 'having fun' aiming at the climbing frame, through an attic window!!!! The police were called, the boys were arrested, but as usual, got off with a caution. The boys parents kindly paid for a new climbing frame canvas! Our Grandchildren could have been maimed of even killed.

It isn't the tool, it's the people in charge of them!

[El D]

no, I wouldn't - that would be double standards for myself.

[netibiza]

I am appalled as I did not realise how dangerous airguns are, and I used to shoot one in my youth but only at trees.  Why would someone shoot at a fireman let alone an innocent child?

[delilahcat]

The point is, FP, kitchen knives, pokers, screwdrivers etc, are all used in everyday life for practical purposes.

I have to question what the point is of a potentially lethal weapon which has no other practical purpose? What earthly reason can people give for owning one? And if it's just for messing about with, I'd suggest they find something less harmful to play with.

[FP]

Airguns are not toys delilah cat and people have very legitimate reasons for owning them.  They are effective way of dealing with pests such as rats for one thing and most farmers and very rural dwellings have airguns for such reasons, my husband included.  They are far more effective and kinder than poison and safer than leaving poison laying about. 

As I said before, perhaps they should be licenced.  However, obviously they can get into the wrong hands and be misused.  If they are in the hands of children then it is the parents' fault.

As smudge and ianess have said - don't blame the tool blame the person using the tool.

I should imagine there have been far, far more injuries and deaths from the misuse of kitchen knives.

[THECORBYLOON]

I have just heard on the news that a man has been charged with the murder of  the wee boy, Andrew Morton, and in the circumstances I will not be contributing further to this discussion.

[smudge]

CORBYLOON - I don't blame you.

Sadly, the little boy's killer won't be hanged though, he'll end up with three good meals a day & a degree!

[ianess]

I must admit to being surprised at the murder charge.  While having total sympathy with the victim and his family I do not for a minute believe that this idiot set out to deliberately end another person's life.  Manslaughter almost certainly, but murder ?   I don't think so.    Nevertheless if found guilty he should be put away for a VERY long time.

[El D]

I doubt they will get a charge for murder - most likely it will appear in the news and when it has faded from the spotlight it will be changed to manslaughter. Murder requires intent to kill which is difficult to prove with an air rifle given the tiny number of deaths.

[secretspirit]

No they shouldn't ban them. Cars kill many more children and adults than airguns but they won't be banning those in a hurry will they? Anything in the wrong hands can be lethal.